Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-05-30

was compelled to desist.
My friend from Missouri again very
earnestly bcsought them TO set me at
liberty
| Kelly turned short on him and sud,
"Do YOU belong TO Kansas"
He replied:-"No: but | expect to |
live in Atkinson next fall; and in this
matter the interests Of Missouri and |
Kansas are identical"
Mr.. Lamb, lawyer in Atchison, |
and Mr.. Dickson. merchant of the |
same place. both pro slavery men, uni |
ted with Gen. Tut in pleading that l |
might be set at liberty.
While these gentlemen were speak
ing. heard my keeper mutter-"D-n
you. if you don't hush up wen tar
and feather you'll"
When Kelly saw how matters stood.
he came forward and said-"He did
not take Butler to be hanged. only tar
red and fcathered." Yet in the other
grocery they had said to the mob that
"they should doas the pleased He
dared not take the responsibility OF
taking my life; but when these unfor-
tunate men, whose one ideaism on
the subject OF Slavery and Southern
Rights has become insanity--when
irresponsible South Carolinians. sent
out TO be bulldogs and blood.hounds
for Atkinson and Stringfellow-when
they could be used as tools to take my
life. he was ready TO do it.
Our gunpowder Moderator cut the
discussion short by saying. at is mo-
we'd that Butler be tarred aud feath-
cred, and receive thirty-nine lashes."
A majority said Aye" though
number OF voices said mo" The
Moderator said. "the affirmative has
it." ExEr.I
begun to speculate how that sort
OF thing would work as far North ms
the latitude Of Kaneas. There was
good deal OF whispering about the
house. | saw ominous and threaten
ing looks in the crowd.
The Moderator again came forward
and In an altered voice said:
II is moved that the last part Of the
sentence be rescindcd."
II was rescinded.
j was given into the hands Of my
South Carolina oyerseers. to be tarred
and feathered. They muttered and
growled at this issue of the matter.-
"By Cd" said they, "if We had
known Il would have come out this
way, we would have let shot
Butler at tie Grst. lie would have
done.it quicker than FASH
One little sharp. vsaged, dark.fea-
tured. black-eyed South Carolinian.
as smart as n cricket, who seemed to
be the leader OF the gang. was paric-
ularly displeased. oh you"
said he, "if came all the way from
South Carolina and spent so much
money to do things up in such milk
and. water style rs this"
They stripped me naked to the
waist. covered my body with tar, and
in the absence OF feathers. applied
cotton wool. Having appointed
committee OF three 10 certainly hang
me the next time | should come TO
Atkinson. they tossed my clothes into
my buggy, put me therein, accompa-
MED me to the suburbs Of the town,
and sent me naked out upon the prai-
RTE.
l adjusted my attire about me as
best could. and FASTENED to rejion my
wife and two little ones, on the banks
OF the Stranger Creek. II was rather
sorrowful meeting after so long
parting. Sill we were very thankful
that under the blessing OF good
Providence. IL had Jared no worse for
US all.
The lirst mob that sent me down the
Missouri river on raft-always ex-
cepting Robert S. Kelly,-were cour-
teous gentlemen, compared with this
last one. When | was towed out into
the middle Of the stream, do not re-
member to have heard word spoken
by those on the shore. This last mob,
when they left me on the border of the
town. shrieked aud yelled like pack
of New Zealand cannibals. The first
mob did not attempt to abridge my
right Of speech. In reply to all the
hard and bitter things they said against
me. they patiently heard me to the
end. But these men who have come
TO introduce into Kansas that order Of
things that. now exists in South Caro-
lima, savagely gagged me into silence.
by rapping my face. choking me, pull
ing my beard. jerking me violently to
my seat. and exclaiming-D-n
you. hold your tongue!" All this was
done while my arms were pinioned be-
hind me!
Many will ask now. as thcyIhave al
ready asked. what is the true and pro-
per cause Of all these troubles which
have had ut Atkinson. have told
the world already +, and can only re-
peat my own..words. l have said
"Thc very head and front OF my Of
fence hath this extent, no MORE
had spoken among my neighbors ia
vorable for making Kansas Free
State. and said in the Office of the
Squatter Sovereign, am a Free Soil
or, and intend to vote for Kansas TO
he Free State. 1t is true that Kel.
, lily, by an after thought, has added
two new counts to his bill Of indiot-
ment against me. The first is, that l
went TO the town Of Atchison last Au-
gust. talking Abolitionism. T. have
not the honor Of being an Abolition
: ist. And, second, that spoke, some
|, how or other, improperly in the pres.
encc Of slaves. All this is not only
utterly false. but the charges arc ex-
post facts; for not word was said Of
this the day they put me upon the
8 raft.
The New York 7ribnnc publishes
me MS Methodist preacher that was
put on n raft for preaching Abolition.
l am a member Of the denomination
! known as Disciples. (Campbeliles. J
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