Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-09-01
,.souATrES SOVEREIGNTY. Y

resolutions presented him Tor MS signature.
Below we give the substance of Mr.. Buffers
review of this disgrscelul affair. as it ap-
pears in the st. Louis Dsasocrat of last Sat
urJas, Mr.. Batter was formerly resident
OF this county and more recently OF Cedar
county. He now resides ia Illinois, but
owns lana in Kansas, Many Of our readers
will remember him as very mild, unassln-
ing man, but firm and unwarering in the
adherence TO whist he believes 10 be true
aMy residence is on the Stranger Greek,
about twelve miles fren Atchisen, On the
10Th Of August, wen, 10 Atchison tor the
parpose Of taking boat down the river.
NJ Kelley il Postmaster at Atchison. After
.rsnsae,irg some business at the Post Office,
l said 10 him, in presence of Arch Eliot,
Esq, "Sir, should, sometime since, have
bscome aregulsr subscriber to your paper,
only d, not like the spirit ,fviolence tina,
eharac,es:ses it." He said, Il look upon
al free sellers as rogues, and that they are
30 be treated Us such.n replied. "Weii,
sir, am free sailer, and expect 10 vote
for Kansas to be free State" He said,
II don's expect you Will be allowed to vote. "
NJ, another word was spoken; | let the
house. Nothing mere transpired Oh that
dev. The mex, morning Dir. Kelley entered
my boarding house, followed By nambef
of5asn, and presented ne the foregoing res
o.utions, (resolutiuns adopted At meeting
or the people Of Atchison few days pre-
yioas,) cut out OF the S9aaftsr SOVEREIGN,
aud pasted on sheet Of white paper, and
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meaced reading the resolutions aloud. hay
ing first glanced my eye over them. want
ed 10 give myself time 10 frame wise aud
prudent answer. lie fercely Interrupted
me, and demanded that should "sign."
felt that I wanted impartial witnesses TO
sha, should ,ranspire. rose up, walked
down s,uirs, and into the street. Here
they stopped me, and demanded, twill YOU
siral" said NO Pr They seized me ard
dragged me 10 toe river, cafs;ng me for a
id Abol.tionist, and saying to me they
were going To drown ne.
Arrived Ut the bank, Nr. Kelley went
through the very interesting ceremony of
painting my face with black paint-then
marking upon il the letter II. just how
that proved that il will be better for the peo-
pie OF Kansas TO make Kansas slave State.
rather than free State-I am not informed.
Certain il is, however. they attached great
importance 10 the operation. Your readers,
Mr. Editor, would have been infinitely de-
lighted at the Jokes that were perperated
at the expense Of my face.
This ceremony hasing ended, and the
company having now grown 10 some thirty
or forty persons (boys included, my trial
besan-if that be called trial, in which
there was neither judge, jury. witness, law,
Urter nor counsel for the prosecution or de-
tense. Loafers and gentlemen. cid men AMI
teartless bows, scarce old enough 10 swear
dramatically, drink whisky or chew to-
baceo, all seemed to take it for granted
thst the Court was organized on the prin-
cip!e Of g free fight; and so, seyerally and
together, 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, in the
curses, imprecations, arguments, entreaties,
accusations, and interrngatories. Acting
on the principle that the Holy Roman In
QUESTION is right when she demands that the
pEis oner shall testify against himself, they
proceeded to question me concerning my
motives, actions and intentions while |
replied as best could. that nv coming to
Kansas was projected before it became APP
parent tia. controversy would arise rela-
tive to slavery; that | came for reasons in
dependent OF and extraneous to this ques-
tioa; that never had any connection with
any I'm grant aid society whatever, and that
never had any communication to any paper
o. Kansas or out Of il, concerning Kansas
affairs. eyen profered them inst il they
would make out in my presence an impartial
report for the Squatter Sovereign, | would
make no repor. 10 other papers of this ut
rage upon my person. was not accused
OF tampcring with slaves. explained to
them that could not countenance any inter
ference with the relation Of master aud slave
in Kansas while that question remains an
open question.
.The very head and front Of my Offending
hath this extent, no moro 1 had spoken
among my neigbbors fayorabiy TO making
Kansas free State, and had said in tine
Office Of the Sovereign, Il am a free soler
and intend to vote in favor Of msking Kan
sas free State.
Atleng.h they came 10 consult what they
should DO with me. Ira Norris, ESQ late
E itS.uSHl AZ ave lily, anu IItfE CI ltit
county court OF Platte county, "a yankee b,
birth and educatioB,) came To me and said
M. B., ! sill advise you for your rood, a
a Jfrisnd, when you get away-just keel
away" sGid, II cannot leave: own rea
estate here close by Atchison, in the Stat,
( OF Missouri, and have claim on S;raags
Creek. | cannot leave" Some one re
marked, "You can sell your claim through
an agent" ! said, Il will neither sell N,
( claim through an agent, nor in my owl
proper person. II you do not take nv life
| intend 10 i've on it," They said 10 M
again, "Weil, stay on your claim, but keel
away fiom Atchis0n" | said, sG entlemen
( ifyou do no, take ny life. and Providenc,
permits, | shall come back to Atshison.
+ IS4ey said, IF you come back again I,
Atchison, we will hang you" They of'ere,
I to show me the very tree on which the,
would hang me.
They made another proposal: Well, liy,
in the country, and vote as you think hes,
( bE, hold your tongue" said, "Nu; vii
speak when | please" | said, "Gentle
men, have done you no wrong. | had IA
good right to come here as you. ind hav
a. good right to speak ny mind as you
shall DO NY duty as | understand il; nov
DO you Do the same. You are many, | an
but one man-dispose Of me as YOU thin
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