The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-09


Vus and his boys are called on to visit
he region of the Marmitou and restore
order and confidence among the people,
and contribute somewhat to the protec-
lion of ona party at least. He responds
with alacrity TO the call. He has
strong band of we'll armed, hardy, reso-
lutte boys, not particularly scrupulous about
acts of aggression, and burn
ing with hate towards everything which
is, in popular parlance, called pro-slavery,
if they have plebG of prov
ender, provisions, horses, mules hogs and
cattle. 1t is hard, especially upon frozen
ground, to go on foot; tits difficult fording
streams, besides men make, in such spn-
dition, but slow progress. MeR salso,
must be fed; they cannot live UPON sue
ton wholly, but must have prey as surely
as the shark or tiger. They must have,
at least, one meal day. The beasts, also,
which they ride, ought not to suffer the
pa1gs of starvation. Now what shall be
done? The poor patriots are not able, nor
willing to go to war at their own charges.
1t would be great burden, if not an i'm
possibility, for the people who are anxious
to enjoy their protection, to supply the
wants of the men and their animals.
One step further and We have-"Boys
we must take enough to supply onr wants,
Those who put us to the trouble must
also, bear the expenses of the war. So say
you ALL" So say both parties, assuming
that all this is justi6able, which admits of
great doubt. How short and how easy,
how much a matter Of course is the
transition from taking sufficiency, to
taking more than enough for their wants.
How natural it is for a band of armed
men, conscious that they are irresistible,
free from the strong discipline of well
regulated camp, free from the restraints
imposed upon lawlessness in well estab-
lished and peaceful communities, inau-
enced and encouraged by gray-headed old
men, solemn visaged divines, and deceived
into the belief that they are doing right,
fighting for liberty; how natural it is, and
how long does it take, under the pressure
of such circumstances, to go even beyond
the bounds we first marked out for our
selves, and advance by little and little to
the perpetration of those deeds at which
we should at one time have revolted, and
which would, in any well regulated COM
munity, have consigned us to the peni-
tentiary.
But there is another thing which is
almost a natural consequence of the for
mer. Confederates, colleagues in crime
or misdemeanor, when they have onct
entered upon and passed the moral rubi
con, are unwilling to be taken, convicted
and punished. They are all involved
more or less in the same condemnation
They rank in the same category. By
remaining banded together, they can pro
tect each other, and every mans safety
depends in great measure on the assist
ance of his comrades. What marvel is i
then under such circumstances, wher,
such organizations have been gradual!
growing to maturity, that men becom
reckless, and perpetrate many outrages
Nor is it strange that leaders and thei
friends are eager to add to their numbers
to involve peaceful and unsuspecting indi
viduals in the predicament with them
selves. What then must be the resul
when by little and little two hostile partie
become moved by the same or simils
motives and impulses? Behold th
result in the robbed and ruined fam
lilies scattered here and there over
wide expanse of Territory. See hundred
of houseless, homeless wanderers as the
now are, fearing and flying from powt
which it is vain to resist, leaving the
homes and everything they have to sui
tain life, and making their way into
border State, in order to enjoy that safet
which they feel and know they cannC
enjoy in the Territory. See them ther
crawling into poor miserable old cabin
and remaining while the spring and sun
; mer wear away with no comfort or al
vantage to themselves. Will they n,
plot and execute terrible mischief 4?
Consider that this state of rapine ar
terror have continued for months, ar
what is the result? Hundreds OF me
have been obliged to leave; many of the
are compelled to do so to save their live
Thus the country is being rapidly depo
ulated.
5 Let US look at few incidents
( the way-a few only, sc,'it is impossit
. to introduce here all til acts of all tho
apostles of the jay-h,wking fraterni,
nor should the reader expect too much
a the unfolding of ttis our fanciful ia
: Have you not alrsaiy had the assuran
1 that it is imag:nStive9 Is it not free
$ admitted that the ssle is sketchy at be-
Il Suppose that you attempt to sketch
Q landscape and fail to diffuse over it d
|. light and shade pssperly blended, and
. just proportion, is ,shsrs therefore no lig
= no shade, no lang sfcape .
Here are tws, men intently engaged
!, conversation, so much so that they he
is not our approach. Suppose We jay-ha
i . littk Of their conversation. Ii is
y cnimportant subject upon which Il
= converse. 1t involves the peace:and Sc
rity of large region in the Territory.
aItell YOU, Mr., John, that have j