The Empire County argus., 1855-06-16

oc at letter from George s. Park, one of the edi
tors of tho Luminary, at Parkyie, Mo-the Office
of which was thrown into the river by the crusad
ers, on their return from the Kansas election. w
give portions of the etter-would like to quote
entire but can not, for lack of space:
believing D. R Atchison dangerous man. th
Luminnry steadily opposed his reelection to tn,
United States Senate and supported Col Benton
The consequences werc he let loose his hirelins
presses upon that paper. hut they got battle to the
hearts content. and retired discomfited from The
field About this time the selEdefensive associa
tion was formed at Weston. but the masses nut i
down D. R. Atchison, B. +. Stringfellow j. TV
Thompson and Others. then organized n secret as
sociation. ! am informed its members arc sworr
to secrecy--to turn out and fight when called or
from head quarters to contribute money to carr,
out the objects of the association: to share equally
the damages that may accrue from the overt act,
of any of its members. and to carry these roints
even at the price of disunion They are bound
never to divulge the names of members. Thus
their clan can act in concert everywhere at once
and lead the uniniiated to suppose that it is the
spontaneous uprising of the people when they
number only corporal's guard When q man is
prescribed they act in concert to destroy his husi
ness character; and the poor man is ruined without
knowing the cause. All northern men are pro.
scribcd and ruined in their business and character
or driven out of the country. who do not subscribe
to their most ultra doctrines In this manner whole
communities are overawed One man said to me
in Parkville, Times are worse here now than
they were in France in the days of Rohespierre:
others said this the first time they were afraid
to avow their real sentiments Emssaries have
been sent through the South to organize these nsso-
Citations. They call upon other counties and st
Louis to cooperate with them. One Harvey was
sent into Texas last winter endorsed and recon-
mended by twenty-three members of the Missouri
Legislature. From what could learn. his mission
proved failure. heard of but nine members in
the State. He was anxious to return to jefferson
City. when last heard from. N1cCce of Jackson
county. was travelling in Arkansas on tho same mis-
sion Shepherd. of Elatte countv. said to me q
few days since. that the whole South was organ
lied; that they lad decreed the destruction of ev-
cry Benton press in the State, and portion of the
Wing presses: that they could command anv
amount OF men at n moments warning. and mil
lions of money-that five hundred thousand dol
lars were subscribed in Missouri: that the desruc.
on of the hotel at Kansas and presses at Lawrence
had been dccreed; that they had taken cannon
along to demolish them from distance. so MS not
to be blown up by the kegs of powder said to be
under the building they would not stop until cv-
cry Freesoiler and Abolitionist WAS driven out of
Missouri and Kansas. He was then Just out Of n
secret meeting. There is no doubt hut some good
men are induced to join this association and get
involved in it's meshcs before they understand its
objects SO by some overt net. or hv hloodshed
and murder, they hope gradually to get the North
and the South to take sides and bring on civil war
and disunion The nomination of n r. Atchson
for the Presidency is ominous. Public meetings
are called at all the prominent points where B. F.
Stringfrllow Thompson. or other speakers. arc
generally present to make exciting srcrchcs. and
lash to fury the passions of the multitude Even
Rev. Mr. Kere. chaplain to the army at Fort Teav-
enworth, left his post and came over into Elattc
county. and in public snecch urged the citizcns
to extreme measures. Bible in band he secuted
the idea of using honorable means in this war; IT.
Rich. sutlpr at Fort leavenworh. was ready to
mob the man that did not sanction extreme meas
ures. Tie day left Parkvillc Capt Wallace was
busy notifying citizens to leave. understand that
one lady who was teaching school was ordered to
close doors and he off Some were going some
talked of defending their homes but they were
threatened with thousands of armed men. which
this secret association could collect at the shortest
notice.
= Mr.. Patterson tclcgraphed Gov Price at JEFF
ferson City. that tn danger was imminent and
asked protection for our lives and property None
was given us. We then tclcgraphed to the Prcs-
dent. bat had received no answer when wc left
Had ono company of troops been ordered from Fort
Teavenworth nine tcnths of our citizens would have
rallied to sustain the laws of their country It is
n libel on the fair fame of our citizens. to class
them all mobocrats and ruffans. The great
masses right. They are raralyzed by the cr-
sis so suddenly precipi'ated upon them. They are
not prepared to hang their ntighhors and destroy
their property or for bloodshed dsunion and civil
strife But when the constituted authorities of our
country call. they will quickly step forth to sustain
its laws and its honor