Daily Times [Leavenworth, Ks],
September 13, 1861
That we have in our midst, Secessionists, and those who sympathize with the Southern rebels, in their war upon the Government, is a well-known fact. How to deal with these men, has long been a perplexing, and is fast becoming a practical question. Among them, we have neighbors and personal friends; but the relations they bear towards us, cannot make us forget what is due to our own safety and welfare.
There are residents of Leavenworth, who undoubtedly hold sentiments in relation to the present struggle, that are obnoxious to our people; yet who would not give aid or information to the enemy, nor do aught to injure the city. If such men can keep their objectionable opinions to themselves, there is no reason why they should be harassed or molested. It is time, however, to have one thing distinctly understood: that treasonable doctrines cannot be openly proclaimed with impunity, in Leavenworth.
There are others of the class to which we refer, whose presence, under any circumstances, is dangerous. We are satisfied that there are Secessionists here who hold communication with the Missouri rebels, and who would rejoice to see Kansas overrun by those fiends in human shape. These men should be properly dealt with, either by the civil or military authorities. We want no night forays upon suspected persons, by unauthorized and lawless bands. Such matters are of too much moment, to be left to the arbitration of a few reckless individuals.
Neither would we have the property of those who are charged with Secession proclivities, appropriated to private uses. The Government has wisely and justly determined to confiscate the effects of those who are in arms against it, or who have committed overt acts of treason; but this affords no excuse for seizures of personal property, by men who hold themselves accountable to no law and no authority. Under the influence of a temporary excitement, this community has regarded such acts with leniency and forbearance; but the sober judgment of our citizens will neither approve nor countenance a course fraught with so much danger, and so destructive of every principle of good government. The tendency of these unlawful raids is to provoke a spirit of insubordination to the regularly constituted authorities, which must be checked, or it will soon involve our whole people, Union men as well as others, in anarchy and ruin.
Let us not introduce here the system which prevails throughout Cottondom. Let us not imitate the riotous and arbitrary acts, which have so disgraced the South, and which have marked the progress of this unholy insurrection against the Government. We are fighting for the supremacy of Law. That is our shield and our safeguard, and we must ourselves regard it with reverence, or we cannot hope to enforce its obligations upon others.