Legislature had to do was to make wholesome laws for the Territory. But when in private conversation with pro-slavery men he was strongly in favor of making Kansas a slave State; on the other hand when endeavoring to secure the ballot of some free state man he was the representative of his principle.

In the organization of the Convention, Mr. Montgomery was elected secretary, and that body soon entered upon its work according to a prescribed programme. Names were submitted to the convention as candidates for nomination, and an immediate balloting urged. Mr. Montgomery readily comprehended their designs, and determined to disconcert their movements. He arose, and with that cool discretion which characterized him in council as well as in battle, called their attention to the fact that the Missourians had vowed that this should be a slave State, and that theywere making extensive preparations to accomplish their purpose; that as the Organic Act guarantees them, as settlers, the right to determine the character of their own institutions, he was in favor of making Kansas a free State, on the principle of self-interest, as slavery was injurious to poor white men. IIe thought that the Legislature would have a wonderful controlling influence over the domestic affairs of the Territory, and that, therefore, in selecting candidates to represent them, they should know their views upon the vital issue of the day. His remarks, delivered in an earnest and persuasive manner, were the hearty response of most all settlers convened-one after another of whom arose and fully endorsed his sentiments.

Finally, Col. Cox, seeing that he could not get the nomination without committing himself, came out openly in favor of making Kansas a free State, and publicly pledged himself to labor for that end. Mr. Montgomery thereupon. stated that, as few of the settlers were aware of the Convention, and few were present, he thought it better for them to adjourn to some future day; in the meantime the re

assembling of the Convention could be published, the whole matter fully understood by the people, and a general turnout secured. He accordingly made a motion to this effect, which was carried.

At the second meeting of the settlers, Colonel Coffey, an Indian agent, and other violent pro-slavery men, were present. Before the convention was called to order Col. Coffey mounted a goods box and began haranguing the crowd in favor of making Kansas a slave State, upon the grounds that the free negroes of Missouri would flock over here and become a pest and expense to Kansas in case she should be a free State, that the Missourians would ship all their worn out and worthless negroes in this Territory, and thus rid themselves of their support, that the negroes thus thrust upon them would become insolent, and would finally control the whites. That they would thus establish society upon the basis of negro equality, which he declared was the real meaning and aim of abolitionism, and triumphantly asked the question how they would like to see their daughters riding with big buck niggers? This piece of sophistry, so nicely prepared to suit the prejudices of the masses, caused the free state men to look discouraged. When Colonel Coffey had finished, Montgomery was called out, and all was breathless attention to hear how he would meet the preceding speaker. He told them that he had an abiding faith in the white people, that as long as they had six times the population of the blacks, and were so far in advance of the latter in intelligence and wealth, they could always continue in the political ascendency; that other free States bordered on slave States, and he had yet to learn of the trouble to which the former speaker adverted about free negroes becoming a pest and expense to the State. Colonel Coffey's question, "how would you like to see your daughter riding with a big buck negro," he could but consider a reflection upon the custom of slave States, where ladies, as a mark of quality, were attended in their rides by a big buck nigger,

if they pleased, and he was sorry to have it to say that even in this domestic relation of the races, not unfrequently did an unwelcome mulatto make his appearance under the roof of the master. Surely then slavery did not provide against the evils to which the gentleman alluded. In a very masterly and happy manner Captain Montgomery replied to the remarks of Colonel Coffey, and his speech was frequently greeted by loud and prolonged applause. Before he had finished, Coffey and his associates retired from the field as won. J. P. Fox was nominated for Representative in the Territorial Legislature, though many desired Captain Montgomery. The latter declined, as he knew that the former would run any way, so it was better for the free state men to make him their candidate and hold him to his pledges.

At the election the Missourians came over in vast numbers with candidates and voters, and elected their own men. A few weeks before the Legislature met, a convention of free state men, held at Mound City, resolved not to recognize the enactments of that body, and pronounced it a creature of force and fraud.

Affairs in South-eastern Kansas remained comparatively tranquil until the fall of 1856. The first show of armed force in that section of the country was a company of pro-slavery men from Fort Scott, going up to join in the raid on Osawattomie. Montgomery, knowing their designs, went up also, but arrived only in time to behold the smoking ruins of the town. On returning, he kept himself close at home, so as not to excite the alarm of the free state men by communicating the startling intelligence of what was going on above, lest they should abandon the Territory. On the fourth day after his return he visited Mound City, where he found the people filled with consternation, they having just received the news, and could see an armed force then going into camp at Paris, only a few miles distant. Upon Montgomery's informing them of the order which he had heard

the ruffians give an old gentleman near Osawattomic, that all free state men should be compelled to leave the Territory. Judge Cannon remarked, "gentlemen, you hear the order and we all know what it means." They immediately began preparations to leave. Many left that night, all in a few days, except Montgomery and one old blind man. The next day the pro-slavery men began their plundering, taking stock, robbing houses, pursuing the flying free state men, and seizing the little amount of property they sought to carry away, or compelling them, under duress, to sign a bill of sale for property left behind.

In about twenty days, many of the free state men who had thus stampeded, returned to their claims. Early one morning, Judge Cannon and others went to Montgomery's in great haste, informed him that the pro-slavery men had again appeared, and threatened to drive off the returned free state men and kill him. Montgomery, at their request, visited Governor Geary, to inform him of the state of affairs in southern Kansas, and solicit his protection. The Governor received Captain Montgomery with contempt, and treated his account of the troubles with distrust. He blamed the free state men for the course they had pursued, and was disposed to regard the present evils with which they were afflicted, as a just recompense for their conduct. Meeting with this rebuff from the Governor, he went to Lawrence, and there appeared before the Committee of Public Safety, to whom he related the grievances of the free state men in southern Kansas, and appealed for aid.

The people of northern Kansas were in no condition to lend assistance to their brethren in the south. Twentyseven hundred armed men around their town, wildly clamoring to be allowed to "wipe out Lawrence," had just retired to the Border, and were liable to march back at any moment. The Committee, therefore, replied to Captain Montgomery, that they could not possibly leave their own firesides; that they had arms which they would give him,

and with these he could return to his family and neighbors, and do as they were doing-defend their homes. Equipped with a Sharp's rifle and a Colt's revolver, Captain Montgomery set out for home, resolved to fight it out as best he could.

Behold him, as he wends his way over the trackless prairies to his unprotected family on Little Sugar! His neighbors, filled with alarm by the threats of armed bands, had fled; the few who had ventured to return, were again threatened by the presence of armed companies, that went about stealing and robbing. He himself had been singled out for death. At the request of his excited neighbors, he had visited the Governor, to lay their wrongs before him, and invoke his interposition: but he had met with insult where he sought justice. He went before those aggrieved like himself, and again told the story of his and his neighbor's wrongs. Here, hearts of sympathy received him; but their friendly hands could do no more than extend to him what they possessed-weapons of self-defence. Armed with these, this meek and humble christian was suddenly converted into a warrior. He was no visionary romancer; he felt that the danger which threatened him was a reality, and like a real man he determined to meet it, appealing to the God of Right to witness the justice of his course. While he thus pondered, firmly he clenched his weapon and quickened his homeward march.

Stop

Arriving at home, he found that his neighbors had again left, and that the enemy were in search of himself. ping with his family, who had been insulted in his absence, only sufficiently long to learn this intelligence, he set out after the enemy, single handed and alone. Like a tiger whose den had been invaded, he skirted Little and Big Sugar Creeks and the Osage, firing from the cover of brush or rocks, wherever he could get sight of the enemy. So swift, concealed and lucky were his movements, that he spread confusion and terror among the pro-slavery men,