mouthed marauders came under the leadership of Sam'l J. Jones, of Westport, Col. Sam'l Young, and C. F. Jackson, Col. Sam'l H. Woodson, of Independence, Mo., Gen. D. R. Atchison, of Platte City, and Gen. B. F. Stringfellow, of Weston.

Col. Woodson was the leader of the rabble of Tecumseh, while B. F. Stringfellow was very active in his efforts to promote the pro-slavery interests in one of the northern precincts. Atchison, the urgent advocate of squatter sovereignty, the former VicePresident of the United States, after controlling one of the primary elections in the fourteenth district, was the acknowledged leader of a gang at the Nemaha. In opposition to the wishes of the actual residents (pro-slavery), he caused a set of candidates to be nominated. His words at the time were, "There are ten hundred men coming over from Platte county, and if that isn't enough we will send five thousand more. We've come to vote, and will vote, or kill every G―d d―d abolitionist in the territory." In these northern precincts, besides being armed to the teeth with guns, bowie-knives, and revolvers, the ruffians wore hemp in their button-holes, as a pledge to carry out the designs of their secret societies, and singularly significant of the fiendish nature of the institution, while their password was "All right on the hemp."

was

Major Mordecai Oliver, member of Congress from Missouri, who, it will be remembered, stated on the floor of the House last spring (during the debates preceding the appointment of a committee to look into the wrongs of the people of Kansas, and was appointed one of the number at his own request), that he knew of no one who came from Missouri to vote in the territory, himself present at the election, and, while it is not known with certainty that he voted, he did make a speech, excusing the Missourians for voting. Four hundred and seventeen votes were polled at this precinct, of which no more than eighty can be legal. It is not to be supposed that even wilful blindness could have concealed these facts from his sight. Another instance of the elasticity which one's conscience may attain may be cited here. While the investigating committee were holding their session at Westport, and band of armed men from the border towns were continually in the streets, making both day and night hideous with their vile

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curses, and by their oaths calling down the swift vengeance of Heaven, Mr. Oliver to the committee discountenanced such unlawful measures in the attempt to make Kansas a slave state, but was said to have been heard repeatedly urging on the ruffians to deeds of horror, in words of their own choosing, such as Wipe out the d-d abolitionists!" "Drive them from the territory!" At this precinct, where Major O. made his speech, the voters took the oath as to residence in the territory. The grounds of their residence were the following: .One man had cut some poles, and, laying them in the form of a square, it constituted his claim. Another based his right to a claim in having cut a few sticks of wood. Col. Burns recommended all to vote, and not to go home without voting. The pro-slavery residents in this precinct, as in some others, became so outraged at the course pursued by the lawless invaders, that they gladly came over to the ranks of the free-state party, and have since then becn among the firmest in the cause of freedom.

In reference to the protests to the election, Major Richardson, who was a resident of Missouri, and whose family still resides there, but who was the pro-slavery candidate for council, with threats, told Dr. Cutter, the free-state candidate, that if he offered a protest, he and his office should be thrown into the Missouri river.

One of the judges in the third district, having at last been driven from his post, where he was determined to do his duty, made affidavit in a protest of the illegality of the election. An indictment for perjury was found against him by the grand jury fifteen months ago, and is still pending. Mr. R. has not been informed what is the nature of the evidence against him, or who is his accuser.

Mr. W. Phillips, a lawyer of Leavenworth, made affidavit also to a truthful protest concerning the election. A meeting was soon called, in which the right of free speech upon the peculiar institution is denied, as being subversive of the quiet of the community, and stigmatized peaceable citizens of free-state sentiments. as fanatics, incendiaries and traitors. The following resolve was passed:

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Resolved, That the institution of slavery is known and recog nized in this territory; that we repel the doct-ine that it is a moral and political evil, and we hurl back with scorn upon its slanderous authors the charge of inhumanity; and we warn all persons not to come to our peaceful firesides to slander us, and sow the seeds of discord between the master and the servant; for, as much as we deprecate the necessity to which we may be driven, we cannot be responsible for the consequences."

A committee of vigilance of thirty men was then appointed. These steps were taken preparatory to acts of violence which would follow, that the pro-slavery party might be bound together in their deeds of blood, and, as one man, carry out their nefarious designs. Soon after this meeting, the vigilance committee waited upon Mr. Phillips, notifying him to leave. Upon his refusal to do so, he was seized by them, taken across the river to Weston, Missouri, several miles from Leavenworth. There, after being tarred and feathered, and one side of his head shaved, he was marched about the streets, and finally sold at auction to a negro.

Just one week after the other meeting proposing these acts of lawless indignity upon any and all who should differ from them in sentiment, another meeting was called. R. R. Rees, a member elect of the council, presided at this meeting of the 25th of May, 1855. This same Rees, on the 30th of March, had declared that whoever should say that laying out a town, staking a lot, or even driving down stakes on another man's claim, did not entitle him to a vote, was either a knave or a fool. Judge Payne, a member elect of the House, offered the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

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Resolved, That we heartily indorse the action of the committee of citizens that shaved, tarred and feathered, rode on a rail, and had sold by a negro, William Phillips, the moral perjurer.

"Resolved, That we return our thanks to the committee for faithfully performing the trust enjoined upon them by the pro-slavery party.

Resolved, That the committee be now discharged.

Resolved, That we severely condemn those pro-slavery men

who, from mercenary motives, are calling upon the pro-slavery party to submit without further action.

"Resolved, That, in order to secure peace and harmony to the community, we now solemnly declare that the pro-slavery party will stand firmly by and carry out the resolutions reported by the committee appointed for that purpose on the memorable 30th."

"This meeting was eloquently addressed by Judge Lecompte." Thus, Judge Lecompte, and the men elected by force and fraud, not "inhabitants of" the district for which they were elected, as the organic act requires (this act declaring that "the true intent and meaning of this act is to leave the people there perfectly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way, subject to the constitution of the United States "), are the leaders and instigators to a series of lawless acts, whose end we cannot even foresee, against the peaceable and order-loving citizens of the territory, exposing them to imminent peril from drunken mobs, and death by fiendish violence, if this judge and these lawmakers so desire. In such hands, and at the mercy of such men, are our lives and safety.

No other country than this witnesses so terrible a 'espotism.

CHAPTER III.

EASTERN EMIGRATION

BORDER MEN.

THE first Kansas party of the season left

Boston, March 13,
There were nearly

1855, under the charge of Dr. C. Robinson. two hundred in the party, men, women and children. We reached Kansas city March 24. The name of Kansas city sounded pleasantly to us, wayfarers, twelve days en route from Boston; and, having trunks and carpet-sacks all locked, we were ready to leave the boat in anticipation of our arrival. When the cables were thrown out upon shore, and the planks lowered, we passed off the boat and entered the long parlor at the hotel, only a few steps. distant. The mystery was, where could a place be found to stow away so many. Such place, however, was made for all, and sleep without the boat's continual rocking was very sweet.

25th. - Another boat came in with another party of Kansas passengers. I awakened to find the hotel directly on the levee, the street very narrow, the river in front of the house, and Clay county opposite, with forest skirting the shore. Wyandotte, settled by a tribe of Indians of the same name, was also in sight, and in the distance the buildings looked finely, among the trees. My husband made an arrangement to accompany a portion of our fellow-travellers into the country, to look for a pleasant location for a new settlement.

26th.—The party looking for a location left this morning for a trip south, and will return to Topeka and Lawrence. Many of our party are busy getting teams for their trip into the country, buying provisions, and the general outfit for a few weeks; and many left for their new homes in the territory at the "top of the morning." We hear a great deal said here of the preparations