was to organize and send men to vote at the elections in the Territory, to collect money to pay their expenses, and, if neces'sary, to protect them in voting. This dangerous society was controlled by men who avowed their purpose to extend slavery into the Territory at all hazards, and was altogether the most effective instrument in organizing the subsequent armed invasions and forays. In its lodges in Missouri the affairs of Kansas were discussed; the force necessary to control the elections was divided into bands, and leaders selected; means were collected and signs and badges were agreed upon." (Kansas Affairs, p. 3.) November 16, 1854, the St. Louis Democrat says; "Senator Atchison is at present engaged in the upper country banding a secret society of five thousand persons. These, according to rumor, are pledged to move into Kansas on the day of the first election to vote slavery into that Territory." (Wilder's Annals.)

NOTE 20.

At the election held March 30, 1855, for members of the first territorial Legislature, the Missourians came over in hordes, and took control of nearly all the election precincts. The report on Kansas affairs says: "They said if the judges appointed by the Governor did not receive their votes they would choose other judges. Some of them voted several times, changing their hats or coats and coming up to the window again. Some of them claimed a right to vote under the organic act, from the fact that their mere presence in the Territory constituted them residents, though they were from Missouri and had their homes in Missouri. Others said they had a right to vote because Kansas belonged to Missouri, and the people from the East had no right to settle in the Territory and vote there. They said they came to the Territory to elect a Legislature to suit themselves, as the people of the Territory and persons from the East and North wanted to elect a Legislature that would not suit them. Col. Young said he wanted citizens to vote in order to give the election some show of fairness. The Missourians said there would be no difficulty if the citizens did not interfere with their voting; but they were determined to vote; peaceably

if they could, but vote anyhow. They said each one of them was prepared for eight rounds without loading, and would go to the ninth round with the butcher knife." (Kansas Affairs, p. 12.) The Legislature was elected in this clandestine manner which gave Kansas the "Bogus Laws" of 1855. This consummation brought on the Kansas war, which at last ended in the triumph of freedom.

NOTE 21.

An eminent author and lady of Kansas writes as follows: "The following from the Leavenworth Herald will suffice to show the character of the leaders of the Pro-Slavery party and their institution, regarding the manner in which Kansas was to be made a slave State. The plan of operation was laid down in an address to a crowd at St. Joseph, Mo., by Stringfellow: 'I tell you to mark every scoundrel among you that is the least tainted with free-soilism or abolitionism, and exterminate him. Neither give nor take quarter from the d-d rascals. To those having qualms of conscience as to violating laws, State or National, the time has come when such impositions must be disregarded, as your lives and property are in danger; and I advise you, one and all, to enter every election district in Kansas, in defiance of Reeder and his vile myrmidons, and vote at the point of the bowie knife and revolver. What right has Governor Reeder to rule Missourians in Kansas? His proclamation and prescribed oath must be disregarded. It is your interest to do so. Mind that slavery is established where it is not prohibited."" (Mrs. Robinson's "Kansas," pp. 14-16.)

This, again, is the doctrine of the Dred-Scott decision, and preceded it more than a year. Chief Justice Taney was at this time seventy-eight years old, and was enjoying a ripe old dotage. Doubtless Stringfellow's speech was taken by him to be good law.

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July 20, 1854, a meeting in western Missouri resolves to remove any and all emigrants who go to Kansas under the auspices of the Northern emigrant aid societies."

"October 4, 1854, E. D. Ladd writes to the Milwaukee Sentinel that within a few days the Missourians have taken down and moved the tents of our squatters, and burned the cabins while the owners were absent at work." (Wilder's Annals.)

NOTE 22.

At a public indignation meeting held in Leavenworth May 3d, 1855, it was, among other things

"Resolved, To the peculiar friends of northern fanatics we say, this is not your country; go home and vent your treason where you will find your sympathy.

"Resolved, That we invite the inhabitants of every State, north, south, east and west, to come among us and cultivate the beautiful prairie lands of our Territory, but leave behind you the fanaticism of the higher law and all kindred doctrines. Come only to maintain the laws as they exist, and not preach your higher duties of setting them at naught; for we warn you in advance that our institutions are sacred to us and must and shall be respected.

