The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-07-21
From the .Ye,0 Iork Tibuae.
Border Rufianism.
ST. LOUIS. June II, 1856.

friend of mine who has recently visited
the seat of war-weStern MissOurI-and
| have learned from him some facts which
should be known to the many readers of
the Tribune. The papers of this city,
and many of the socalled conservative"
sheets of the North, are 50 in the habit
of crying Peace, Peace, when there is in
reality no peace, but on the contrary
most violent strife and confusion it Is
getting so common to say that "quiet is
beginning to reign on the Missouri from
tier" and that "all will yet be we'll, !"
that it is high time for the real facts in the
case to be published at the East, where
every one may read them without preju-
dice, and where the truth may assault
even the deaf ears of our imbeclle and
impotent Administration
MY friend of whom l speak is BY birth
and education pro-slavery man ; yet his
good sense and honesty lead him to speak
the truth always. He says that western
Missouri IS at present under reign OF
terror more terrible than that of Robes
pierre, because existing in land claim
ing to be free, enlightened aud Christian
lied. The fire eaters arc organized IN a
secret band, and conspire together in Sc
cret meetings. Their hand is against
every man who will not loudly advocate
their damuable doctrines. Those who
are not with them, these slavery propa-
gandists consider to be against them, and
no ancient ban OF excommunica ion could
be more fearful than their avowed en-
nifty. Whisky is their inspiration, and
hemp and tar and feathers are their ar
guments. They have resolvedto hang,
burn AMI destroy, to bully and intimi-
date, until the curse of slavery shall be
fixed on Kansas. You have learned of
the conduct of these men toward Mr..
Phillips, lawyer Of Lcayeaworth, whose
only crime WAS remOnstrance against
perjury and Illegal voting for the charge
that he was engaged i'll the atfray in
which that notorious rowdy, Malcolm
Clark, was Justly slain, is now acknowl-
edged to be falSe;) how they dragged
him over to Weston, tarred and feathered
him, rode him on a rail, and sold him at
auction. Such all outrage has never be-
fore been committed in our S;ate. Its
brltal details make ones heart sick
Yet my informant says that Phillips bore
the ordeal like hero, and refused,
though he was threatened with hanging,
/ 10 siGn a written obligation to leave Kan
Sas. Though a man of slender form, he
has fiery eye and daring heart. Those
twelve men who have SO deeply injured
him will hear from him yet, if appear.
ances are not very deceitful: They pro-
fess to be respectable-some of them arc
editors, and lawyers and physicians; and
Phillips will yet teach them that the
rights of a freeman are not to be trampled
upon with impunity.
Affairs on the frontier are in a very
threatening state. The fire-eaters, tho
minority in western Missouri, bull!
and beat down the peaceable and conser
vative inhabitants. They are well arm
ed, and devote themselves assiduously Il
their work. Led on by that drunken
demagogue, Davy Atchison, they beiiev'
themselves in the full tide of success
/ They pirate of dissolving the Union. a
crazy sailors talk of scuttling a ship in ;
storm. They trample upon law and or
der daily, and unless reaction take
place soon, there will be bloodshed il
abundance.
Meantime our President of shreds an
patches, careless or ignorant, sits at hi
ease in Washington. Why should he d
lanythiig? Atchison, the bloated traitor
; is Pierce's Attorney in fact for MissouI
and Kansas. He will take care of tn
interests OF the South, which are in truth
if our national politicians are to be be
lieved, the only affairs in the .countr.
worthy of attention. He is amply abb
| to do all the dirty work of the Admins
tration in this quarter without any hel
!, from his masters.