The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-29

only issue. If David Wilmot reads Dr.. |
Gihon's book to the people, will the De-
mocracy pronounce it an abolition lie?
Most certainly they viii. What then2
WHY then DR.. Gihon viii find out that
there is but one so-called Democratic par
| ty and that party is devoted to the extern
sion and perpetuation of slavery.
We have only room to give few ex-
tracts, which, We think, will give our read
ers better idea of the book than any
thing we can. VIM. Phillips, James Red
path, Hugh Young and ethers have des-
cribed the y,ersonate of Border Rufians,
but we fear these gentlemen were prgu
diced. Here is picture by DIR. Gihon, PIP.
1O6-108:
..Let it not be understood that this lat
ter term, Border Ru6ian, is considered by
those to whom it is applied as one of re-
proach. On til. contrary, they boast of
it, are proud of it, glory in it, and do all
in their power to merit it; and very many
of them have been eminently successful.
In their manner, they assume the charac-
ter of the ruffian; in their dress they ex-
hibit the appearance of the ruffians; and
in their conversation they labor to convey
the impression that they are ruffians in
deed. They initiate and resemble the
guerillas, ladrones or greasers of Mexi-
co; the brigands of Spain or Italy; Or the
pirates, robbers and murderers of the
theatre.
''0n the levee at Kansas City stood
sort of omnibus or wagon, used to convey
passengers to and from Westport, upon
either side of which was painted in fam
ing capitals the words BORDER RUFFIAN.'
Standing about in groups, or running IN
every direction, were numbers of the men
who claim for themselves that gentle ap-
pellation. A description of one of these
will give the reader some idea of their
general characteristics Imagine man
standing in pair of long boots, covered
with dust and mud and drawn over his
trousers, the latter made of coarse, fancy
colored cloth, well soiled; the handle of
a large bowie-knife projecting from one
or both bOot-tops; leathern belt buekied
around his waist, on each side of which
is fastened large revolver; a red or blue
shirt, with heart, anchor, eagle or some
other devise braided on the breast and
back, over which is swung a rifle or car
bine; a sword dangling by his side; an
old slouched hat, with cockade or brass
star on the front or side, and a chicken,
; goose or turkey feather sticking in the
top; hair uncut and uncombed, covering
his neck and shoulders; an unshaved face
and unwashed hands. Imagine such a
, picture Of humanity, who can swear any
given number of oaths in any specified
time, drink any quantity of bad whiskey
without getting drunk, and boast of hav-
ing stolen half dozen horses and killed
one or more abolitionists, and you will
have pretty fair conception of a border
ruffian, as he appears in Missouri and Kan
sas. He has, however, the happy faculty
D of assuming a very different aspect. Like
| other animals, he can shed his coat and
| change his colors. In the city of Wash
, ington, he is quite another person. You
> will see him in the corridors of the first
!. class hotels-upon Pennsylvania avenue
r in the rotunda of the Capitol, or the
e spacious halls of the White House, dress
:. ed in the finest broadcloths and in the cx-
treme of fashion; his hair trimmed, his
face smoothed and his hands cleansed; his
J, manner gentle, kind and courteous; his
S whole department that of innocence, and
4 his speech so smooth, studied and oily as
to convince even the sagaciOus President
J himself that he is a veritable and polish
:, ed gentleman, and obtains from the wise
IL al -,
% portant posts of trust, honor and emolJl-
ment in the gift of the nation.
= "The Keystone no sooner touched the
y shore at Kansas city, than she was boarded
n by a half dozen or more of the leading
-. ruffians, who dashed through the cabins
and over the decks, inspecting the passen-
gers and the state-rooms to satisfy them
h selves that no abolitionists were on board
= And here let it be distinctly observed tha;
an abolitionist, in border-ruffian parlance
is not simply man opposed to the exten-
sion of slavery, or who favors Its abolish
Y ment from the States; but every persOr
J. born in free State, who is unwilling t.
, give indubitable evidences that he will dt
;. all in his power to assist in making Kan
1t sas slave State, by means either fair o
l. foul, at any sacrifice and at every hazard
1t is of little consequence what have beer
y and still are his political predictions OF
i every great national question. He mus
;o know but one issue-that issue, slavery
. or be branded, in the language of a reso
. luton unanimously passed by the Legis
10 lative Assembly, as an ally of abolition
q ism.' 1t will not do to assume ncutra
, ground; it is not sufficient to asseyerat,
a that you will give your influence to tn,
: cause OF slavery. All this may be done
4 and you will be regarded with suspicion
~ and treated as an enemy. More substan
: tial proof of being sound on the goose j
: demanded. You must join the BLU
- Lodges'-take their solemn oath-bin,
y yourself to murder any man who is op
: posed to to making Kansas a slave State
of and invoke upon yourself their horribl
;, penalties in case of failure. You mus
/ steep your hands in crime deeper than tn
% most rabid of the fire. eaters Of the South
You must place yourself utterly in thei
:. power, so that you dare not quail, or hes
:. itate, or fail to do their bidding. Yol
a. must become yourself slave, bound b,
al stronger bonds than any that holds in ser
r. vitude the veriest negro wreteh-else yol
a are dI abolaionist And there are men il
At Kansas, who, though born in free States
* are sold, body and soul, to the slave inter
"a est: men who have taken the oaths O
i the Blue Lodge-who boast, to prov
1f themselves sound of the number o
~ :, crimes they have committed; the horse
;, they have stolen; the houses they hav,
= robbed; the women they have outraged
= :. the murders they have done:-men. il
!" fact. who have become so deeply steepet