American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-08-02
Outrage ON Gov. Rssdsr.


4 Kansas CRY, No., Thursday, June %;
The country is again thrown into q state
lof iniense excitement by the perpe(ralion OF
an outrage on the person of Gov. Reeder,a at
his quarters at the Shawnee Mission. about
nine miles from this place. The facts as
far as l am aLle to give them are-undoubt-
edly reliable. 1t ltappears the Gov. R. was
sitting alone in his Office, his Secretary,
Mr.. Lowery, being sick and confined to
his room at the time, when the well known I
Gen. Siringfellow shtered.s He was court
eously received. aai after a general preiim- I
mary sonversatioa, in which he dilated on
tie influence and control he would have
over the present Legislature. and the great
excitement in Missouri against Gov. Reed
er, he made two propositions to the Gov
IernoF-one heing that the Governor should
sanction any bill that should be passed to
punish the tampering with slaves in the
Territory or the uttering Of abolition SEN
timents.. and the other, that he recommend
in his Message that the Legislature adsI
journ to the Shawnee Mission. on the bor-
! ders Of Missouri The Governor replied
that although in favor of a Free State, he
was willing and thought it quito proper
that temporary protection he given to slave
properly 10 the Territory until the ques-
ton be properly decided; ;but that he could
not promise to sanction a bill he had never
seen, and much less. could he agree to a
} bill making the penalty for minor offences
death, as he had heard proposed and that
! he would not officially recommend the
. Legislature to adjourn to the Shawnee
> Mission. At this the General became
L tmuch excited, and endeavorelto get up a
!. quarrel upon the words border ruffans," /"
IS reported to have been used by Gov. R.
He was told thai the use of such language
!, had been disavowed, and that as early as
- possible. He then desired to know il Gov.
10 R. had represented Kansas as being con-
l. quered and subjugated by the citizens Of
/ Missouri; to which the Governor replied
10 that he had. S.ringfellow then inquired
;, further, il the Governor had intended to
charge him with any unlawful or dishon'
est act to which he replied that he believ'
Ia ed aud had said that Gen, S. was mainly
ID instrumentalin in creating the excitement in
- Missouri which had produced the presen
state Of things; and in answer to another
question BY Stringfellow, said that lie con
o. sidered such course ofconduct as unlaw
IN ful and dishonorable.
le By this time the excitement Of String
a, fellow became very great, SO much so a.
Nj attract several persons standing in front o
v the door,an he on tie spot gave the Gov
a. verbal challenge which was Immediately
E. declined. the Governor saying that he wa
rs no subscriber to the dueling code. A
this time the Governor was carelessly sit
~ ting with his chair balanced upon the. twt
e hind legs. Siringfellow advanced and b,
.. putting his hand upon his shoulder pushed
=, him over, at the same time falling upol
y him and scratching him deeply in TIL
: cheek with his nails. The Geveruorkick
a ell him off and rose to his feet, both gen
,t tlemen drawing their pistols, when String
"A fellow was seized by the Attorney Genera
lsaacks and Mr.. Halderman, and the Gov
'3 dropped the muzzle of his weapon saying
Id that he scorned to attack man who wa
prevented from defending himself BY tht
interference ofthe two gentlemen the mat
he ter was Gained down and Syringfelloy
us left. t
ln To yourselves and your readers leav
rs all comment on this most unparalleled out
he rage, merely stating further, that String
up fellow, who thus begins by attempting I
M intimidate the Governor Of Kansas Terri
tory, aud, failing in that, personally as
IN saults him, is resident of Weston, No
m and makes no protence ofliving in the Tel
on ritory. Itis generally believed that til
IN Missourians have discovered that thcy wi
, be unabed to manage two-thirls OF I'll
he Legislature aud thus avoid the Governor
nc veto; and, therefore, the conduct Of the
'nt acknowledged leader. During the late a
ge fair the Governor had twice good oppo
us tun'y to shoot Siiugfellow, aud III
a friends Of orderand his friends are yer
rd thankful that he refraiaed for had an il
ne jury, even the slightest, occurred to String
'ld fellow, in two hours crowd would has
m been raised on the border, against whic
resistance would have been useless, an
ne no one can imagine what would have bee
esy the ultimate consequence.
rly Respectfully yours, TRAVELLER