Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-05-18


To CHARLES ROBINSON AND J. H. LANE
You are hereby authorized and directed to take
such measures, and use the enrolled force under
your command in such a manner, for the pre-
seryalion Of the peace and the protection of the
persons and property of the people of Lawrence
and vicinity, as in your judgment shall best
secure that end.
(Signed) WILSON SHANNON
Lawrence, Dec. 9, 1855.
After the signing Of these articles of agree,
ment Governor Shannon was called upon and
addressed the people of Lawrence.
He is thus reported:
There was part of the people of this Ter
rtory who denied the validity Of the laws Of the
Territorial Legislature. He was not there to
urge that validity, but these laws should be
submitted to until legal tribunal had set them
aside. He did not see how there was any other
course but such submission to them, and it
certainly was not his part, as an executive Off
Ger, to set them aside or disregard them. He
was happy to announce that after having an
interview with the officers of their Committee
of Safety he had found them induced thus far
to respect these laws, they being willing to see
them enforced, provided they had the reserved
right of testing and escaping from them legally.
He was happy to announce that all difficulties
were settled faint cheersl There was a
perfect understanding between the Executive
and the Committee. The difficulties had arisen
from misunderstanding He would 60 down
and dsband the SherifTs posse. He would
dismiss the officers of the Territorial militia,
General Richardson and Strickles, but would
order that their forces be not disbanded until
they were taken to Leavenworth, or the neigh
borhood Of Westport.
"Al the difficulties were adjusted, and he
was willing and anxious to do all in his power
to prevent collision and the shedding of blood.
He hoped that the men now in the Territory
and in camp below would be got out of the
Territory without hostilities intervening. He
would do all in his power to influence them.
He would urge upon the people Of Lawrence
to be moderate, to pursue wise course, to
avoid collision. Don't be too belligerent
He wanted them to consult their judgment and
their reason, not their feelings and their pas
sons. One advantage they would now have if
they had to fight; the fight would now be be-
tween them and the. mob OF course he could
not condemn them for defending themselves.
They were right and he would do all in his
power to sustain them, but he hoped the men
encamped could now be induced to leave, and
tba; there would be no effusion of blood. He
wanted it understood that he had called on no
one but the people Of the Territory in his pro-
CARNATIONS. If there were Missourians here,
they were here of their own accord.
He hoped and believed that the people OF
Lawrence and vicinity were aw-abiding peo-
pie. Indeed. he had learned that he had mis-.
understood them, and that they were estimable
and orderly people; but houses it was said had
been burned, and other outrages had been
charged upon the Free-State men. They must
remember this when they judge of these things.
They were perhaps innocent, but he hoped they
would abide judicial tribunal. He hoped
now to preserve order, and to get these men
out Of the Territory. If he could serve the
people of Kansas, as Governor or as private
citizen, he would always be happy to do 60
Faint cheers.v