, which, of course, should precede all other accounts of it. It became a celebrated document, and was known as:
Gentlemen:
You will greatly oblige a humble friend by allowing the use of your columns while I briefly state two parallels, in my poor way.
Not one year ago, eleven quiet citizens of this neighborhood, viz.:
William Robertson,
William Colpetzer, Amos Hall, Austin Hall,
John Campbell,
Asa Snyder,
Thomas Stilwell,
William Hairgrove,
Asa Hairgrove,
Patrick Ross, and
B. L. Reed, were gathered up from their work and their homes by an armed force under one
Hamilton, and without trial or opportunity to speak in their own defence, were formed into line, and all but one shot--five killed and five wounded. One fell unharmed, pretending to be dead.
All were left for dead.
The only crime charged against them was that of being Free State men. Now, I inquire, what action has ever, since the occurrence in May last, been taken by either the
President of the
United States, the
Governor of
Missouri, the
Governor of
Kansas, or any of their tools, or by any pro-slavery or administration man, to ferret out and punish the perpetrators of this crime?
Now for the other parallel.
On Sunday, December 19, a negro man called Jim came over to the
Osage settlement, from
Missouri, and stated that he, together with his wife, two children, and another negro man, was to be sold within a day or two, and begged for help to get
