Kansas weekly herald., 1855-05-25

eff Sir William ssPhillips's' bed be bed of
torture, he has made it for hiasself. ."-Junsu:.
Though we are at present, and have been for
some days past, suffering from severe inGis-
position, which has up to the present moment
precluded the use Of our pen in our editorial
duties for the present week, we cannot consent
to permit our paper to go to press, without fur
nishing our numerous readers with plain un-
vanished narrative of all the facts attending the
recent tarring and feathering of William Phil
lips.
: The causes which led to the arrest of Phillips
are generally too we'll known, too firmly sub
stantiated to require any reiteration of them
from US, but in recallingthe chargeswe do itwith
the view of showing to the public that we have
not punished an innocent, an honest, an upright
man +; Dut vile perjurer, bloody william, an in
stigator and abettor to foul and dastardly
murder. The crimes perpetrated by Phillips
perjury and allotment of murder-will say
whether the punishment inflicted on him was
just or unjust, deserved or undeserved. The per-
jury committed by Phillips was in protest sent
by him to Gov. Reeder against the validity Of the
election in this district. In this protest we find
the following language, "That many of the vo-
ters of this district were Ca DErERREp&y
from voting by the conduct of The citizens of
Missouri Though the charge of perjury
against Phillips is irrefutable, yet we are will
ing to leave the men who were present at the
election on the Both of March last to say wheth-
er Philips committed perjury in the above de-
claration. The second and most serious charge
brought against Phillips is that of having insti-
gated and abetted the base and cowardly murder
of Clark. He is accused of having handed
McCrea the pistoli by which the life of NAL
colin Clark was taken. After Phillips's part
in this murder he was required to leave this Ter
ritory by meeting of the citizens of this place.
The following is a copy of the preamble and
resolution passed by this meeting
Whereas, by the facts ELECTED on the Coro
ner's inquest held over the body of Malcolm
Clark, as welt as from other circumstances
that have come to our knowledge, it appears
that William Phillips of Leavenworth was ac-
cessory to the murder of one Of our most res
pectable citizens.
60 Resolued, That in accordance with the ex-
pressed desire of the indignation meeting to
night, William Phillips be ordered to leave this
Territory by O'Clock on Wednesday,"
William Phillips was notified of the requisi
ton of this meeting, and persuaded of the utter
folly and inutility of his attempting to remain
in this city. He nevertheless persisted in his
residence in this city till Thursday last, when
the committee appointed by the meeting deter
mined to carry out the spirit and letter Of the
resolutions of the meeting at all hazards. Ac-
| cordingly the committee met and decided that
we should proceed TO the house Of Phillips,
and in case of his refusal to promise to leave
the Territory, should take him, peceably if we
could, forcibly if it became necessary, and pun
ish him. On approaching his house quietly
and orderly. Phillips was reported absent, but
in short time we discovered him surrounded
by his Abolition brethren some fifty yards
distant from his kennel. The bold, fearless,
and unfinching captain of our party, Col.
Thos. c. Hughes, wended his way through the
trembling Abolitionists unmolested to Phillips,
who being asked if he intended to comply with
the requisitien of the meeting by leaving the
Territory, answered most emphatically s'THAT
HE DID NoT,' he was then told that he should ac-
company s,which he did with apparent willing
nessR On reaching the river we placed him in
a boat, carrying him to the Missouri side,
where contemplated giving him coat of
tar and feathers, but failing to procure the tar
and feathers in this city, and being unanimous
ly opposed to discharging him from custody
unpunished, we decided after brief consulta-
tion to take him to Weston. and there to make
| a public demonstration of him.
On our arrival at Rialto Ferry, Gone mile be-
low Weston) we dispatched messenger for a
supply of tar and feathers, which we procured
without any trouble. In the meantime Phillips
was converted into an Ethiopian, and his hair
cut in the most inimitabLe style. The coat of
tar and feathers was then given him, which ad
ded very much to his personal beauty-making
his tout ensemble SO peculiarly striking as to
battle all attempt of our pen to describe. After
having riggsd him oat,;' la mode Francais, we
seated him upon a rail and bore him through
the public streets of Weston, much to the de-
| light and merriment of its citizens. After
hawking him through the streets he was sold by
big buck nigger, in front of the st. George
Hotel, as good hemp breaker, or carriage dri-
yer, and brought the enormous sum of one cent
and half. The purchaser hearing the true
| character of his &c Samboo gave him his free
dom, refusing to own such breed of stock
About four O'Clock Phillips was given over to
his brother, who brought him Immediately over
here, where after six hours of hard la Dor with
sand and grease he Phillips was made to see
again his white skin, but his heart still remains
as dismalIy black ever.
! 1t is due the citizens of Weston, to say, that
they took no part whatever in it, and that they
are perfectly irresponsible for the treatment of
| Phillips We do not wish to embroii them in it
and we cannot see how they can be accused uf
any participation in the matter. The commit
tee are responsible for the treatment Of Phillips,
nor do they wish to shrink from that response
biIity In the language of Zachary Taylor to