belonging to the class of 'mean whites ' commenced a series of
barbarous outrages in the interests of the slave-holders--a
series sickening to contemplate. Two instances may be quoted
which are typical:

A ruffian bets that he will scalp an Abolitionist in true Indian
fashion, and rides out in search of his prey. A gentleman known
to be opposed to slavery is met in a gig and shot; and, taking
his scalp, the drunken fiend rides back, and producing the
promised spoil, claims his due.

Another leader of the Free-State men is surrounded by these
desperate ruffians, and his skull and brain are cloven with a
hatchet. In fiendish glee they dance upon the almost breathless
man, who vainly pleads, 'Do not abuse me, I am dying.' The only
response is a shower of tobacco juice from their filthy lips into
his pleading eyes. With his last breath he says, 'It is in a
good cause,' and so dies--slaughtered because he dared to say
others should share in his right of liberty. True, dying man,
the cause is good and will triumph, though thou and many others
die first!

Such scenes roused the ire of the long-suffering Free-State men
of Kansas. Redress there was none, save in their own right arm,
for, as Emerson says, 'A plundered man might take his case to the
court and find the ring-leader who has robbed him dismounting
from his own horse and unbuckling his knife to sit as judge.'

They were not without allies. There might be no government aid
from Washington, but throughout the North were men who loved the