EASTERN EMIGRATION — BORDER MEN. 
29 
men say also that “ he can have fifteen minutes to decide whether 
he will give them the certificates, or be shot.” Gov. Eeeder has 
only allowed four days’ time in which the protests against these 
frauds can be sent in. We fear in many districts the time will 
be too short to allow them to be canvassed. Besides, the persons 
who desire to do it are in danger of losing their lives in the 
attempt, a large number of the Missourians declaring openly their 
intention to “ remain in the territory until the four days are past, 
and that they will kill any one who endeavors to get signers to a 
protest.” This threat will intimidate many. 
Word came from the Shawnee Mission that armed bands, upon 
horseback and in carriages, were assembling there. The gentle¬ 
men who came from Lawrence had mostly gone over. As my 
husband sat quietly writing, an express came, desiring his attend¬ 
ance also. There have been so many threats upon the part of the 
Missourians, that, had we any faith in their courage, we should 
have believed our friends in imminent peril to-day. As it was, 
we bade them God-speed with light hearts, expecting to see them 
again at sundown. At noon a messenger returned, and reported 
all quiet at the mission. Although the Missourians number 
considerably more than the actual settlers gathered there, they 
seemed to think their forces insufficient to justify an attack either 
upon Gov. Eeeder or them. Gov. Eeeder, having been loudly 
threatened with assassination unless he granted the certificates of 
election, examined the papers with pistols cocked near him. 
The members elect were holding caucuses during the day. One 
of the gentlemen from the territory was invited by an acquaint¬ 
ance to attend one of them; and he assured me, as he looked in 
upon them at his first entrance, their stolid faces, their disordered, 
rough dress, and their various attitudes, impressed him with any¬ 
thing rather than their wisdom. Some were lying on the benches, 
others sitting on the backs of the same; and he could hardly 
believe such a body of men desired to be considered grave legis¬ 
lators. From the appearance of one, at least, to whom a paper 
was given, who, after scanning it closely, gave it to him with a 
request that he should read it aloud, he judged he could not read 
his own mother tongue. 
8 * 
