ARREST OE GOVERNOR ROBINSON. 
269 
to Gov. Shannon should return, if they did not learn sooner there 
was none, they would leave him to pursue his journey. My 
husband, desiring to do that which was right in the matter, although 
his feelings prompted him to a forcible maintenance of his rights, 
let the consequences be what they might, asked me “ what he 
should do.” My counsels were to decline going with them. This 
was an unexpected phase of the matter; but the clerk of the 
boat stepped into our state-room at this juncture of affairs, and 
advised me, for the sake of my husband’s safety, to consent to his 
going with them. The gentlemen gathered about the door pledged 
themselves to protect him from all violence. The exact value of 
such pledges I was unable to estimate, not knowing why men who 
would invade all the rights of American citizens on the public 
thoroughfares, would not as easily, without compunction of con¬ 
science, break their plighted word, if policy whispered a different 
course. My only hope at that moment was in this matter of 
policy, and I at last consented to go off the boat at Lexington. 
Having accepted the hospitalities of Mr. Sawyer, by far the 
most gentlemanly man present, and whose face betokened kindli¬ 
ness of heart, we made preparations to leave the boat, which Gen. 
S. observed must be done without the knowledge of the “ cabin 
full” of “ drunken men.” We passed out on the guard of the 
boat. The ruffianly horde were standing all around the gangways, 
and on the levee. One captain, so drunk he could not talk plain, 
was ordering his men. Another boat soon came, and the crowd 
rushed on it to search for Gov. Reeder, who was still in Lawrence. 
xA night four men stood guard near Mr. Sawyer’s. The next morn¬ 
ing, having decided to continue my own journey, Mr. S. kindly 
took me to the boat. The following day my husband went with 
Mr. S. to his office, and was there introduced to several of the 
principal citizens, with whom he had familiar conversation. Dur¬ 
ing the day, two men, known for their boasting and cowardice, 
came into Lexington from the country, and tried to excite the 
people to some violence against him. At last, some one, who knew 
them well, proposed to let them meet him, equally well armed as 
themselves. This proposal at once produced quiet. The week 
passed away without any word being brought back from Gov. 
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