The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-05


For some time past we have been publish.
ing reports from the Southen portion OF the
Territory, which indicated that serious trou-
BILE was brewing in that quarter. Our ac'
counts were from various sources, and we
have given them without comment, because
we have preferred to wait for full advices as
to the cause of the difficulties and their true
nature, before expressing our views thereon,
We have now further and more definite in
telligence from the locality in question than
has yet been gwen to the public.
Our readers are familiar with the tranSac.
tions in which Montgomery and his men
played so prominent part in '57-58. The
Amnesty Act, which was passed by the Leg
islature in '58, was intended to dispose Of all
the differences between the Federal author
tiles and those who were under indictments
from the United Sites Courts. After the
passage of that bill, Montgomery and his
confederates expressed themselves ready to
yield submission thereafter to the legal tri.
bunals, and to aid, if necessary, in the arrest
of ell offenders.
The difficulties Of which we speak origin
sted in the unfortunate struggles 10 the ear
ly history of the Territory, and, at first, the
divisions of the contending parties were
purely political ones. But in the progress
OF the border warfare, rsscals of all kinds
srrayed themselves around each banner, and
under the cover of Free State or Pro- Slave.
ty movements, INDUCED their propensities
for plunder and every species OF villainy.
Capt. Montgomery had attsched lot Of
such characters 10 himself but when peace
was restored, it was believed that he would
dissolve all further come ction with them
Lately he seems to have been engaged in
organizing them into company, and adding
thereto large number of honest but mis-.
guided men, who had suffered personally, or
through their friends, from the outrsges OF
the "Border Ruffians," and were animated
by fanatical zeal in opposition to every.
thing pro slavery.
Several mo nths ago, Montgomery return
ed from trip to the Eastern States, where
he was engaged in procuring assistance to
carry on his marauding enterprises. At that
time, he made an iriamnatory speech at
Mound City, after which he proceeded to
collect and arm his men.
Under the cover OF anti slavery pretenses
his band have recently committed various
depredatons, to which they were partly in.
cited by the action OF soMe MiSsourians who
still retain the old spirit. The first mpor.
tanl feuture OF the present excitement was
the trial and conviction of one Hines by q
number OF Montgomery's men, headed by
DR.. Jennison, his Lieutenant. 1t was slIeg
ed by those who composed the mob court
that Hines was a notorious char eter VIII
had been ordered to leave the territory in 81
The immediate charge preferred ag4inst him
was that he had spirited away negro from
Kansas into Missouri Whether the negtC
was free or slave, we are unable to say, al
our accounts OF the transaction differ on thai
pont-one being to the effect that the dar
key was free, and was sold by Hines iol
gain; and the other, that Hines was re-
spectacle citizen, and that he merely return
ed a slave to his rightful owner.
The same crowd who were guilty OF This
unjustiiable outrage, then proceeded to
make further arrests. They went to M'.
pleton and arrested the Post Master there,
for his completely in some iris which took
place in '57 or '58. They acquitted him,
and then turned their attention to two per-
sons named Smith and Moore, who were
aleeping together at the hotel. The former
gave himself up to them immediately; but
the latter sprung out Of bed as soon as they
entered the room, and refused TO surrender.
JeDnisor, the Lender OF the party, at once
freed his revolver, and the shot took elisc'
in Moore'S neck, fatally wounding him. In
order to show that the attempt Of M1ntgom
cry & Co., to excuse their proceedings on
anti.slavery grounda ia all sham it is pro-
per to state that Mr.. Loster d. Moore, the
murdered man, was Republican, but wss
strongly opposed to the lawless acts OF the
gang aforesaid. While these events were
transpiring at MapletoD, Montgomery was
stationed at Hudson, one mile of, and his
aids were constantly riding between the two
places; carrying his orders, and furnishine
him with accouRts o what was being done
by his Lieutenant"
The killing Of Moore took place on We'd
nesday last, and on Monday Montgomery
appeared at Mound City and made flaming
speech, in which he dclared that his object
was TO free the Negroes along the Missouri
and Arkansas borders, and that he would
extend his operations down into Texas, and
ASST the free Slate men who were being
driven out Of that State. He said that he
was not doing the bidding Of any party
that he belonged neither to the Democrats
nor the Republicans, and that the latter
might IS we'll understand that he askad no
tavors at their hands; and that be Was an
AboitioDist. He announced his determine
ton to drive out OF the Territory all who
opposed him, no matter what party they
were members Of.
Montgomery has now an equipped and
mounted gang of $50 men, They are arm
ed each with a rifle, two of Colts large
sized navy revolvers, and sabre, and they
thus constitute splendid fighting corps,
fully posted in every species OF guerrilla
tactics.
Yesterday intelligence reached this city
that they were preparing for an attack upon
Fort Scott. They have taken advantage Of
the indignation Of the people at the toray of
the Indian agent upon the Cherokee Neutral
Land settlers, and at the refusal OF the Pre-.
sidsnt to postpone the land sole, and under
cover of this feeling it was their intention
to seize upon the land office and destroy it.
They may also have designs upon the REG
ords Of the United St4tes Courts, and ths
Government stores, arms and ammunition.
Nothing would be easier than for them to
accomplish their purposes. The people at
that section are maddened to desperation by
the wrongs which they have aufered rom
the Administration, and would rather be dis
posed to encourage than to discourage such
proceedings.
At our latest adviCes from Fort Scott,
Crawford, M'Donald q Co., and Mr.. Will
son, merchants, were moving their goods out
OF town, and many persons were leaving, 10
anticipation of an attack. The town was
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