Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-29
Kansas Shut against Illinois Emigrant-Further
0utrages upon orr Citizens.
LAWRENCE, x. T., July 10, 1856.

the Citizens of Illinois, as, indeed, against all
settlers from free States. The pretense to search
for arms is made 10 screen piracy and highway
robbery. and the free State enigrauts, under the
beautihc working of ..Sauatter Sovereignty,
shut out from the pabiic heritage. The righ'
to bear arms is great Constitutional right in
Kansas it is also great necessity. These thieves
and ,nurderers who pour over in armed bands
to modest us, say we must first be disarned and
then tree State settlers must not enter the Ter
iitory Ilinoisans, have you to this p
" hat do you think of Stephen A. Douglas, the
abettor of these robbers and murderers p
Where is your Governor? Where your State
rights :
Listen to the following statement Of enc O.
tie members Of party recently stopped while
coming to Kansas. SUCKER.
STATEMENT OF j. B. BALDWIN.
Tie undersigned started in company with
families from Mclean county, H., for Kansas
on the 22d of last May. Those were John Fo-
reto and family, two of bis sons with their fam
lies; Benjamin Draper and family James Han
cock and family Riddle Roberts and family
Mr. Diddle and family. Besides these, the com
pany was augmented by three wagons contain
ing two families who came from Iowa and over
took them while travelling through Missouri
The men who started from Illinois had large
lot Of agricultural implements and articles Of
household furniture ana they travelled in the
style in which Western overland enligrants
| usually travel. They proceeded on their jour
ney anmolested until they reached within four
miles of Platte City While travelling on the
State road, there. on Tuesday the 9th of June.
this company was met by large band of armed
men, at least 80, who had guns and bayonets,
United States arms; the men stopped the en-
igrants. The evening before, while in camp,
they had been visited by three spies. who asked
them great many questions told them they
would find great deal Of trouble in the Terri
tory, and some Of il before they sat there
When the company stopped the emigrants
hey asked them where they were from and
whittier going. Undersigned. who was driving
the first team, said they were from Illinois and
were going to Kansas. On this the Captain of
the company said
q suppose you've heard tell that We don't
allow any movers to go through iuto the Terri
tory, - to which witness answered he had not
.s es,' replied several, we stop all" They
tken said they would have to search If there YVES
any arms on board. One from Iowa OBJ
jected, when they told him he had better be
quiet, and one drew revolver and told him
lie " had better shut up"
They then searched the wagons rurmaging
every box and every corner amidsts threats and
insults. After searching ali the wagons once,
they returned and searched them all second
tine. Se~eral articles disappeared in this pre-
cess. One man says they took $l6o in gold
from him.
The wife of 8Ir. Draper had pat I.5O0 IN
churn, and covered it with salt, snd they did
not fad it. They protested to be searching for
arms They found gun for most of the men
who were with the emigrant train--these were
mostly Western rifles and shot guns, being the
! guns they had when they lived in Illinois. All
of these We're taken. They then told the emf
grants that they could not be permitted to go
on that they must not go into Kansas.
Several men in the company, who attacked
them, and who appeared to be more decent.
wished tie emigrants TO get back their guns, as
they were to be sent home to Illinois. Several
speeches X e made Gu it, wien vote was ia
ken, and the large majority voted that they
should have the guns. The leaders of the Gem
pany, and influential men we're opposed to this
and orerruld it, and the others yielded, when
they determined the matter. Receipts we've
given for the guns follows
Received Of -, one long Western rifle
has been used, <heye marks described,) to he de
posted with tie County Clerk of Platte Comfy,
to be delivered at the end Of the war
1 =,
whom the others said were good responsible
men During all this time men continued to ar
rive. and nearly two-tLirds of al that came
were armed with United States muskets and
bayoRets; all were well armed. Nearly five
hundred got 10 the point Of stoppage before
three hours. Emigrants were told that they
would be guarded back till they got out Of the
State. Some of the emigsants asked these men
If they could not be allowed TO stay there with
their teams until the difficulties were settled
/ so that they could go over into the Territory
They replied that they could not, Unless they
would agree to settle permanently. If they
would pledge themselves to stay in Platte Co..
and would buy farms, and conform TO the insti-
tutions of that country, they could stay, in which
case they would be taken care OF" Not val
ulng these privileges too highly, they declined.
guard Of eight mounted and armed men es-
cor,ed them back 10 Liberty, where tLey were
delivered up to the leading men in the place,
Judge Thompson being an active participant in
this hospitable reception. They were here
permitted TO go out TO the back Ct tie town
where they could water their teams and find
grass for them.
That afternoon the good folks about Liberty
came out to them and told them they were al
liberty that they could go where they pleased
provided that they did not go into the Territory
but would go back to Illinois. The truth was,
they did not like the trouble and expense of es-
corting them clear across the State. Hoping to
be able to make their escape. they staid where
the we're for two days. when some men came
out OF Liberty and assuring them that they we're
their friends, advised them to start back for Hi
no!s immediately for If ANYTHING baDnened or