The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-05
MURDERS in Kansas-Is there a Remedy


We have this week more murders to
record, and the slaughter is of such mag
nitude as to produce profound sensation
in both Missouri and Kansas. Peaceable
citizens are Mortified to know that murder
ers and highway robbers are at large, and
that no man who has money is safe
What adds to the difficulty is, that the
perpetrators claim to act from political
feeling, and all outrages are ascribed to
this cause, thus preventing such union
of effort as is necessary to rid the country
of these bands. One party is headed by a
Free State man he visits innocent par
ties, men who are quietly pursuing their
affairs and molesting no one, destroys
their property, pillages their houses, and
shoots whomsoeyer it is desirable, for the
only crime of being pro-slavery. Another
party is headed by man who says he is
pro slavery, and he attacks a settler or
trader, robs him of his goods, drives off
his stock, and shoots him, if desirable, for
no other reason than that he is Free-State.
And men who know better, and who
should blush to think of such crimes, in
America, are found on both sides, who
think it an lawful state of affairs, but do
not feel called upon to blame the actors
very severely" We have no sympathy
with such memo patience with such
cold indifference. We, here in Missouri,
and our neighbors in Kansas, those of US
who desire to see this fairest of all lands
settled up by respectable American citi-
zens, are using all our efforts to induce
emigration, and we owe it to those who,
trusting in our promises and coniding in
our laws, do emigrate, that they be pro-
tected. We care nothing for this cry of
Free State or Pro- Slavery man who
shoots down his fellow man, save in de-
fence of himself and that which is his, is
guilty of murder, and no sort of politics,
prejudice or sophistry, can make him any
thing else than a murderer. The man
who stops his neighbor on the highway
and takes from him his horse, his money
or his goods, is a robber, come from where
he may and be he whom he may. We
believe in calling things by their right
names, and holding up crime in its proper
colors. In times past, when there were
questions at issue that called for the armed
force to be interposed, we were not behind
any in the vindication of our rights, and
when like causes exist again, we will be
found where we were then.
But the time is past, and this country
demands peace and quiet-and it must be
attained-by the law if we can-but at
tanned it must be. There is no use in
longer chaffering over "our party" oil
your party"-blood, innocent blood, has
been shed by both sides, and both sides
should make common cause for the sup
preston of a common evil. Will order
loving men, peace-loving men, both in
Missouri and Kansas, take this matter in
hand and stop it? We recollect two year:
ago, when Shawnee country was over.
run by robbers and murderers, that q
public meeting in Westport, of the citi.
zens of that place and Kansas City, nd
the country of the bands who infested it
Cannot like course accomplish the same
object now? Who seconds our motor
for meeting of the citizens such as tina
was, at the very earliest moment, to take
measures for mutual protection and mu
tual safety ? Something must be done, anC
done quickly.--Kansas City (Mo.) Journal