"Resolved, That the institution of slavery is known and recognized in this Territory; that we repel the doctrine 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 own peaceful firesides to slander us and sow seeds of discord between the master and the servant; for much as we may deprecate the necessity to which we may be driven, we cannot be responsible for the consequences.

"Resolved, That a vigilance committee consisting of thirty members shall now be appointed, who shall observe and report all such persons as shall openly act in violation of law and order, and by the expression of abolition sentiments produce disturbance to the quiet of the citizens or danger of their domestic relations; and all such persons so offending shall be notified and made to leave the Territory." (Kansas Affairs, pp. 967,

968.

The following is a duplicate of the notice served on William Phillips, a lawyer of Leavenworth city, a few days prior to the above meeting, pursuant to resolutions adopted:

LEAVENWORTH CITY, April 30, 1855. SIR-At a meeting of the citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity, we, the undersigned, were appointed a committee to inform you that they have unanimously determined that you

must leave this Territory by two o'clock of Thursday next. Take due notice thereof, and act accordingly.

TO WILLIAM PHILLIPS."

(Kansas Affairs, p. 966.)

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NOTE 23.

[Signed by ten.]

The Squatter Sovereign, published at Atchison, by Dr. John H. Stringfellow, says: 'We can tell the impertinent scoundrels of the Tribune that they may exhaust an ocean of ink, their emigrant aid societies spend their millions and billions, their representatives in congress spout their heretical theories till doomsday, and his excellency, Franklin Pierce, appoint Abolitionist after Free-Soiler as our Governor, yet we will continue to lynch and hang, to tar and feather and drown, every whitelivered Abolitionist who dares to pollute our soil."

Hon. S. N. Wood, who had moved into Kansas as early as July 4, 1854, gives us the definition of a "white-livered Abolitionist," in the language of the Missouri squatter. He says: "The Pro-Slavery men from Missouri had met in Kansas, and adopted a code of squatter laws, and the whole Territory seemed staked into claims. They had a register of claims, with an office at Westport, Mo. One law of this remarkable code provided that Nebraska was for the North and Kansas for the South. One provision was, that every white-livered Abolitionist who dared to set foot in Kansas should be hung, and that there might be no mistake, they added: 'Every man north of Mason's and Dixon's line is an Abolitionist."" (QuarterCentennial Address.)

NOTE 24.

The following was adopted at a meeting held in Clay county, Missouri, in May, 1855:

"That we regard the efforts of the northern division of the Methodist Episcopal Church to establish itself in our State as a violation of her plighted faith, and pledged, as its ministers must be, to the anti-slavery principles of that church, we are forced to regard them as enemies to our institutions. We

therefore fully concur with our friends in Platte county in resolving to permit no persons belonging to the Northern Methodist Church to preach in our county." (Gihon, p. 36.)

NOTE 25.

The following is the Squatter Sovereign's relation of this affair. It occurred August 16, 1855:

"On Thursday last one Pardee Butler arrived in town, with a view of starting for the East, probably for the purpose of getting a fresh supply of Free-Soilers from the penitentiaries and pest holes of the Northern States. Finding it inconvenient to depart before morning, he took lodging at the hotel, and proceeded to visit numerous portions of our town, everywhere avowing himself a Free-Soiler, and preaching the foulest of abolition heresies. He declared the recent action of our citizens in regard to J. W. B. Kelly, [who was beaten by a mob, and driven from Atchison,] the infamous and unlawful proceedings of a mob, at the same time stating that many persons in Atchison who were Free-Soilers at heart had been intimidated thereby, and feared to avow their true sentiments, but that he would express his views in defiance of the whole community.

"On the ensuing morning our townsmen assembled en masse, and deeming the presence of such persons highly detrimental to the safety of our slave property, appointed a committee of two to wait on Mr. Butler, and request his signature to the resolutions passed at the late Pro-Slavery meeting held in Atchison. After perusing the said resolutions, Mr. B. positively declined signing them, and was instantly arrested by the committee.

"After the various plans for his disposal had been considered, it was finally decided to place him on a raft, composed of two logs firmly lashed together; that his baggage and a loaf of bread be given him; and having attached a flag to his primitive bark, emblazoned with mottoes indicative of our contempt of such characters, Mr. Butler was set adrift in the great Missouri, with the letter "R" legibly painted on his forehead. He was escorted some distance down the river by several of our