Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-25
From the Missouri Democrat, August II.
MORE MOB Law IN MISSOURI.
INDIGNITIES TOAMETIIODiST PREACHER
BANIsnMENT FROM THE STATE.

bANlohMbNI ihVM IHh BLAZE
Mr.. Editor: | wish to present to the public.
through. the columns of the Democrats plain state
ment Of an affair which recently took place IN Cass
county, Missouri. In the providence OF God, and
tho arrangement of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, | was called to preach the gospel in Cass
county, Missouri, in the Ilarrisonville circuit. ]
endeayored to discharge my duty as a Christian
minister, to the best of my ability, teaching moth
ing Jut those truths which make wise unto saliva
ton, and having nothing to do with the yexins
questions Of tho day.
had labored thus.on the above circuit for a
period Of seven months, and up to about three
weeks ago, the blessings Of God attending my
labors, and, nothing occurring to mar the peace and
harmony between me and my people. About the
time named an article appeared in the Cass county
Gazette, written by one John a.. Tugglc, II member
OF the Nj. f. Church, South, in which there was an
attempt to excite public opposition against me, 10y
alleging that ] had said certain things to him, in
private conversation, respecting the decision of
the question of slavery or no slavery in kasas and
styling me a northern abolitionist.
About a week after the appearance Of this article,
two negroes attempted to escape from Harrison
Vile, ard a report was Immediately circulated that
i, together. with. other residents of the town and
count ), had ilsti gated them to make the attempt--
than which nothing could be more false, as ! had
not even once spoken to a single negro while resi-
dent in Cass county and the other persons were
citizens of long standing, whose characters were
above suspicion, one of whom had been a resident
in the state forty-seven years.
On Thursday, July 26, while p~caccably pursuing
my way along the public road, | was ovcrtaken by
two meh-ono of them known as Cononel Morley
who addressed me some impudent questions re-
specting where ! was going, &C.; and finally in
formed me that | had been accused of melting
slaves to escap e, and of preaching abolition doc
trine, and that | must return with them to lIar-
risonville and have the charges investigated. This
conversation they interlarded with the most pro-
fame oaths that could fall from mortal lips. i pro-
tested against their right thus to stop me on the
public highway, when the afore:named Colonel
Morley leapeG from his horse, and began FUN
bling about his person, as if feeling for a pistol.
After some further parley. l informed them
that, inasmuch as l was entirely innocent of THE
charges alleged, and did nor fear a fair i~nvestiga-
ton, | would accompany them to Jacksonville for
that purpose. just as we turned to go back, six
ten more men mounted, made their appearance.
We stopped at u cabin in the prairie for supper.
where the bottle was freely passed, and | received
the most insulting treatment, being asked to drink,
and made the subject Of obscene jests and horrid
oaths.
We reached Jacksonville about II o'clock at
night, and was taken to q hotel, and a guard OF
three men placed over me during the night, as if !
had been the greatest criminal. Next morning l
was waited upon by three men, who informed me
that they were appointed a committee to search my
effects, in order to ascertain if | had any abolition
documents. This committee was com posed of a
Rev. Mr.. Allen, Baptist preacher, Mr.. Bailey, and
the proprietor of the hotel where | was confined.
They searched every thing | had, exam ined my
Bible and hymn book, and read my private letters
carefully but could find nothing to substantiate
their charges.
While this examination was in progress, a meeting
was called at the Court House, and | could hear
some person delivering what seemed to be a very
~infiammatory speech. After a while, a committee
composed of a DR.. Hansbraugh, Col. Morley, and
Rnp III A1an aa.1n 80 ,r.rr, ,A tLaN moo
was wanted at the Court House. | accompanied
them, and found about two hundred men, the most
OF whom were of a low class, for | will do that
community the justice to say that very few respect
able persons participated in these outrages. A
certain DR.. Maxsel sat as chairman of the meet
ing
After a call to order, DR.. Hans5raugh rose and
said that had been accused of aiding some ne
groes in running off, and had been preaching abo-
lition doctrines and circulating abolition documents,
and that it had been resolved as the sense of
tina meeti ng that / should leave the state in seven
days.
replied briefly that | protested against their
entire proceedings that with a fair investigation
l could prove all their charges false, and challeng-
ed them to such investigation that if | had done
anything contrary to law, | held myself amenable
to 1t, and was willing to suffer its penalties to the
full. l was told by one of the foremost in the
matter, that the law was not strict enough, and
they intend TO take IL la their otCn hands, and that
f | did leave, the consequences would be upon my
own head
This, sir, is but a brief statement of the manner
in which have been treated on American soil, by
persons calling themselves American citizens. How
long these things are TO continue, | cannot tell, but
l think il is high time that something was done to
put a stop to them. The fair fame of Missouri
is thus ~disgraced by bands of outlaws-for certain
ly men thus acting can be termed nothing else
and as yet no effort has been made by the officers
of the law, or the executive of the state, to relieve
her from the stain.
What a contrast do such proceedings form to the
genius of our Institutions and the spirit of '76.
Can this be called a land of liberty, if such a state
of affairs is allowed to continue? !, sir, am a
southern man by birth. and came here from al
southern city, but if southern institutions are to
be protected by such men as have maltreated me, !
think ] shall seek some spot where, at least, my
dearest rights shall be free from lawless inva-
sions.
Lei the citizens Of Missouri think upon the cir
cumstance which | have endeavored dispassion-
ately to describe-one only of several similar ones
which have occurred-and let them decide what
they will do. Whether they will let these fre-eat-
ing politicians ride over them rough-shod any
longer, disgrace the state, and bring contempt up
on themselves and their children?
Hoping that wise and prudent counsels may obtain,
| am yours, &c. W. ii. WILEY.
St, Louis, August s, 1855.