Atchison Squatter Sovereign, March 6, 1855

To the Pro-Slavery or Southern Rights Party.

The time has now arrived, to test the real interest the Southern or States Rights’ Party feel for the perpetuity of our institutions. Congress has at last blotted or “Expunged” from the Statute Books, that unjust and unconstitutional enactment, the Missouri Compromise, and solemnly recognised the great doctrines so long fruitlessly contended for, by that party. Now, that the wall which has so long barred our progress, has been broken down, and we are permitted to go, with all our property whithersoever we please: will we permit this opportunity for restoring that just equilibrium between the Slave-holding and non-Slave-holding States, to pass unimproved. We at the South are in the habit of accusing our brethren in the Non-Slave-holding States with being parsimonious. Is this the fact? How stands the record? We see in New England, the land of Yankees, (usually considered synonymous with parsimony,) there has been a fund, already largely over a million of dollars, to aid Free-Soilers in coming to Kansas for the purpose of making it a free State. Against this what is the South, the liberal, generous South doing? Echo, answers what?—Missouri had done nobly. “Solitary and alone” she has met the abolition host; her sons have come in to meet the enemy, and have defeated them. Fresh supplies will still come, and again, at our approaching election, we shall defeat them. But can she long maintain the unequal contest?—The hordes of the North must prevail at last; unless the lethargic South, rouse herself from her slumbers and come to the rescue with men and money. Come, not as six months volunteers, to leave as soon as one battle is fought, but come enlisted for the war, vowing never to leave till victory, complete, crowns our efforts.

We are proud to know that so far, we have had no six months forces, (though accused of it,) our census shows, that our army is still in the field, and not one hors de Combat.

We feel that our call will not be unheeded. We know the people of the South; it is only necessary to show them that danger is at hand; that they must rouse themselves for the fight; and they will as ever, rally, with men and means.

Let us here warn them, that their progenitors, the Cavaliers lost many a battle which was already won, by that reckless disregard of prudence, after the first giving way of the enemy. We must remember that we can secure our rights and immunities only by ceaseless vigilance, and untireing energy. We have the same old foe to contend with, that our fathers had. And they seem to have inherited the same hatred to us, and to be urged on by the same blind bigotry. It is only necessary for us to profit by the faults of our fathers and we will secure an easy victory. Remember to that then, our ancestors were the oppressors, now we their descendants are the oppressed.

Where valor and right, fight in the same cause, the contest is never doubtful.

Atchison Squatter Sovereign, June 10, 1856

Startling News.

More Outrages by the Abolitionists.

Civil War in Kansas!

We stop the press to give following items of interest, which we are permitted to extract from an extra from the Herald office.

Capt. Pate’s company, about forty men, were attacked by one hundred and fifty abolitionists, and two of his men were killed. The enemy were repulsed.

Reinforced, the enemy made the second attack, the battle lasting four hours, in which fifteen of Capt. Pate’s men were killed. The company being entirely surrounded, and being fast cut to pieces by an overwhelming force, were compelled to surrender. Coleman, Long, and one other member of the company, while the arms were being stacked, cut their way through the enemy’s lines, and made good their escape. Their clothes were riddled with bullets, and thefr [sic] horses were badly wounded. James McGhee, of Westport, was badly wounded—probably left on the field for dead—but he arrived at Westport where hopes are entertained of his recovery.

Mr. J. M. Bernard started from St. Bernard for Westport on Friday night, since which nothing has been heard from him. He is supposed to have been murdered.

Messrs. John W. Forman, H. Hamilton and John Lux went in search of him and were taken prisoners. They are all supposed to be murdered!

The United States Marshal and several of his men, were attacked while quietly riding along the road, by about fifty abolitionists; a short conflict ensued, which resulted in the wounding of several of the Marshal’s posse, and a number of horses.

Mr. Slade, a pro-slavery man, had his horse shot from under him, by the abolitionists.

H. M. McCarty states that a company of eight men, to which he belonged, were attacked by the abolitionists, without provocation, and all were wounded. McCarty was shot through the ear.

Three abolitionists stole a negro from Mr. Jesse Bryant, of Liberty, and took him to Kansas, where he was promised freedom. The slave was recaptured and returned to his master.

We also have rumors of the murder of pro-slavery men in other portions of the Territory. The abolitionists shoot down our men without provocation, wherever they meet them. LET US RETALIATE IN THE SAME MANNER—A FREE FIGHT IS ALL WE DESIRE! If murder and assassination is the programme of the day, we are in favor of filling the bill. Let not the knives of the pro-slavery men be sheathed while there is one abolitionist in the Territory. As they have shown no quarters to our men, they deserve none from us. Let our motto be written in blood upon our flags:—“DEATH TO ALL YANKEES, AND TRAITORS IN KANSAS!”

We have one hundred and fifty men in Atchison, ready to start at an hour’s notice. All we lack, is horses and provisions. Cannot our friends in Missouri, whose interests are identical with ours, contribute something that will ennable us to protect our lives and families from the outrages of the cowardly assassins of the North. If the South ever intends to act, now is the time;—our murdered friends must be avenged. We again repeat, let not this war cease, until Kansas is purged of abolitionists!