The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-12-21
The Kansas War.

the war, circumstances have gradually ar.
ranged them so that collision seems newt
able. The Free State men have gathered in
from the country to the number Of about five
hundred, and are still coming. Our force is
under constant drill aid tonight we throw
up entertainments to protect our rihemen
from the artillery Of the enemy, for such they
assume to be. IL is now one week since
preparations on both sides commenced, and
they are still going on with a vigor and tho
roughness that show they mean no boys
play. All the principal men in the territory
are here, to try and effect reconciliation,
but, upon the terms proposed by the other
side, that can never be done.
They demand to hold the town response
BILE for the acts Of few individuals. and also
for their delivery up to officers. These per
sons have not been seen here for more than
four days, and no one seems to know where
they arc. They also say they will demand
OF Lawrence pledge that they will allow no
more infractions of the hated law, and that
they give up their Sharpe's rifles. This be-
ing their ultimatum, of course we fight, and
the fighting spirit is fully up. The great
difficulty is to restrain our men from making
u sally upon the camp on Wakarusa. Thus
far the committee OF direction, to whom |
before alluded. have been able to conduct
the thing so that our record shows not q
blot.
The Governor has issued proclamation,
which is base lie from beginning to end,
and, in obedience to it, Gen. Richardson OF
the Territorial militia is on his way here with
Doniphan's Mexican battery, manned also
by men from Missouri. Sec. Woodson has
written to Mr.. Eastin, prominent pro-sla-
very man in Leayenworth. that Gov, Shan.
non needs sour friends in Platte county"
(meaninr the Self.Delcnsive Association, }
and that he must get them without implicat-
Ing the Governor.
Let our friends believe no stories Of out
rage committed; We are not the party here
that engaged in that sort Of thing Houses
have been burned, but under such circum-
stances that fasen il upon The persons who
owned them DR.. Robinson is commander
n-chief aud Hon. j. ii. Lane, Of Mexican
war celebrity, is our Colonel. Tomorrow is
the threatened attack, and many are remov.
ing their families.
We take the following paragraphs from a
letter in the st. Louis Democrat, dated at
Leayenworlh, December l
"By the different accounts received at this
point up to the present moment, it is esti-
mated that there are from three to four
thousand armed men, regularly organized
into companies, and chiefly from Plato, Blu
chaHan, Clay and Jackson counties, Nilsson.
ri, in the territory today. a miscellaneous
crowd thronged our streets at an early hour.
A few-yery few, howeyer-carried their
rifles with all the pomp and circumstance of
war but nearly all our brethren from MIS-
souri,, who have so generously volunteered
to sustain the laws they enacted for us, were
totally unprovided with arms. They
are all OF them of that class OF society
who neither have slaves, or are likely to
be Shareholders young men, chiefly, who
have nothing to do, are worth nothing, and
care for nothing but liquor and excitement
The responsibility Of the border counties re-
NAMED at home.
Twenty Of the most respectable citizens
OF Westport intend to march rapidly to Law
renee tomorrow, in order, IL possible, to
prevent effusion of blood. Kansas city, to
her credit refuses to act, and dcnounces
the proceedings Of the Missourians. Not
more than twelve men will 90 from here
One hundred men left Lexington for Law
renee. Five hundred men, it was reported
at Kansas city, were expected from Clay
county. VIII not the Governor Of Missou-
ri act!
The special correspondent Of the Tribune
writes from Kansas city, Dec. 4th
The territorial authorities are going heart
and soul wirh these Missourians. The Free
State men are accused Of committing out
RACES, but these chrrges are totally false
As to the fable Of burning houses, there
were only two empty shanties destroyed,
and these were burned by the pro.slavery
men themselves to make story OF. They
are charging the Free State men falsely, and
the Governor believes all they tell him.
There are only some 400 Free State men
in Lawrence, who will have to fight twice
that number (unless they are reinlorced) in
few days. Let the friends Of those here
remember that the intention is to drive them
out and kill them, and the Territorial Gov
eminent is lent TO the scheme. II is the
resolution Of the pro-slavery men never 10
lose Kansas. and there will be dreadful
struggle. For the issue fear. The Free
State men act with uncommon prudence
they give no provocalion, and are determin'
ed not to fight unless they are driven to il.
The Missourians seek 10 provoke them
They have fred on The sentries, who were
posted TO give notice, so that they should
not be taken by surprise. This fire was not
returned, to the great credit Of tho senries.
The intention was to draw their fire, so as
to have an excuse for an attack.
This was the attitude Of events to the
latest intelligence on the 18th inst. Those
who have had interviews with Gov. Shan
non, say that he is utterly misiniormed in
regard TO The position Of the men OF Law
renee. But he promised to 60 there at his
soonest convenience, expressing the hope
that he nigh, put an end TO the difficulties.
Bot such will not certainly DO the case, un-
less he recedes from the demand which it is
said he had concluded to make, viz: that
the citizens Of Lawrence should give up
their Sharp,'s rides, under the preience that
such are " unlawful weapons"
As q concise and reliable glance at the
appearance Of things in the territory, we
annex the following account given to the
Chicago Tribune by Mr.. ]. U. Parsons Of
Barns,ablc. Massachusetts,, who leit Law
renee on the Sd of December:
"At Lawrence seven hundred men were
under arms, and being drilled by General
Lane, who has been elected to the ehiel
command. They are in momentary expec'
ta,ion Of an attack from the Missourian.s,
who are encamped on the Wakarusa creek
seven miles below, and who are hourly re-
ceiviug accessions 10 their number.
The Lawrence men are armed with
Sharpe's rifles and Colts revolvers, and will