The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-10-20
Correspondence of the Cleveland Leader
Exciting News from Kansas.
RUFFIANISM AND BLOODSHED-FREE STATE MEN
ARMED-APPEAL TO THE MEN OF OHIO.

INollSoo' AhS DlOONy put lulChCHo; anu tLIC
curtain rises upon another act Of violence
and outrage in the great tragedy of slavery
and freedom, which is now being enacted in
this territory. Another blow has been struck.
Blood flows. Freedom reels and staggers in
death grapple with slavery, The armed
assassns from Missouri have again Invaded
our soil, and, backed up by Shannon and the
usurping legislature, which was imposed up
on US by the same lawless marauders, are
reveling in drunken but short-ived triumph
over the honest, peaceful and liberty-lovng
voters of Kansas.
Yesterday, the lst of October, was, as you
are aware, the day appointed by that bogus
and frauduently elected legislature for the
election of a representative in congress from
this territory. You are also informed that
the free state convention resolved to resist
and repudiate the action Of that legislature.
Yet the friends of freedom pledged them
selves 10 commit no violence, unless COM
PEELED to do so ia self-defence They resolv-
ed to maintain peace. good order, and obedi-
ence to all laws properly enacted as far as
lay in their pOWey-yet NEVER TO YIELD. They
accordingly stayed away from the polls. The
Missourans came over in armed bands. They
have carried the election Of course and en-
couraged by the apparent non-resistance Of
the friends OF liberty. they rushed in a drunk
en- and rotous frenzy, to the last extreme Of
barbarity, and capped the climax of their
atrocities by MURDER Yes, murder of in
uocent and peaceful ctizans-and for what :?
For asserting and exercising the God-given
right Of free speech
Heaven grant me patience TO tell the tale &!
The enactment passed by this infamous leg
lslature, prescribing the qualifications of vo-
ters, declares that any one may vote who will
swear allegiance to the fugitive slave law,
the Kansas Nebraska bill, aud pay the sum
of one dollar! Such are the evidences of
citizenship, such are the qualifications of
voters, such is the self-government which
grows out of the fugitive slave law of 1850,
the repeal Of the Missouri compromise, and
the institution of squatter sovereignty On
the dav of election, this motley crowd of
arrived Vrginians, and drunken Indians,
were addressed by proslavery speakers from
the steps Of the hotel in this place. They
were told that slavery was right for Kansas,
and that Whitfield was the true representa-
tive of squatter sovereignty! They went
and voted, almost before the Missouri mud
was dry upon their boots. With rifles in
their hands, knives in their belts, bottles in
their pockets, and whskey in their bellies,
they staggered around the polls, drinking,
swearing and shouting in develish glee and
iendish exultation over their fancied tri-
umph
AS the day advanced and night approach
ed, they became more noisy, turbulent and
overbearng. They marched through the
streets, bespattered with mud, swearing
, yelling, swinging their hats, and asking
Where are the id aboltionists ?" " Let's
cut the Cd id white-livered Yankees
throats !" At this time one of our citizens
Mr.. James Furnam, was passing through the
streets. AS he passed the hotel, one of the
; Missourians, who wore white slouched
hat, grey coat, and pair of greasy cordu
roy pants tucked into the top of his mud
covered cowhide boots, hailed him and ask
: ed him to come in and vote. Mr.. F. decli
ned. The man asked him to come and drink