Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-07
From tie Kansas Herald OF Freedom.
LAW AND ORDER ECLIPsED- BORDER
RUFFIAN CONVENTION.

W lli EOllt VI lHt WV - oN'0N
Rufiaus, both rank and file" and principals, who
had convened from the river towns OF Kansas and
the border cities Of Missouri, to attend the sitting
of the Legislature and n convention of the pro-
slavery party the call for which emanated from
the SqudHer Soveyeiqn, whose editor, DR.. STRING
FELLOW, was as usual the master spirit of mis-
chef, string up strife and plotting evil every
where.
The Convention assembled at the Hall OF Rep
resentntives at 10 a, NJ, but adjourned over till
~halfpast I p. NJ, so that the leading spirits might
have an opportunity Of caucusing, aud also that
the Legislative bodies might organize and receive
the Governors Message. AT the time appointed
the Convention assembled. A noisy, swearing,
smoking and excited crowd appeared in the hall,
and threats OF violence were prevalent against
Gov. Goary and the aholitionists generally. Col.
Coffee was appointed President pro tenn, and an
excited dis cussion ensued as to whether this was q
Law and Order Convention, or one Of the pro-
slavery party only. 1t was commended that the
terms we're synonymous. DIR, Stringtellow stated
that it was called for the purpose Of advancing
pro.slavery interests and none but pro-slavery men
should be allowed to have n vote. lie offered
n resolution to the following %etfect:--
WHEREAS, This is a pro.slavcry Convention, and
WHEREAS, A Committee on Credentials is to be
appointed
Resolred, That none but pro-slavery men shall
be allowed to vote as delegates in this body.
Inc motion was passed with out rev dissenting
votes. ABy this act the pro slavery party have
flung aside all sub,erfuge, and took up the only
real issue-shall Kansas be n slave or q Tree
State. We accept the issue nolc, rs we have ever
dome boldly mc~omp'Omisingty, aud without
eguirOcdtioE, on behalf of q free State.
The remainder of the evening was spent in
wrangling, and abusing various conservative men,
bers of their own party, and in threats Of throw
ing out the Dds abolition reporters" String
fellow was loud in his denunciation of their inso-
lence in daring to intrudo upon a pro slavery con-
vention, and threatened to throw them out of the
window, in the morning. He denounced Gov.
Geary in unmeasured terms, and declared that he
would never rest until he was driven out Of the
Territory.
The convention re.assembled at 5 P. NJ, on
Tuesday the 18th, Mr.. Isacks. Attorney General of
the Territory, acting as President pro tenn, and
business was proceeded with. A discussion en-
sued on the number OF votes each county was en-
titled to, and decided that ono should be allowed
for every hundred Votes cast for General Whitfield
at the last election. Some curious Developments
were brought out in this discussion-one man
claiming to have voted twelve times, at various
polls.
In accordance with the resolution passed the
previous evening, Messrs Reece and Brown, OF
Madison county, were refused seats as Free State,
mon. U. S. Deputy Marshal Pardee,of Tecumseh,
who was appointed a delegate from Shawnee
county, refused to participate in the proceedings
SluliiH ludb H6 WIS hSH W % COuftuti'n VI nv
people of Kansas, irrespective of party, to estab
fish a common platform upon which all men could
ijoin, for the protection of property and the preser-
walton OF order, and therefore he could not join
in a pro-slavery convention, being a Free State
man.
Objection was made to Capt. Hampton, Master
of Convicts, on the ground OF his not being a pro-
slavery man. A committe of five was appointed
to investigate his case and report at the evening
session. the discussion that ensued on this res
~olution, showed well the spirit Of Border Rufian
ism.-Capt. Hampton spoke of his devotion to tht
pro-slavery party, of the sacrifices he had made
and the interest he had felt in its success. Gen, L
McLain denounced the gentleman in unmeasured
terms; spoke of his having been favorably men
toned by the Herald Of Freedom, and of his treat
ment of the prisoners under his charge. He had
carried these murderers and robbers to Lawrence
allowed them to parade in its streets, went to
ball with them and made II speech, calling then
gentlemen, and treating them as equals! w
have too many milk and water men. We wan
men like that INN ortat patriot Sheriff JONES, whom
the vile abolitionists have attempted to murder
and whose devotion to the cause of Law and Order
was oubted.-Th remarks were greeted
with unearthly yells and other demonstration o
applause.
At s P. NJ. the convention reassembled to heal
the report of the committee on resolutions. While
waiting for the report, motions were made to in
vite Ex-Governor Ransom, of Michigan, then visit
my LecOmpIOn, ana OOV. shannon 10 SeutS Nltnlt
the bar. This was accordingly done, and a com
mittee appointed to wait Supon them. Secretar,
Woodson, Judges Lecompte and Cato we're ais
invited within the bar.
From the Preamble aud q series of Resolution
+ declaring their attachment to Law and ORDER
Justice--Equal Rights--Equal Privileges an
y their will and ability to maintain them, we ez
, tract the following:
A AND WHEREAS, The National Democratic party
that one on which we alone can reasonably rel
for ensuring to Us that justice which the grea
q principles ennunciated by the Kansas Bill am
:. ratified by the Cincinnati Convention-thG
n principle which ensures to the people of ever
I Territory the right to mould their organic law a
to Them may seem best, unrestrained by Con
: gressional interference therefore be it
RESOLVED, That henceforth We determine to b
known as the NationalDemocracy of Kansas and t
subscribe to and sustain the great national princi
pies of that party, as set forth in their nationa
Conventions.
e Resolved, That as we have hitherto looked t
! and received the ardent support Of Northern an,
n and Western Democratic in sustaining our poll,
Y ical rights, it should be our earnest desire and In
t borious effort, to commit no political errors whicI
e will in any way hazard or forfeit the confdenc
] and support of that great constitutional party an,
f resolved further. that the National Democrats an,
III w ulko VI hhO ~ Wv " u ara
est gratitude for their undertaking attachment t
y their country in its hour of peril and for thei
fidelity to great constitutional principles.
: Resolved, That 1t is the sense of this convention
I that the lands known as Indian Reservations are
4: decidedly the most important and valuable poi
e tions of the Territory that their fertility and loca
tons invite a large and useful emigration, whic
d to a great extent. is lost to the Territory there
t fore, Resolved, that it is one of the cardinal prin
cioles of this convention that the general govern
j ment should. at its earliest convenience, by pul
chase, exchange or treaty Of ONE kind. redeem
g these lands and open them to the presumption O
9 settlers.
o After hearing the resolutions, a motion wa
. made to receive the report, which was carried
T" A motion was then made to adjourn till 2 T
M. on Wednesday. An excited debate then too
. place, in which it vas evident the temporizing pc
icy as exhibited in the resolutions did not fin
4 much favor among those who were not in the Sc
cret. At midnight the meeting adjourned to tn
. next day.