The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-09-08
REUBEN RUSTIC.
Far tie Herald # Ffee'fom.
Rev. Mr.. Buffers Statement
STEAMER POLAR STAR, Mo. River,
Aug. 23I. 1855. {

J
ED. HERALD OF FREEDOM You have
no doubt heard ere this of my flight
from Kansas, and your readers may de-
sire to be posted in regard to the trans
action. l inclose you a statement Of
facts, the same which / have communi-
Gated to the Missouri Democrat.
My residence is on the Strangerereek,
about twelve miles from Atchison. On
the 18th of August, l went to Atchison
for the purpose of taking boat down
the river. Mr.. Kelly one of the editors
of the Squatter Sovereign is postmaster
at Atchison. After transacting some
business at the Post office, / said to
Kelly, in the presenceof Arch Elliot Esq,
"Sir, | should, sometime since, have be-
come regular subscriber to your paper,
only, / do not like the spirit of violen ce
that characterizes it" He said, 81 look
upon all Free Soilers as rogues, and that
they are to be treated as SUCH" | re-
piled, "Well sir, am Free Soiler, and
expect to vote for Kansas to be a Free
State" He said, Il don't expect you
will be allowed to VOTE"
Not another word was spoken; / left
the house. Nothing more trasnspired on
that day.
The next morning Mr.. Kelly entered
my boarding house, followed by number
of men, and presented me series of
resolutions, cut out of the Squatter Sow
ereign, and pasted on a sheet of white
paper, and demanded that / should sign
them. | commenced reading the resolu-
tons aloud, having first glancel my eye
over them. | wanted to give myself
time to frame wise and prudent answer.
He fiercely interrupted me, and demand
ed that | should "sign." / felt that l
wanted impartial witnesses to what
should transpire. | rose up, walked
down stairs, and into the street. Here
they stopped me, and demanded 'swill
you sign?" said ''.Noh' They seized
me and dragged me to the river, cursing
me for id abolitionist, and saving
to me they were going to drown me-
Arriving at the bank, Mr.. Kelly went
through the very interesting ceremony
of painting my face with black paint
thus marking upon it the letter R.
Just how that proved-that it viii be
better for the people of Kansas to make
Kansas a slave State, rather than free
S.ate-I am not informed. Certain il
is, however, they attached great impor-
tance to the operation. Your readers,
Mr. Editor, would have been infinitely
delighted at the jokes that were perpe-
trated at the expense ofmy face.
This ceremony being ended, and the
company having now grown to some
thirty or forty persons (boys included,
ny trial began-if that be called trial,
in which there was neither judge, jury,
witness, law, order nor counsel for the
prosecution or defense. Loafers and
gentlemen. old men and beardless boys,
scarce old enough to swear grammatic-
ally, drink whiskey or chew tobacco,
all seemed to take it for granted that the
Court was organized on The principle OF
free fight; and so, seyerally and to-
gether, they pitched in, every one on
his own hook. For the space of about
two hours became sort of target, at
which were hurled all sorts of missiles,
u the shape Of curses, imprecations, ar
aunlents, enIreaties, accusations, and
| interrogatories. Acting ON the princi-
pIe that the Holy Roman inquisition is
right when she demands that the prison
er shall testify against himself. they pro-
eeeded to question me concerning my
motives, actions and intentions while /
replied as best could, that my COM
ing 10 Kansas was projected before It
became apparent that controversy
would arise relative to slavery; that l
came for reasons independent of and
extraneous of this question that l never
had any connection with any enigrant
sid society whatever, and that | never
made any communication to any paper
IN Ksnsss OF out Of II, concerning Kan
sas afair. ! even prOffered them that