They were New England Yankees.

Thatcher had been to college, and was studying law.

Dunlap had been a business man in Connecticut, and was a friend of John Brown, who was then on his way to Kansas.
"The Missouri Compromise has been repealed," said Thatcher, his eyes shining, "and the Kansas-Nebraska Bill has thrown the fertile state of Kansas into the ring to be fought for by free-state men and pro-slavery men.

The Border Ruffians of Missouri are breaking the law every day by going over into Kansas, never meaning to live there only long enough to vote, and are corrupting the state government.

They are corrupting it by violence and illegal voting.