22 
KANSAb. 
“ Resolved , That the institution of slavery is known and recog¬ 
nized 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 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 w 7 as called. R. It. Rees, a mem¬ 
ber elect of the council, presided at this meeting of the 25th of 
May, 1855. This same Rees, on the 80th 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 : 
“ Resolved , That we heartily indorse the action of the commit¬ 
tee 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 faith¬ 
fully 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 
