110 
KANSAS. 
by whom yon are now surrounded, a patient hearing of the cause 
I advocate.” At this juncture, Dr. Stringfellow informed Mr. 
Parrott that the convention did not wish to hear a free-state man, 
A good deal of confusion ensuing, Mr. Parrott gave way to the 
bully crowd. 
A person after Gov. Shannon’s own heart now took the floor, and, 
among other peaceful and patriotic sentiments, which brought 
down the house in cheers long and loud, were the following. 
Speaking of Kansas laws, he said, “For the safety of our prop¬ 
erty we must enforce them, for the preservation of our lives against 
higher law marauding. I endorse the sentiments of Gen. Cal¬ 
houn’s speech, and, had I the tongue to be heard to every limit of 
this Union, I would proclaim it, so that old men, now standing on 
the brink of the grave, might hear it; and I would sooner my tongue 
should cleave to the roof of my mouth, or my right arm be sev¬ 
ered from my body, than silently give over our beautiful country 
to ruthless abolitionism. We must enforce the laws, though we 
resort to the force of arms ; trust to our rifles, and make the blood 
flow as freely as do the turbid waters of the Missouri, that flows 
along our banks.” Judge Lecompte said he would support “ law 
and order.” Dr. Stringfellow, and Johnson, one of the foremost 
in the gang who lynched Phillips, added their words of counsel. 
Such were the prime movers in this meeting —the governor, the 
judge, the surveyor-general, appointed by the national head, yet, 
first and foremost in a meeting made up of border desperadoes. 
Stringfellow, the pro-slavery apostle, was acting with them, a prom¬ 
inent officer of the meeting, and, only a few days previous, pub¬ 
lished an extra, which has the following significant sentence: “ Thus 
it is that the fight so long talked of has begun, and it is to be hoped 
that it will not be discontinued until Kansas Territory is rid of this 
‘ higher law ’ and blood-thirsty set of negro thieves and outlaws.” 
This was said in reference to the murder of Collins by Pat Laugh- 
lin. Gov. Shannon, in conversation, said, “ The laws are not so 
very bad,” — notwithstanding, for even having in one’s house the 
Declaration of Independence, or saying aught against slavery, one 
is exposed to incarceration within prison walls. After the meet¬ 
ing, Gov. Shannon and Surveyor-General Calhoun were the invited 
