The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-02
From tie AGseo.ri Democrat.
,ths~ T.at+ov from, Mr. Park

and supported Col. Benton.
The consequences we're, he let loose his
hireling presses upon that paper, but
they got battle to their hearts content and
retired discom6tted from the field. About
this time the self-defensive association
was formed at Weston, but the masses
put it down. D. &. Atchison, B. F.
]. 7. V. Thompson, and
others, then organized a secret associa-
ton. l am informed its members are
sworn to secresy.to turn out and fight
when called on from head quarters-to
contribute money to carry out the objects
of the association-to share equally the
damages that may accrue from the overt
acts OF any of its members and to carry
these points even at the price of disunion.
They are bound never to divulge the
names of members. Thus their clan can
act m concert every whore at once, and
lead the uninitiated to suppose, that it is
the spontaneous uprisings of the whole
people, when they number only corpo-
RAILS guard. When a man is prescribed
they act in concert to destroy his bust
ness and character; and the poor man is
ruined without knowing the cause. All
northern men are prescribed 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 Robespierre - 9TH
ers said that this was the first time they
were afraid to avow their real sentiments.
No one knew when his business would
be destroyed, or he be ordered out ofthe
country. In this way citizens are paral-
lied and subdued. They call upon
other counties and st. Louis to cooper
ate and carry on the work. Unscrupul-
ous-they use any means-to accomplish
their purposes. Thus this secret engine
of hell is at work undermining the found
atoms of all social order, of confidence
and public honor.
Emissaries have beca sent through the
South to organize these associations
One Harvey was sent into Texas last
winter, endorsed and recommended BY
twenty three members of the Missouri
Legislature. From what I could learn
his mission proved a failure. l heard OF
but nine members in this State. He was
anxious to return to Jefferson City when
last heard from. McGee, of Jackson
county, was travelling in Arkansas oa the
same mission. Lycurgus Shepherd, of
Platte county, said to me few days
since, "That the whole south was orga-
nized, that they had decreed the destruc-
ton of every Benton press in the State,
and a portion of the Wing presses; that
they could command any amount of men
at a moments warning and millions
of money-that five hundred thousand
dollars were subscribed in Missouri--that
the destruction of the hotel at Kansas
and presses at Lawrence had been decreed
that they had taken cannon along to
demolish them from a distance, so as not
to be blown up by the kegs of powder
said to be under the building-they
would not stop until every free soiler and
aboIitionist was driven out of Missouri
and Kansas-they were prepared for dis
union or anything" He was then just
out of a secret meeting. These secret
meetings are generally held once week,
or at the call of their leaders. There is
no doubt but some good men are Undue
ed to join this association, and involved
in It's meshes before they understand its
objects. So by some overt act, or by
bloodshed and murder, they hope gradu-
ally to get the north and south to take
sides, and bring on civil war and disuni-
on. The nomination of D. r. Atchison
for the Presidency is ominous. Public
meetings are called at all the prominent
points where B. F. Stringfellow, j.. L. V.
Thompson or other speakers, are general
ly present to make any exciting speeches,
and lash TO fury the passions of the null
titude. Even the Rev Mr.. Kerr, chap
lain to the army at Fort Leavenworth,
left his post and came over into Platte
county, and in public speech urged the
citizens to extreme measures. Bible in
hand, Z" he secuted the idea of using hon
orable means In this war" H. Rich,
suttler of Fort LeaveHworth, was ready to
mob the man if he did not sanction ex-
IRENE measure. He that is not for us,
is against us, is their motto, there can be
no middle ground, and they are now busy
dragooning the whole community into
duty. Envy, prejudice, and interest,
seem mixed up and foremost in every
thing. The spirit of honor, so highly
lauded in the days of chivalry, is discard
ed by these leaders; selfshness, desire
to enjoy and appropriate the labor of
others without an equivalent, falsehood
and detraction, blindness of intellect. and
an infuriated passion that thirsts for
bloodshed and all the horrors of civil
war, now governs in that devoted region.
May the Almighty God make bare his
arm to save our country from ruin. The
day l left Parkville, Capt. Wallace was
busy notifying citizens to leave. | un-
derstand one lady who was teaching
school was ordered to close doors and be
off. Some were going, some talked of
defending their homes /; but they were
with thousands of armed men,
which this secret association could collect
at the shortest notice.
Mr.. Patterson telegraphed Gov. Ster-
ling Price at Jefferson city /" that the
danger was imminent" and asked pro-
lection for our lives and property. None
was given us. We then telegraphed to
the President, but had received no an
swer when we left. Had one company
of troops been ordered from Fort Leayen-
worth, nine tenths of our citizens would
have rallied to sustain the laws of their
country. 1t is libel on the. fair fame
of our citizens, to class them all as mooo-
Gratis and ruffians. The great masses
are right. They are parafized by the
crisis SO suddenly precipitased upon them.
They are not prepared to hang their
neighbors and destroy their property, or
for bloodshed, disunion or civil strife
But when the constituted authorizes ofour
country callthey viii quickly step forth
1x- l. L