Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-07-16
The Collision between Govsrner Rsedsr and
etringfellov

/
Correspondence otthe NY. Journal Of CONNER rec }
KANSAS CITY. No, June %, 1855.
The country is again thrown into state
OF intense excitement, by the attempted
preparation of an outrage upon the person
Of Governor Rceder, at his quarters at
Shawnee Mission, about nine miles from
this place. The facts as am able to give
them, are undoubtedly reliable. It appears
that the Governor was sitting alone ia his
office, his Secretary, Mr.. Lowrey, being
sick and confined to his room at the time,
when the well-known Gen. Strnesellow
entered. lie was courteously received,
and after general preliminary convers1-
ton, in which he dlated upon the influence
he would have over the present Legislature,
and the excitement existing in Missouri
against Governor Reeder, he made two
propositions to the GoverBor-one being,
that the Governor should sanction any bill
that should be passed to punish the tamper.
ing with slaves in the territory, or the ut
tering abolition sentiments, and the other
that he recommend in his message that
the Legislature adjourn 70 Shawnee Mis-.
. on, on the border Of Missouri The Gov.
ernor replied that, although in favor of a
free State. he vas willing and thought it
quite proper that temporary protection be
given to slave property in the territory, un.
Ill the question be properly decided; but
that he could not promise to sanction bill
he had never seen, and much less could he
agree to bill making the penalty for minor
offences .ath, as he had heard proposed,
and that he would not officially recommend
the Legis!atu e to adjourn TO Shawnee Mis-.
sion. At this the General became much
excited, and endeavored to get up quarrel
upon the words "border ruifians." reported
10 have been used by Gov. r. He was told
that the use 81 such language had been dis
avowed, and that as early as possible. H
then desired to know il Gov. r had repres.
ented Kansas as being conquered and sub
jugated by the citizens Of Missouri: u which
the Governor replied that he had String
fellow then inquired further, If the Gov.
ernor Ind intended to charge him with any
unlawful or dshonorable act, TO which the
Governor replied. that he believed and had
said that Gen. 5. was mainly instrumental
in creuting the excitement in Missouri " hich
had produced the present state Of things;
and in answer I, another question byStrinr-
fellow, said that he considered such
course of conduct us unlawful and dishonor.
able.
BY this. the excitement of Stringfellow
became very great, so as to attract several
persons standing in front of the door; and
he on the spot gave the Governor verbal
challenge, which was Immediately declined,
the Governor saying he was no subscriber
10 the duelling code. At This time the Gov
ernnr was carelessly sitting with his chair
balanced upon the two hind legs. String
fellow advanced, and by putting his hand
upon his shoulder. pushed him over a, the
sume time falling upon him, and scratching
him deeply in the cheek with his mails The
,vernor kicked him of, ana rose to III.
iret. both gentlemen drawing their pistols,
when Stringtelfoa was seized by Attorney
!saacs and Mr.. Haidernsn. and the Gov
crnor dropped the muzzle of his weapon.
saying that he scorned 10 attack man who
was prevented from def nding himself. b.
the Interference of two gcn'lem n. the mat
ter WINS Gained down and StringfelIow len.
To yourselves and your readers, 1 leave
all comment on this almost unpara 'eled
outrt &c. merely stating further III It sc irg-
fellow who thus begins by attempting 10
intimda,e the Governor OF Kansas Terrific.
~, and falling in that, personally assaults
him, is a resident OF Weston, Mo-, and
makes no pretense of living in tie Terrific
ry. II is generally believed that the Mis-
sourians have discovered that they will be
unable to manage two-ihirds of the l. gis.
iature. and thus avoid the Governors veto,
ana, therefore, the conduct their ackn7w.
lodged leader. During the late arar the
Governor had twice as good an oppogtnn
to shoot as Stringfellow, and the friends OF
order, and his friends. are very thankful tn I
he RETAINED; for had any injury, even the
slightest, occurred to Stringfeliow, in two
hours crowd would have been raised on
the border, against which resistance would
have been useless, and no one can imagine
what weud have been the ultimate conse-
quer &c.
Respectfully yours, TRAVELLER.