The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-12-29
From the st. Louis Democrat.
Highly Important from Kansas,


E1csteme'T at Leocen,1osth. laurence entrench-
ed. Atchtson, Srinatellow and Eaasn at
Me heod Of the Mratlers. Possible crlJision
oet'0een me united States troops and the Ms
sou7iGas.
BY the politeness of a gentleman in this
city, we have been shown private leyaer
from Leavenworth city, under date of De-
cembcr 9Th, giving the following startling
intelligence:
The people of Leatenworth are greatly
excited-bands of Missourians from the
border counties, known here as s'ruffians.n
have come over into Kansas, and are threat
ening Lawrence with destruction. A COM
pany of some fifty, headed by man named
Easton, editor of the Herald of this city, all
drunk and majority of them border Mis-
sourians, started from here, and marched off
for the seat of war, as our sister city is now
called.
The origin of the grave calamity which
now threatens to stir up strife was as follows:
A private difficulty arose between two in
dlvlduals about the rights of both to claim.
Ihe upshot OF the matter was, one of the
two got killed. A false rumor. from this
circumstance, reached the ears of the Gov
ernor, that the sheriff was resisted in execu-
ting the laws. At this time no writ had
been issued and no complaint made bv which
to arrest any person supposed to have been
guilty of violating the laws.
Those who bore the report to the ears of
the Governor, however, knew their man:
and as he ad clustered great deal at the
hustings and on the stumpt, that he would
enforce the laws, and so on, he seized the
occasion, on the faith of a flying and parti-
san report, without making inquiry as a SEN
sible man should have done, to learn how
the difficulty was, foolishly and hurridly to
order out the militia of the Territory, and
to publish terrible proclamation, calling
upon claw and order men" to aid in enfor-
cling the law. This proclamation of the
Governor did the work it was intended to
do by those who were instrumental in hay
ing him issue it. 1t was intended as a cover
for an attack long since meditated, on Law
renee by the fire eaters. 1t has swept the
scum of the border counties of M ssouri over
into our Territory, vowing death to every
man in Lawrence.
General Richardson, well disposed man,
and OF some prominence in our Territory
since the excitement, has been to Lawrence,
and had a talk with her people. He reports
that they declared that they were always,
and are now ready to deliver up to the au-
thorities any one of their number for whom
those authorities had writ; but refused, as
sensible men would, to suffer one of their
number to be arrested by an irresponsible
mob.
1t is perfectly understood here, that Gov
ernor Shannon's proclamation and buster,
were intended to rlay into the hands of At
oh Sftlp md
companies were raised in the border cour-
ties of Missouri with wonderful alacrity, i'm
mediately upon its PRONUNCIATION. 1t is said
there are now encamped near Lawrence from
one to two thousand armed men, and other
companies are hurrying on to join them
Most of them are resident Missourians, and
Atchison and Stlingfellow are out urging an
attack.
The Lawrence men stand firm, and will
not yield till they are forced. They have
nicely calculated their strength, and will
hold to the belief that it will take 5000 men
to take Lawrence, and even then with the
loss of much blood. The Lawrence men are
entrenchcd, have experienced commanders,
and are well armed to man. They are
calmly an.i resoutely awaiting an attack
Col. Lane, Of Lawrence, has sent dCspatc
requesting aid from this city-he says fgh,
is inevitable. Col. Sumner, commandment at
the Fort is awaiting orders from Washing
ton. Richardson, commander of the militia,
has been striving to bring about an amicable
settlement, but Stringiellow, Easton and
gang say no. Although the Lawrence men
have shown disposition to Go what is
right, it seems that they must fight, or take
the alternative of being massacred. Law.
| 1,o. of
ter; their defence are Sharpe's rifles and re-
volyers. 1t is said the Missourians have five
pieces of common in addition to their small
arms.
These cannon were got by them in the
following manner: About one hundred of
them broke into the arsenal at Liberty, CLAY
county, Missouri, secured the man in charge
by tying him, took the cannon, shells &C., on
hand and marched off to Lawrence. Colonel
Sumner has sent force to recover the arms
stolen, and protect the arsenal from further
plumber. Atchison, it is said is cncamped
with some 25 men, about 15 miles from Law
renee, waiting for reinforcements. There is
report afloat that Shannon is much agita-
ted, and is trying to advise the Missourians
to go home-havng at last convinced himself
that this is the only way to avoid collis-
ion. He is obliged, however to advise with
Atchison and Stringfellow, and they, l be-
lieve, require the Lawrence men to surren-
der their arms. This they consider as equiv
alent to laying down their lives, and of course
they will not consent. Negotiations and
compromises thus far have been fruitless.
1t is thought that the crisis in Kansas af-
fairs has come at last; the fight is expected
to begin to-day or tomorrow, as if so it must
be bloody one, for the Lawrence men will
fight with no expectation of quarter. 1t is
thought by the Free State men here that the
Missourians will attack this city, whether
successful or not at Lawrence; they have
vowed the destruction Of the Register press,
and may throw it into the river as they did
the Parkville Lummary.
: Possibly, Col. Sumner, in endeavoring to
retake tie arms stolen from the Arsenal,
may bring about a collision between the U.
S. troops and the border ruffians.
In the present condition of the public
mind trifle may turn the strife into quite a
different channel from that by those who Or
iginated it. TO give you an idea of the ex-
element in this place need only state that
business is entirely suspended, and that
groups OF men are on the street talking of
the war, as if terrible calamity was i'm
pending, which cannot be thwarted.
A Printers VERDICT.-Alfred Dutch of
Chicago, has obtained verdict of $4,000
against F. c. Sherman, Ezra Sherman, NJ.
Regain, and others, for the destruction of his
newspaper established some five or six years
ago. Mr.. Dutch was at that time publishing
the Chicago Commercial Advertiser, was
owing the Shermans a small debt which he