THE FIRST ELECTION —- FIRST INVASION. 
16 
lives and property are in danger, and I advise you one and all to 
enter every election district in Kansas, in defiance of Keeder and 
his vile myrmidons, and vote at the point of the bowie-knife and 
revolver. Neither give nor take quarter, as our cause demands it. 
It is enough that the slave-holding interest wills it, from which 
there is no appeal. What right has Gov. Keeder to rule Missou¬ 
rians in Kansas? His proclamation and prescribed oath must be 
disregarded; it is your interest to do so. Mind that slavery is es¬ 
tablished where it is not prohibited.” 
Laws, state and national, are to be disregarded; every one 
tainted with any sentiment of freedom to be murdered ; every elec¬ 
tion district to be invaded, and votes cast in a neighboring terri¬ 
tory at the point of bowie-knife and revolver. This same String- 
fellow is one of the leaders of the “ law and order ” party. 
A few days before the thirtieth of March crowds of men might 
oe seen wending their way to some general rendezvous in the various 
counties of Kay, Howard, Carroll, Boone, Lafayette, Saline, 
Kandolph and Cass, in Missouri. They were rough, brutal looking 
men, of most nondescript appearance. They had, however, one mark 
upon them, a white or blue ribbon, to distinguish them from the 
settlers. This was wholly unnecessary, no one ever mistaking one 
of these men for an intelligent, educated settler in the territory. 
Those Missourians who did not feel the interest to come over to 
vote, paid their money, or contributed provisions and wagons for 
the new raid. The expenses of the vandal horde were paid, and 
they were en route again to overrun the fair country, with drunk¬ 
enness, and fraud, and murder, if the cause demanded it. Their 
watchword was, 44 Neither give nor take quarter.” 
The people of Missouri had been excited by the inflammatory 
rumors, put in circulation among them by their leaders, regarding 
the design and character of eastern emigration. Aided by the 
oaths of their secret societies, they had acted upon their base pas¬ 
sions and prejudices to such a degree that they were fully equal 
to any deeds of violence. 
Provisions were sent ahead of the parties, and those intended 
for the invaders at Lawrence were stored in the house of W. Ly- 
kins. The polls were also opened at the same place. Some of 
