The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-02-21
Attsmnt - Assassinata Gov. Geary.

Attempt to Assassinate Gov. Geary.
On Monday, 9th inst. Gov. Geary,
accompanied by DR.. Gibon and Mr..
McAllister. visited the supreme Court,
the Council and the House Of Repre-
sentstives. He was courteously re-
leeiyed at each place. and invited with
| in the bar of the House. William I.
Sherrard. the person whom the Cor
Iernor refused to commission as Sheriff
of Douglas county, was in the House
when the Governor entered. and was
observed to look malignantly upon the
Governor; soon afterwards he left the
House in an excited manner. The
Governor, after exchanging courtesies
with q number of members and strang-
ers, left the House, entirely unconsei-
Gus of Sherrard's presence or designs.
As the Governor opened the door lead
ing from the House to the ante-cham-
Der, Sherrard, who had previously
stationed himself there, approached
the Governor, with navy revolver
and bowie knife exposed in his belt,
and with his hand on his pistol, said
to the Governor: Sir, you have
treated me as q damned scoundrel." -
Taking no notice of the man, the Gov
ernor, without altering his gait, pass
ed out at the door, and Sherrard then
spit after him. the spittle falling on
the sleeve and arm of the Governors
coat; and he was then about to ad-
vance upon the Governor, when Mr..
McAllister interposed his person be-
tween the parties, and prevented the
premeditated scheme of assassination.
Without further harm, the Governor,
accompanied by his friends, proceeded
to the Executive Office.
There is no doubt but that Sherrard
was the instrument of wicked and de-
signing men, intent upon the destruc-
ton of Gov. Geary, as the only OBJ
stacle in the way of their schemes to
disturb the peace of the Territory and
to force their views upon the people.
1t is now clearly ascertained, that
this matter has been talked over, and
it is a burning disgrace upon the House
of Representatives, that by their SUBJ
sequent action they virtually endorsed
this horrid and glaring outrage upon
the Executive of the Territory.
The attack upon the Governor was
for an official act, done in his Execu-
tive capacity, and that too when he
was on visit to the Legislature, of
which he is component part. 1t is
therefore an attack upon the Execu-
tive as such. an attempt to destroy the
Governor, and thus disturb the peace
of the country. and precipitate the
Territory again into war. Such an
assaultupon the Governor is an attack
upon the people themselves, who
should at once resent the affront and
express their unmitigated horror of
the deed.
Already have the people in several
places held meetings and sent in adj
dresses to the Governor, applauding
his administration, and pledging their
CO. operation to sustain him, eDen to the
sacrifice Of their lipes and their property.
Let the actual bona fide citizens of
Kansas, without distinction of party,
speak out in tones which cannot be
misunderstood, in order that the fend-
ish eonspirators may quail and cover
before the storm of popular indigna-
tion.
! Gov. Geary has spent his nights
and days in sustaining the rights OF
the people, let him see that they ap-
preciate and are worthy of his self
sacrificing labors.