The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-04-26
Public nreeting.

y
of s. ]. JosEs. on the night of the Esd,
was circulated through the city the next
morning:
nUBLIC MEETING The Citizens of Law
L renee are requested to meet at the Hall over
Faxons store. this morning at half past 10 o.
clock to tiissyow and s,ondemn the Outrage per-
petrsted last evening in our midst.
MANY CITIZENS.
Lawrence, Thnrsday, Apr. q.
Pursuant 10 sle call, the hall was
promptly and densely crowded. Hon.
"A. II. REEDER was unanimously nomi-
mated Chairman of the meeting, and
JoHs Curtis. Secretary
Upon taking the Chair, Mr. Reedel
addressed the assembly in substance
as follows:
He supposed that sll perfectly under
stood the object of the meeting, and that
he concurred fully and entirely in the
public sentiment which deemed such a
meeting necessary.
The occurrence which happened in
this town last evening, in whatever light
it could be viewed, was an outrage on
the individuals of this town, upon the
public sentiment and reputation of the
town, and still greater QUIT tfage upon
our cause. That cause was one which
sought no aid or ceuntenance at the
hands of assassins, for it was too holy,
too strong, too Just to need such assis-
tance.
1t is cause in which they wanted the
help of the Lord, and not of the devil;
the help of honest, we'll meaning men,
not of murderers and sssassins; the help
of orderly, law-abiding, though deter
mined men, and not OF outlaws and
murders. They wanted the sympathies
of their friends in the Free States, who
have stood up and justified them, and
that sympathy they must obtain by pur-
suing such course as would not giveany
one cause to charge them wits wrong
doing and injustice.
The sincere and heartfelt sympathy
that they have always had, has been Civ
en- because they were always in the right
that the blood upon our soil, that cried
for vengeace, has been that of our friends
that those whose hands have been
stained by murder and assassinations
have been our enemies and oppressors.-
1t was a matter of piide and congratu
lation, that in our ranks there were men
who denouced crime. murder, and as.
sassination, though they were ready and
willing. on all occasions, to SHED THEN
blood for their political rights, and the
cause in which they were engaged. L
was high and proud position they occu
py before the people OF the United States,
and one they should always seek te
maintain. He had stood up in the Cap
itol of the Nation, when last December
the telegraph was loaded down with the
lies of their enemies. charging them with
arson. murder, plumber and all that could
disgrace man and this community
and had pledged his honor that that was
untrue, and that they were law abiding
peaceful, though determined people.
Subsequent events showed he was
right, and that all the weight of outlaw.
ry and blood were with their enemies
as it always had been.
An entirely new phrase has come over
the state of things The demon o.
murder, blood-shed and crime seems tc
be struggling to get out of the ranks o
the enemy and enter ours-to enter this
paradise to poison the foundations thai
underlay the reputation of the Free State
party, 'df staining the flag of freedom
blackening our character, and undermi
ming 6Hr cause. In Gods name, let il
be driven out, and keep our banner IN.
stained. Let us preserve our reputation
and mahtain the tower of strength in
which, We have so far maintained our po.
sition. We> have suffered wrongs al.
most unparalleled and unknown to any
people since the days of the revolution
your rights liaveFbeen trampled upon.
your territory invaded, your ballot boz
rified, robbed ofFthose privileges which
Constitute the life of a republic. Out.
rage upon outrage, followed quick upor
leach other. and. you have been wrongsd
until your wrongsiFave become the theme
of the freside, the newspaper and the
legislature of this c0untry. Throughout
the States the tale of your wrongs goes
upon every breeze. All these things
have happened among you, until you
have been provoked almost beyond endu
| rance. The blAod of your brothers have
cried from the pil for vengeance. In.
vaders have been brought here ready
with arms in their hands, to destroy your
property, yourselves and all you holc
dear, and for the destruction of this en-
tire community. Your good sense, pru
dsnce and bravery averted the blow
Your suferings have brought you mucl
good. in sympathy, emigration. nateria
aid (which could not have been OBJ
| tanned in any other way; and there is n,
outrage which these invaders can perpe
| trate upon you, which will not return /.
you ten fold, like seed :: - In good soil
Shall all this be erilled Shsl
the sympathies of good, ,trse, order-lov
ing men. now rallying by thousands ant
tens of thousands In the Northern State
for your benefit. be east away. Shal
We take away from them the argument
with which they have moved the masse
of the people-the entire population o
the S:ates-for our relief, aud sirike ou
lof their hands the very weapons they ar,
using for cur cause. and give them to on
lenemies to be used against US ? Are ",
so tired of success-so tired of our rep
A