The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-09-19
THE MEETING AT PAOLA.


The delectable gathering which was ad-
vertised to meet at Paola on the 9th inst,
came of as per announcement, and resulted
in q complete failure, or, not 10 put too fne
a point on it, in a 6zzle-as every sane
man expected and hoped it would. And
Lane, himself = who was the principal
getter-up of the concern, the beginning and
end of it, so to speak-never expected it
would amount to anything, save as means
of making political capital 1t was never
intended to invade Missouri, for no one for
an instant supposed the commander of the
partment could or would permit anything
of the kind, and the getters-up of the meet
ing were the last persons to provoke a COL
lision with the military authorities. Be-
sides, the sentiment of the people of Kansas,
upon their deliberate second thought, did
not desire the invasion of Missouri, nor
would such movement be sustained-an
iudiecriminate plundering and killing. with
its attendant horrors, such as would be sure
to result from the movements of an infuri-
aled, unorganized mob. entirely beyond con-
troll and governed only By their own fierce
passions. Two wrongs never make one
right, and while furious storm Of sincere
indignation passed over the State, caused
by the diabolical atrocities committed at
Lawrence, and vengeance was sworn against
the perpetrators, the people of Kansas. we
repeat, did not desire the invasion of Mis-
souri, by an irresponsible mob, which would
attack guilty and innocent, friend and foe.
alike. The project fell, as it ought to have
done. still born. The mountain labored, aud
brought forth mouse.
That the Paola meeting was intended for
political effect, is evidenced by several cir
cumstances. At the meeting in Leaven-
worth by which the call for the Paola was
issued, resolution was adopted to the eff
feet that an election Of United States Sen
ator the coming winter was uuwise, mex
pedient, uDcalled-for and illegal. Now, in
all candor, we ask what necessity was there
for the introduction Of resolution of this
Lawrence outrage, unless the idea of the
contest for the succession to the Senatorial
robes is always present to the imagination of
the Senator, like the vision of the dagger to
the diseased mind Of Macbeth? Take the res
olutions adopted at the Paola meeting: if
they are not family military, wholly Politi
cal in their character, we fail TO read them
Alright But he who runs may read. and we
submit them to the judgment of the people
Of the State, and by that judgment we are
content to abide.
We do not, however, wish to be misun
derstood. We are not seeking to shield any
one. We have no pets or partisans to up
hold. If there has been negligence-and
we believe there has been gross, culpable
negligence-let those who are guilty be held
to strict account. Let justice be done
though the heavens fall, no matter how high
in position those may be on whom the CEN
sure shall light. But what we do object to is
the making of political capital out of such
terrible tragedy as that at Lawrence; and 1t
speaks i'll for the head and heart Of any who
ical advancement over the smoldering ruins
Of Lawrence--the bulwark of freedom dur
ing our border troubles, and which has be-
come hstoric-and over her murdered dead,
deserve the execrations of all right minded
men everywhere.