The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-12-22
The Kan.ns Troubles Ended.

Our last week acc UNITS from Kansas had
left an army Of some 1900 men, principally
Missourians, who had turned ont in response
to the proclamation of Gov. Shannon calling
out the militia Of the territory, encamped on
Wakarusa and other points short distance
from Lawrence, awaiting orders to attack
the abolition city, while the Lawrence
people, TO the number Of 500 well armed
men, were quietly, behind their entrench-
mcnts,$ awaiting the attack. For nearly a
week we received not another word from
Kansas, until the st. Louis papers Of Tues
day and the telegraph dispatches TO Che
Chicago papers on Thursday brought ac-
counts down to the end Of the war. 1t ar-
uears the command Of the militia had been
viselv entrusted by Gov. Shannon to Gen.
YIN. II. Richardson. who, although a slave
State man, had not allowed his zeal to run
away with his reason, and instead Of hurry
ing on a collision, he prulcntIy went to work
to bring about an accommodation to avoid
an cfusion of blood. For this purpose he
visited Lawrence in person, and had calm
and sensible talk with the chiefs Of the free
State men, and the result is such as might
have been anticipated. We have no definite
intimation of the terms Of the pacifcation
beyond brief despatch from Independence,
which states that the people Of Lawrence
"promsed to deliver up the offenders, obey
the laws of the territory, and recognize the
authority of Gov. Shannon, claiming only
the privilege of retaining their arms
Doubtless there are other conditions, the
precise nature of which fuller particulars
will acquant us with. Ii is sufficient to
know at present that they were satisfactory
to Gov Shannon, and that he Immediately
ordered the militia to be dsbaudcd, and they
have returned to their homes.
Ii is said, to tie honor Of Gov. Shannon,
that he was tie more anxious to bring about
an accommodation on account Of the large
number of Mssouriaus that had joined the
militia Of the territory. He was willing TO
proceed TO any cXtremIties 10 enforce the
laws with the aid Of the militia Of the terri
tory, or in case Of their proving insufficient,
with the aid Of |. 5. troops; but he was
exceedingly aycrse to, and "much agitated,
as free State authority has ii, in view O!
bringing on a collision while his army was
composed Of solarge a proportion Of border
iunans," as they are called.
1t is also stated, by a letter writer in the
st. Louis Dcmocrai that the Governor va,
embarrassed by 4 threatened collision with
the [. 5. troops at Fort Lcaycnwo.th. II
appears some of the forces that had turned
out to aid the Governor had broken into tho
armory at Liberty, Mo-, and taken thence ;
lot of arms and five pieces Of cannon belong
ing to the [. 5. Col. Sumner the com
mandant at the Fort, hearing Of il, at one,
despatched a force to recover the cannon
All chance Of a collision was happily avoided
by the termination of the war.
AS the war has thus terminated wthou
the shedding of blood, we know of no occa
sion to regret that the recent cXcltemcn
took place. Doubtless the result will be
better state of affairs in Kansas. The frc,
State men have evidently been obliged t.
come down from their high revolutionar,
position of setting at defiance the laws .
the territory; while We have no doubt sucl
measures will be adopted, if not in the ter
rtory then by Congress, as will protect tn,
iona .ide citizens of the territory hcrca(tc
in the free and quiet enjoyment of the RICH
Of suffrage, and of managing their own at
fairs themselves.