The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-05-10
The End.

selves and training TOT war. OnT WoIheh
are formed into military companies, and
are practising in the pistol-gsllery. Our
boys are making it part of their neces-
sary learning 10 shoot with the rifle and
revolver. What has so changed all our
practices and pursuits What danger
so omnipresent as to require uneeasing
vigilance and watchfulness to prevent
surprise and death ? What power is
destroying our crops, burning houses.
driving off, imprisoning and numbering
our citizens? Who is instituting reign
of terror in Kansas, equalled only by the
reign of terror in France 3? Who has de-
stroyed the ballot-box, taken away the
elective franchise, and reduced the Free
State settlers here to the condition of
seffs and subjects -
Shareholders lave done all this, and
are now doing more. They are sending
armed bodies of men 20 Kansas to fight,
to murder and destroy our people, to
burn and pillage our towns, and TO lay
waste the country. No longer ago than
last week, 600 armed menolrom South
Carolina we're landed ON our borders, for
the openly avowed intention of burning
Lawrence and killing the Free State men.
These men, whose lives are sought; are
from nearly every State in the Union.
They have broken no law. They have
simply loved liberty better than slavery.
For this alone the shareholders require
them to be harassed, to be driven out of
the country, or to be killed. Men, assas-
sins, are hired, armed and sent here for
that purpose. Property is destroyed,
individuals are killed, communities are
aroused. and the general facts are scat
tered over the country. sympathizing
friends from afar, knowing their relatives
came here unarmed and unsuspecting,
speedily sent them guns and ammunition.
Do shareholders ever think What
is to be the end of all this ? Are the
terms shareholder and ruffian to be sy-
nonymous Are our communities, our
families, our schools, all to be armed
against shareholders? Do they court
such state of things? Is safety to be
found in a country without friends ?
Are our future statesmen to grow up un-
der this influence Have shareholders
no fear of consequences, when mothers
sleep with pistols or knives under their
pillows to protect themselves and their
offspring from slayeEolding violence or
death ? What effect must it have on
the rising generation to see all this? To
see their fathers dragged from their
homes to a prison, or exiled to distant
and unknown parts, cut off from all COM
munication with them. Or, listening to
these tales as they fall from a mothers
lips, in their lonely and humble homes,
who knows what resolves of future re-
venge may then and there be formed {?
For our part, we look upon the whole
scene with fearful forebodings. We look
upon the slaveholdor as an infatuated
man. He has thrown away his only eff
cient safeguard. He has turned his hon
est friends into active and bitter enemies.
One year ago the majority of the people
of Kansas were decidedly friendly to
Shareholders, orindifferent to their claims.
Not one in twenty could be found here,
who was reputed an abolitionist in the
place from which he came. The people
were nearly unanimous in condemning
man who was reputed an abolitionist.
The general aim seemed to be to make
Kansas q free, white, American State,
and no sentiment was expressed against
slave holders, slave States, or slave hold
| ing where it was legal. Now behold the
change
Quena Deus vuh perdere, prius denaen-
tat was a heather saying, and we fear it
may prove true here. Whom the Gods
wish to destroy. they first make mad.
What greater madness can the slayehold-
ers show, than to arm themselves against
the free States, to force slavery upon a
people who despise it, or to pull down a
political fabric that has supported them
three quarters of century, and under
which they have lived safely and pros
perously?
What other form of government could
secure them SO many blessings They
have had the safeguard of the General
Government and tie support of the indi-
kvidual States, and sympathy of both po-
ltical parties. What but downright
madness can induce the shareholders to
sacrifice all these. Why rush on. in so
insane course, and madly force things
to crisis Why seek bloody issue
now on a question which has always been
amieably adjusted heretofore !? Are four
millions OF black, and fifteen millions OF
white enemies to be aroused and let loose
upon our Southern country for the graft
iication of few fanatical shareholders
and ambitious demagogues The South
is living on magazine, and they are
madly bent on firing the train that will
blow Us to atoms. We warn them Of
the end before it is toe late. We are
not negroes. We cannot be subdued