Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-09-15

Ahc iheI. MI helicl j. IOS' master AZ Atchl
son. After transacting some business at the posi-
office said TO him, in presence Of Arch. Elliott
Esq, "Sir, should, somc time since, have be.
come regular subscriber To your paper only dc
not like the spirit of violence that characterzes it. "
lie said: " | look upon all Free-Soers as rogues,
and they ought to be treated as such" | re-
piled: "Well, Sir, am Flee-Soiler and expect
to vote for Kansas to be free State" lie said
81 don't expect you will be allowed to vote"
Not another word was spoken; left the house.
Nothing more transpircd ON that day.
The next morning Mr.. Kelley entered nv
boarding house, followed by a number of men,
and presented me the foregoing resolutions, cut
out of the Squatter Sovereign and pasted on
sheet of white paper, and demanded that should
sign them | commenced reading the resolutions
aloud, having first glanced my eye over them. ]
wanted to give myself time to frame wise and
prudent answer. He fercely interrupted, and
demanded that should "sign" | felt that
wanted impartial witnesses to what should trans.
pire. | rose up, walked down stairs, and into the
street. Here they stopped me and demanded,
'Wi you sign!" | said "No." They seized
me and dragged me to the river, cursing me for
Il ID abolitionist, and saying to me they were
going to drown me-
the very interesting ceremony of painting my face
with black pant-then marking upon it the let
ter r. Just how that proved that it will be bet,
ter for the people of Kansas to make Kansas a
Slave State rather than Free State, am not
informed. Certain it is, however, they attached
great Importance to the operation Your readers
MIR. Editor, would have been infinitely delighted
at the jokes that were perpetratcd at the expense
of my face
This ceremony being ended, and the company
having now grown to some thirty or forty persons
(boys included, my trial bcgan-if that be called
trial in which there was neither Judge, jury,
witness, law, order nor counsel for the prosecu-
tion OR defense. Loafcrs and gentlemen, old
men and beardless boys, scarce old enough to
swear grammaticay, drink whiskey or chew to-
bacco, all seemed to take it for granted that the
Court was organized on the principle of free
fight; and So severay and together they pitched
in, every one on his own hook. For the space of
about two hours I became sort of target at
which were hurled all sorts of missiles in the shape
Of curses, imprecations arguments entreaties, ac.
ausations and interrogatores
Acting on the principle that the Holy Roman
lnqusition is right when she demands that the
prisoner shall testify against himself, they po-
,ecded to question me concerning my motives,
ictiOns and intentions; while replied as I best
could that my coming to Kansas was projected
before it became apparent that controversy would
arise relative to slavery; that came for reasons
independent of and extraneous to this question !;
hat l never had any connection with any Emf
grant Aid Society whatever, and that [ nevermade
any communication to any paper in Kansas or out
If it concerning Kansas affairs. l even prohered
:hem that if they would make out in my presence
an impartial report for abe Squatter Sovereign l
would make no report to other papers of this out
rage upon my person. [ was not accused of tam
pering with slaves. explained to them that l
could not countenancc any interference with the
relation of master and slave in Kansas while that
question remains an open question.
At length they came to consult what they should
do with me. Ira Norris, Esq, late resident in
Platte City, and Clerk of the County Court of
Platte County, Ga Yankee by birth and educated, }
came to me and said "Mr B., will advise you
for your good, as friend, when you get away
lust keep away" I said, "Sir, expect to go
away, but [ intend to come back again" | said
Il cannot leave; I own real estate here close by
Atchison, in the State of Missouri, and have
claim on Stranger Creek; I cannot leave"
Some one remarked: "You can sell your claim
through an agent" I said: "I will neither sell
my claim through an agent nor in my own prop
81 person. If you do not take my life [ intend
TO live on it." They said to me again: "Well,
stay on your claim, but keep away from Atchison."
said: "Gentlemen, if you do not take my life,
and Providence permits | shall come back to
Atchison.' They said: eff you come back again
to Atchisou, we will hang YOU They offered
to show me the very tree on which they would
hang me.
They made another proposal: !" WE'LL live in
the country, and vote as you think best, but hold
your tongue" said l will speak when
please" l said: "Gentlemen, have done you
no wrong Ihad as good right to come here as
you, and have as good right to come here as you
and have as good right to speak my mind as you
| shall do my duty as | understand it; now you
do the same You are many, am but one man
dispose of me as you think best; l ask no favor'
of you"
They sent me down the Missouri River on
raft, without either oar or rudder, the editor o
/ THE Sq~atter SoUeriyn holding the rope tina
towed me into the middle of the stream.
My flag was inscribed as follows:
/ ....C
| EASTERN EsIeR.sT AID SOCIETY"
"The Rev. Mr. Butler, Agent for Underground Railroad"
/ "FOR BOSTON, .
Cago insured unavoidable danger othe Missourans and
! the Missouri River excepted"
."Let future emmissares from the North BEWARE Our
hemp crop sufficient to reward such seoundres."
/ O......
i Of the blazonry of my flag will not speak
shall not tax myself or the reader with detail
any further l have heard of men before thi
who were sail to "look "as though they cam
down on raft" shall keep these colors, un
der which have made my first voyage as me
mento of these evil days.
While was in the hands of these gentleme
(they don't like to be called rufhans) they taun
!, ed me with the assurance that l could make
fortune out of this affair at the East | desir
neither the wealth nor the notoriety that may b
purchased by such means. | desire to be permi