Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-05-30
DESTRUCTION OF LAwRENCE.

Tho particulars of this outrage are given,
this morning, in our telegraphic column
Though the event has been anticipated, for
some time past, We are at loss to know
what feeling predominates,-now that the
atrocity is really committed, whether it
be that of astonishent at the audacity of the
black Oligarchy or indignation at the pre-
sumptuousneSs of their nameless crime
This act of rapine and murder ought to be
received by the freemen of the Northern
States as the guage. of open war, between
our constitutional liberties and slavery
The time for truce and compromise has
passed-the conflict has actually begun
We have been awakened from our long re-
pose of fancied security to find that while
Welding to the delusive dreams which
southern traitors have whispered in our
crcdulous ears, they have been stealing,
inch by inch upon our birthrights, our pre-
rogatiyes of free speech and free opinion,
until it has become treason for northern
man to carry his opinions with him to a
free territory, which slavery has marked for
its own For that offence, the "Free State
men" of Kansas, who have been so fortunate
as to escape assassination by the bullet or
howieknife, are hunted down by Federal
authority and dragged before Federal tri-
bunaI as felons, amenable to the penalty of
DEATH
Thus the tried leaders Of the cause of
Freedom are gotten out of the way prepar-
atory to the attack on Lawrence. Gov.
Robinson is captured By mob in Missouri;
-Reeder is compelled to fee to avoid
arrest-Lane, for tke same reason, wisely
remains in a State where love for Freedom
does not constitute treason Wood, it is
feared has fallen victim to the assassin's
knife ;-General Gregory, it is reported,
has been hung;-thus there is no leader to
inspire the diSheartened and beleagured peo-
pie of Lawrence with confidence and to di-
rect and sympathize their defence, The re-
port reached us that they were short of am
munition and but an inadequate supply of
arms. The assaulting ruffians were suppli-
with both by the United States authorities
and not only so, but they were backed
by their countenance and support. The
Wrong had every circumstance in its favor,
and the Right suceombed but only to
gather new strength.
Let these facts be borne in mind by those
who are disposed to censure the men of
Lawrence for yielding to the rufians too
easy victory. Let it be remembered that
they were not fighting rufians alone, but
that the whole power of the Federal Gov
ernment was arrayed against them. The
freemen of Kansas are more than match
for the pro-slavery mob, single handed but
when Federal troops and Federal Courts,
and the persistent injustice of the Admins
ton are leagued with their enemies, they are
compelled Of course, to give over the unequal
conflict, unless their northern friends come
to the rescue.
And this is the point for us to consider.
What is or duty IN the premisesg Let
every man answer in the light of his own
conscience, aud in the sight of God. We
make some. suggestions, elsewhere, upon
this topic, which we hope may be consider
ed worthy of serious attention. Lawrence
may be tue Lexington of new Revolution.
-San. Register.