The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-01-22
A Speech from Montgomery.

SPosCn NoLn hAonlBomoJ.
We understand that the notorious Capt |
A5.igOmery has been spending the last
@sek in Lawrence, and that he gave
lac,u.e in defence of himself, at the Con-
freg z.ional Church, in this city, on
Wednesday evening last. The most no.
ticeGble feature, probably, in the whole af-
fair, was the fact that it was opened by
1RAYER, and was closed with three groans
ior "somebody," said to be Ex-Gov. Ran
.om, who was supposed to be in the
crowd"
3lon:gomery, as we suppose the public
is Lwcle, is, or has been preacher, henc e
be coserS over his crimes with the cloak
OF religion. John Il. MurriH, the "Great
Western Land Pirate" was in the habit Of
preaching occasionally, especially when he
contemplated some extraordinary scheme
OF viliainy; and if he had been invited to
address the public in defence of himself,
would, 40 doubt, have made Favorable
impression" and convinced the masses
that hs was doing Gods service, while he
was robbing and numbering. If he did
10: pray for the salvation of those he was
;.bout 10 murder, he repeatedly compelled
hi victims to get down upon their knees
and pray for him and themselves.
The two most noted hishwaymen of
England, Capts. LghtoOt and IEundey6o1tlt,
had thousands Of sympathizers, because
they claimed to only "rob from the rich
and give to the poor"
Eontgomery claims to have only rob
bed o-Slavery men, and given to Free
State men. We did not hear his speech,
nor would not, with the evidence in our
possession of his guilt. unless it was be-
fore Court Of criminal jurisdiction.
It is represented in Justification of
Montgomery, that his wife was outraged
by the Pro-savery men in the past, and
hence his crimes now. This representa-
ton is wholly gratuitous. It is represent
ed that mob of dozen or so persons
visited his house, in the night time, few
months ago, with the view of redressing
their own injuries, and were guilty of the
same "excesses," which Montgomery is
charged with, that of shooting into his
house, and endangeriDg the lives of the
inmates
Public morals, in our estimation, are at
low ebb when the most noted highway
men of the present age is listened to,
through two hours speech, and repeat
eddy eheered in the most boisterous man
ner, while detailing his numerous crimes.
If those who have been robbed, and
those who have been slain by his direc-
tons, or in defence of their homes or pro-
perty, could confront him, and speak for
themselves, instead of being applaudcd,
we believe he would be arrested and load
ed with irons, or swung up on the nearest
tree. Instead of clergymen taking place
by his side, in the sacred desk, they
would join in petitioning heaven for mer-
cy in his behalf.
That Montgomery is a monomaniac
there cannot be doubt. While he wa:
speaking he admitted almost every charge
made against him, but offered various cir.
cumstanees in palliation. 1t is said thai
he stood, throughout his lengthy discourse
with one hand on the Bible, and in a mar
ra.iVe style gave full history of the out
RACES on our Southern border, speaking o
his demonstrating and other crimes with
perfect sang troid. Those who have beer
sustaining him through the summer anC
autumn seemed delighted beyond meas
ure, at his recital of incidents which mad,
Others weep for poor fallen humanity
His confessions of mail robbing, horse
stealing, house breaking, &c, while il
that desk, is sufficient to convict him o
those crimes, and send him to the peni
Tertiary for life. It is said that he re
marked that he was thus particularin de
tails, that the rising generation, many o
whom were before him, might know how
to carry on, successfully. guerilla war
fare.
We cannot commend the course of tn
United States Marshal for Kansas, in al
lowing man under arrest for robbing tn
United States mail, and charged with othe
crimes of the most fragrant nature, to har
sngue public audiences in palliation of hi
guilt. prior to his trial or his releasemen
On bail.