The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-01-19


The following letter from our termer fel.
lpw.citisea Elder Psraee Butler, who has
PabaFs experieseed more hardships and
pessecutiens in Kansas than any mrn who
eyet went there, and yet lives to recite the
story, has been handed us for publication by
the gentleman TO whom il was addressed.
| A few months since We should not have
dared 70 publish this letter for fear Of bring.
ing down the vengeance OF Border Rutaiar.
lem on the head Of Mr. Butler, should the
publication reach Kansas, hut from the i'm.
proved condition OF AFFAIR." in tia, Territory,
We now have no such fear. No man il bet
ter acquainted with the past and present
condition Of matters in Kansas than Mr..
Butler, nor are the statements of any man
more reliable than his. The letter is in
ieresting and will be read with pleasure by
his numerous friends in this vicinity:
OcIHA, Atchison Co, X T.,
December IS, 1855.
Dear Nir: Your favor bearing date July
lsl, only came TO hand on my return to
Kansas, Though so long behind its date,
still Il is as acceptable ~ though Just writ
ten. We oil in Kansas realize how much
We owe TO that powerful sympathy we have
received from the North. II is for this rea
sen, and for this reason alone, that we have
not been finally driven out OF Kansas bank.
rupt and ruined men.
The slave power must be held responsi
faY q "a
mobs and house-burnings by which il ha.
been sought to drive the free State men
out Of Kansas. Il was cold blooded, ma !.
lignant and prsmeditated, and affords cri.
terion BY which we may Judge OF tina pow.
er that assumes the lordly prerogative OF
giving laws TO this nation.
have The pleasure Of saying 10 you tina,
thinSs never looked 30 propitious ia Kan.
sas - now. An abiding confidence eyi
IDENTIFY has grown up in the hearts oil our
peoples our days Of bioodshed and murder
and border rufiianism are over. Everybody
seems to feel 20; and men are going 10
work with q confidence have not hitherto
seen exhibited.
Shll our people last summer were terri.
bly, harrassed by the South Carolina horse
thieves. They did nothing but spend their
Tune guarding their property. But these
villains are now gone to Nicaragua.
You must know that the people Of Atch.
icon have Issued circular inviting those
mea who have been mobhed, OF robbed Of
their property, ito return to Atchison and
they pledge themselves that the ci,ixens
viii protect them. Do you ask me what
THE msans! l answer it is only q part Of
mn k,,rI ,. AZ
10 everywhere apparent. went to Atchi-
son the other day. Ny brother-in.law ask
ed Carr, member elect to the Legis lature,
(bogus) if it wac understood that was pri
viieged to 60 to Atchisont "Oh, yes.n said
Carr, "oniy if Mr.. Butler should 60 to crow
ing about what he has done, it nigh, make
trouble" 1--WE were mistaken last spring'
said Carr.
Some loafsrs, however, showed what
spirit was in them BY shouting that Butler
had come back again, and by calling for tar
and cotton WOOL. | am not, however, afraid
Of such fellows, if whole community do es
not rise up against me. shall 90 constant
~ armed, and you cannot imagine what a
~ndrous effect pistol barrel has on such
] know it is shameful that
- = should be brought to
eena.. .;,;,a, ~ass are made up,
i,.I -, -, minds in MAJ coming
md The border rufhans are nov
,iSht wei! 10 understand Yhat k'na o. me"
thew have to deal with.
/ will tell you what We in Kansas pre-
eminently need. We need personal secu,
ri,y and security to our property. we need
the privilege OF going to work and making
Kansas like lows, the home vi civilized ana
prosperous men. There has been large
emigration into Kansas this fall. II Is evi-
dent there will be much larger one next
spring. OF the issue OF Ibis slayery qnes-
ton there can be no question, provided II
comes TO be understood that men ron the
free States may come here IN peace.
The slave power knew all this, and tot
this reason projected this brutal rnthanIsm,
thinking thus 70 keep us out,
Let me hear from you ] cannot ID
single letter say 1.-THE OF what want 10
saw Be assured that ! shall try and 90
my duty My best wishes TO all.
Respectfully yours,
PAgpEE BUTLER