The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-05-17

ley compared with this last one. When
was toWed out into the middle of the
stream, do not remember to have heard
one word spoken by the men on the shore.
Their demeanor indicated that they felt
themselves performing q painful duty.
though perhaps they regarded it as a
necessary one. This last mob, when they
left me on the borders Of the town.
screeched and 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
-i1sy said against me. TEeyte<d ne
patiently to the end For this I felt to
thank them-from my heart did thank
them. But these men, who have come
to introduce into Kansas the order OF
things that now obtains in South Caro-
lima, savagely gagged me in silence, by
rapping my face, choking me. pulling
my beard, jerking me violently to my
seat. and calling out, s'd-n you, hold
your aongue." All this was done while
my arms were pinioned behind me.
| Many will ask now, as they have asked
already, what is the true and proper cause
OF all these troubles which l have had in
Atchison ? have told the world al
ready. l can only repeat my own words.
.''The very head and front of my offend
ing hath this extent no more, | had
spoken among my neighbors favorably
to making Kansas Free State, and said
in the Office of the Squatter Sovereign,
am Free Soiler, and intend to vote for
Kansas to be Free State" 1t is true,
that Kelley, by an after thought, has ad-
ded two new counts to his bill of indict-
ment against nae. The first is, that ]
went about the town of Atchison last Au-
gust. talking abolitionism. { have not
the honor of being an abolitionist, and
second, that | spoke, some how or other,
improperly in the presence of slaves
All this is not only utterly false, but the
charges are er post facfo, for not a word
was said of all this the day they put me
on>the raft. The New York Tribune
publishes me as Methodist preacher,
that was put on a.raft for preaching abo-
liionism. | am member of the deuom-
instion known as Disciples Campbell
lites) and had never alluded to the sub
Iject IN my preaching. published mar.
rative Of the whole affair in the Missouri
Democrat, not one word of which has
ever been denied to my knowledge
Except this, said l had "heard thai
Kelley was born in Massachusetts," He
says he was not born in Massachusetts,
that he was born in Virginia. Robert
s. Kelley, co-editor Of the Squatter Sow
ereign, and Governnsent Printer, shall
be born just where he pleases. Still il
will be regarded as mysterious and In
credible, that man should receive such
treatment for uttering such words as |
report myself to have uttered. The mat.
ter i; plain enough when the facts are
understood. l will explain. Prior to
August Is. 1855, there was, properly
speaking, no Free Soil party organized ia
Atchison County. perhaps not in the
whole territory Of Kansas. Free Sellers
did not know their own strength, and all
were disposed to be prudent-some were
timid. Here in Atchison County we
were determined that, if the Border Ruff.
fans were resolved to push matters
to a bloody issue. the responsible.
ty of 30 doing should rest wholly
with themselves. There are many free
soilers in this county-brave men. who
have no conscientious scruples to him
der them from armihg themselves, and
preparing to repel force with force. The
Border Rufians sought by system o.
terrorism, so to intimidate Free Statt
men, IS to prevent them from organizing
. Free State party, or even discussing
the question of freedom or slavery in
Kansas. They carried this to such 81
extent of outrageous violence, that i
came to be currently reported, that j
was az much as . mans life was worth
for 8 man to say in the town of Atchison
SCI am . free soiler." We deprecated
violence, and wished peaceful discus
sion of the subject. 1t was therefor
i. most fitting that man whose profession
forbade him to go armed, should put
the test of actual experiment, in the tow
of Atchison, whether an American Cit
zen. of. .blameless life could be permittet
/ pr;xiIa0e of expressing 49, ~Pvo-ir--tii
- s.yss Z -. :, :. - 4iews favorable
8 making Kansas Free State.-suc
views being uttered without anything {
!, angry, abusive, or insulting language
8 It was for this purpose the above word
: were spoken, and which have been th
: cause of all my troubles in Atchison.
q If the Border Ruffians had permitte
J, me to depart in peace, they would hay
0 proved themselves, simply. Harmless
9 buIlies, afraid to execute their ow
threats. If they had taken my life, thei
lact would have been without the shade,
: of an excuse to mitigate its atrecity
But whatever might have been the re
= suit, had counted the cost and was pre-
T pared to abide the issue.
VI If there is any class Of men that stan
!, behind the curtain and pull the wires
9 we would respectfully represent to them
Q that it will do no good to urge thes
!. lunderstrappers on to these deeds OF VIC
! Hence and rufianism. We are not clas
S of men TO utter childish complaints
a ANY wrongs we may suffer, -but sOs E'so
!, our rights aad intend TO haze them.
II In conclusion, we would suggest !
South Carolina, that she had bette sen
Cor her emigrants home again. The
Q viii do her cause more harm thaVgoo
= However this wsy of regulating mattel