The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-12-29
The Burial of Mr. Rarher.


SUNDAY last he was removed to his final
resting place.
|. a funeral sermon was preached at the
Free State Hotel, by Rev L. B. DENNIS.
Gen. LANE read an interesting address,
in which he detailed the origin of our
difficulties with Missouri, and traced
them to their termination. He showed
that Mr.. Dow and Mr.. BARBER were the
first martyrs of freedom in Kansas, and
as such, monuments should be erected to
their memory.
| Gen. ROBINSON read a eulogY upon Mr..
BIS life and character. We extract the
following -
"The occasion which calls US together
is one of deep interest, and peculiar sig
ni6eance to every patriot and republican.
"Our Territory has been repeatedly in-
vaded, and our dearest rights trampled
upon, By the citizens of a foreign State.
They have taken possession of our ballot
boxes, and by force of arms have wrest-
ed from US the right to make our own
laws and choose our own rulers, and i'm
posed upon us system of laws uncon-
genial to our natures and wants. Having
accomplished all this by invasion and
outrage, it was but natural to suppose
that invasion and outrage would be nee
essary to enforce their enactments.-
misunderstanding the facts and the
temper of our people as well as their
tactics, the Executive recently gave the
signal for another, and the armed hordes
iagain responded. Our citizens have
been besieged, robbed, insultedand muir
Edered and our town threatened with de-
struction for two whole weeks, by the
authority of the Executive. and, as he
now says, in consequence of 'miSun-
derstanding.' A misunderstanding on
the part of an Executive is a most unfor-
tunate affair.
"Our Governor having been told that
1.-THE people of Kansas did not recognize
the laws of Missouri, and were deter
mined these laws should be dead letter
in the Territory, unwittingly fell into the
error of supposing the people would ar
ray themselves against the Government
of the United States, evidently not un-
Outstanding how code of enactments
can be effectually resisted and no LAW
violated. Had he carefully read the
Iearly history of his country, he might
have understood the .tSons of Liberty"
better than to suppose any United States
law would be violated by the people, or
if violated, that the community would be
guilty of violating it.
"By whose act do the remains Of the
lamented Thomas Barber now wait inter-
ment at our hands? By whose hand is
his wife made widow By whose in
strumentality are we made to mourn the
uutimely fall of a brave comrade and
worthy citizen? Report says Thomas
Barber was murdered in cold blood by
an officer or officers of the Government
who was member of the Sheriff S pos
Sc. which was commanded by the Gov
ernor, who is backed by the President of
the United States Was Thomas Barber
murdered =? Then are the men who kill
ed him, and the officials by whose au-
thority they acted his murderers. And
if the laws are to be enforced, then will
the Indian Agent, the Governor, and the
President be convicted of, and punished
for, murder. There is work enough for
the law and order men to do, and let
us hear no more about resistance to the
laws till this work is done. If all Mis-
souri, must be aroused, and the whole
nation convulsed to serve a peace warrant
on an unofending citizen, may we not
expect some slight effort will be made to
bring these capital offenders to justice !?
Orare our laws made for the low, and
not the high-for the poor, and not the
rich
'sFor the dead we need not mourn. He
fell martyr to principle; and his blood
will nourish the tree of liberty. An hon
orable death is preferable to dishonor-
able and inglorious life. Such was the
death of our brother, and as such will
ever be cherished by his companions and
fellow-citizens. 1t is glory enough for
any man that body of men, like the
Barber Guards, should adopt his name
to designate and distinguish their COM
pany.
ITO his beloved and bereaved wife, to
his brothers and relatives, to the mem
bers of his company, to all who have
pledged property, honor and life to the
cause of freedom and humanity, seem
to hear the spirit of our departed broth
er say, BE of good cheer, weep not for
me; you are engaged in good work
and your reward will be glorious. Death
is no misfortune to the true indeed it is
sweet to die in defence of Llberty.'
"But the shock produced by the MUIR
der of our friend is felt beyond the circle
of his immediate relations and friends.
1t has shook the entire fabric of our gov
eminent to its very base, and nothing but
the unseen hand of the All Wise Govern
or OF the Universe could have saved this
nation from civil war and political death.
cit is due to the bold stand taken by the
freemen of Kansas during the late inva-