Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-24
,.ouR WANTED CIVILIZATION"


Last summer, the public was excited by
startling stories of 'murderous abolition con-
spiracies" in Texas. AS all the stories ran,
''aboitionists" and abolition emssaries" were
carrying out frightful conspiracy against the
life and property OF the people residing in the
western part of that state. The news came in
Geographic dispatches, letters, and articles in
newspapers and it was declared to the public
that bullets, fire, poison, and bowie knives
were doing their worst to depopulate and lay
waste western Texas. The stories were be
lieved by great many persons, and the ac-
counts of hurryings to and fro to arrest ana
punish the abolition murderers," seemed
yerv proper to such persons. But these tales
of fire and murder were improbable. We
said at the time that they were inventions de
signed to cover bloody conspiracy Of a very
different kind, and that the slavery extremists
were probably exterminating the free state
men in Texas in order to make a free state
in that region impossible when Texas shall
be divided. 1t now appears that this SUPPOSE
ton was correct. 1t is shown that there has
been in Texas most atrocious crusade against
such settlers as were suspected Of free state
principles, and that great numbers Of such
men have been either killed or driven out Of
the state.
We have the testimony of Governor Hous.
ton himself that there was no foundation
whatever for the stories ct abolition conspir-
acies, that they were Inventions and that all
the outrages have been on the other side. He
gives an account OF two hundred wagons,
with families and household goods that were
met in one day, going from Texas to some
refuge in Arkansas, the Indian Territory, or
Kansas and he says that the atrocities of the
slavery extremists have done incalculable in
jury to the state. True accounts OF those out
RACES are now beginning to find their way into
some Of the southern papers. The Mobile
Mercury says, eve saw a gentleman yester.
day, direct from Texas. He came from the
region OF country where the hanging process
was rife some while back He says the dis
tant public is not informed of the extent Of
the hanging. He is member OF a vigilance
committee, which has been in correspondence
with the committees of other counties, and he
: says that no less than two hundred and fifty
persons have suffered death by hanging"
They have been doing in Texas what they
sought 10 do in Kansas and what none but
the supporters of barbarism can undertake to
do anywhere. "No less than two hundred
and fifty persons have just been hung in Tex
as, simply because they were suspected of be-
ing free state men Hung without trial and
without being suspected of any crime And
it is urged that no man in the country should
be allowed to speak against the institution that
stimulates men to such barbarties But the
institution itself seems bent on committing
suicide, else it would not allow its devotees to
do it such fatal service. What has been done
in Texas must have produced a very powerful
impression on the minds of the more quiet
people. 1t has very seriously checked the
growth OF the state !; but it has also awakened,
in a great many people there, thoughts and
feelings which must gradually develop new
public sentiment, and create the conviction
that slavery should not be tolerated where
men wish to preserve the spirit of freedom,
build up prosperous state, and feel all the
wholesome influences of civilization. That
foolish old wickedness of seeking to extermi-
nate ideas by numbering or banishing all who
are suspected of feeling their influence, haunts
all ages and all communities, and seems likely
to outlast many more generations.