Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-07-09
The Lexington ontrage.

The outrage upon the Chicago Kansas Emf.
grants at Lexington, Missouri, is without sha.
dow of excuse. They were bona .,fde emigrants,
going to Kansas in good faith to make that Ter
ritory their homes. They went from here with
no hostile or warlke intentions. They had no
military organization, no arms except such as
every pioneer carries into a new country, and
no ammunition or stores that any man might
not lawfully have any where either in time of
peace or war; The body consisted of men Of
various trades and. rotessions-farmers, me-
chanics, lawyers and doctors and laborng men
without special avocations. Most Of them took
with them what was appropriate to their call
ing-their tool-chests, agricultural implements
or libraries. They were young men anxious to
try their fortunes in new country; and we
know what we say when we declare that no par
ty OF an equal number ever went up the Missou-
ri river with more thoroughly honest and pacific
purposes than the party Of which we speak
We need but mention one or two facts in con-
firmation of the above; when the Executive
Committee of the Society was receiving appli-
cations from emigrants for assistance, they re-
jected without hearing large party formed
into military company, simply because no
warlike enterprise could be countenanced. They
likewise rejected every man who did not present
testimony that he went to Kansas for settlement
of the country, every man who had not the CO.
pability of earning for himself an honorable liv-
ing in lawful and legitimate way
With such purposes and with such body of
men, the Committee unwisely perhaps, but hon
estly thought that these emigrants would not be
interrupted. They foolishly supposed that the
rivers of the United States were yet free to cit
izens of the United States-that there was no
power which dared to set law aside, and with
violence and arms drive them back as if they
were so many invaders from foreign nation
with which we were at war. But lesson has
been learned that is not without its uses.
We have little to add to the account given in
the Tribune of yesterday morning of the outra-
ges upon the Chicago Emigrants at Lexington.
When the boat arrived at that place, they found
awaiting there a large force of armed men to
give them reception. In addition to those on
the levee, one hundred men with four pieces Of
artillery were stationed on the steam ferry boat,
on the opposite side of the river, near at point
within few yards of which the boat must have
passed if she succeededin getting away from Lex
ington. Near warehouse on the levee, were
three pieces of cannon, loaded and leveled at
the steamer beside the guns stood the gunners
with lighted matches ready to fire at the word
of command. About two hundred inen armed
with revolvers and bowie knives came on board
with Committee of Ruffians, and being sup
ported by 500 to 800 or more rifles on shore,
compelled after a long parley our men to con-
sent to give up their guns. This they did not
do until convinced that resistance would be an
act of madness and folly.
When they left Lexington they proceeded
without further trouble to Kansas City. At that
place a company of about so South Carolinians
came on board and took possession of the low
er deck, using of course to the now unarmed
f1,o Han.
guage which ''chivalry" teaches. The CONVEX
sation was made up chiefly of expletives and
epithets-all eliminating in the Missouri formu-
la. "You d--ned Abolition-of a ~"
With this party were Atchison, Stringfellow,
Jones, and others of like kidney.
at Leavenworth, they encountered party OF
some 200 men on the levee, besides corps OF
military numbering twenty-five to forty reHes.
Here the men commenced to carry out their bag
gage when they were informed that they would
not be permitted to land. A guard was sent on
board to relieve the South Carolnians, and this
guard remained with them until the return of the
boat to Weston whittier she went to land some
freight.
When the boat was ready to leave for st.
Louis, Buford and some twenty others under his
command came down as passengers, and until
our emigrants were landed about five miles be-
low Alton, they were under their surveillance.
The above is plain, brief and truthful state
ment of the whole matter. We see nothing in
it which gives us reason to call in question the
courage or manliness of the Chicago party.
They were met by an overwhelming force in an
enemy's country, and were forced to make such
terms as they could. To have sacrificed them.
selves though heroically, would have served nc
good purpose. They did what almost any other
sixty nine men would have done in like circum
stances, and in doing it, have incurred no just
cause of censure. The act of piracy by which
their good intentions were defeated, deserves
special attention at our hands. But we defer its
consideration until another day.
[Chicago Tribune.