The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-12-06
Kansas AUairs.

York Tribune in closing his account of the
Law and Order Convention, in letter dated
the 18th of Nov, makes certain statements
in regard to the character and antecedents of
the members of thai Convention, and their
probable object, which in connection with
the telegraphic dispatch which we copy from
the st. Louis Intelligencer, pretty clearly in
dicates the origin and purpose of thel recent
bloodshed in Kansas, and the accounts sent
forth by the Slavery propagandists there, to
poison the public mind against the Free
State men and arouse the Missourians sstn
subjugate Kansas"
Let any man read the following, written as
long ago as the 18th Of last month, and he
will End no difficulty in accounting for the
recent "outbreak;"
can thus closed the claw and ORDER
meeting at Leavenworth but whether it is.
merely to be political maneuver for outside
effect, or the first step in bloody drama, re-
mains to be seen. The laws enacted by the
Legislature at Shawnee Mission are dead
letter: they are not now enforced by any of
the officers clothed in authority by that des-
potic body. But the object Of all this as
semblage 10 to enforce these laws; to main
tain that fraudulent assumption and outra-
geous exercise of power with the rifle, bowie
Knife aud revolver. There is not power
enough in the Territory to crush the Free
State men; nay, there is not power enough
in the pro-slaverymen to dare attack them,
'unless the attack were made at few weak
points. There has been no forcble resis-
lance to these so-called laws; their iniquity
was their ruin, and they fell sti1lborn. This
meeting has been an effort to galvaniEe them
into life; that can only be done by force, and
BY force it is thus proposed to be done. One
circumstance gives this assembage great sig
nifcance. 1t is held on the frontiers Of Mis-
souri,. with only the Missouri River interview
ing between it and the widest part of that
border. Leavenworth is not fire eating
city; indeed there is majority OF Free
State people here; but ii is "a convenint point
for the pro-slavery men to assemble at Had
the meeting been called somewhere near the
center Of the population Of the Territory, it
would have been total failure as it is, it
has been weak and bolstered effort.
"There is no room to mistake the charac-
ter of this meeting. The lawless border ag
cressors who have hitherto trampled on the
rights of the people of this Territory, were
its leading spirits, in concert with the pro-
very meeting: no others were allowed to par
ticipate. The speakers ut this meeting said
that the Topeka Constitutional Convention
was a party movement: but in all the prelim-
mary steps to that Convention there was OPP
portunity given for men of ali politics TO
participate and before the Constitution is
presented TO Congress 1t must receive the
sanction Of the people, TO whom it will be
submitted after having been advertised every
where. All political steps are party meas
ures, but the truth is that which trusts to its
own merits, not to a gag, and falls back upon
the vote of the people.
So But the most startling feature of the
meeting was that its presiding officer and
chief speaker were officers of Territorial
Government appointed by the national Ex-
ecutiye--Gov. Shannon, and Gen. Calhoun,
the headof the Surveying and Land Office
in the Territory.
ssGov. Shannon declares that these iniquit-
GUS enactments must be obeycd, and he comes
here and leagues with one particular class Of
men to enforce laws which he knows are to
Cypress another class. lie stigmatizes tho
Free State men as "a faction;o he is not
blind to the fact that that faction comprises
nj least three ourths OF the people of the
TERRITORY but these he has no sympathy with,
and would therefore recklessly plunge in a
civil war, in which there could be but one
division-a division his conduct here has had
tendency 10 make-Slayery against Free.
dom.
If there be factions in this Territory
and there are-why does Gov. Shannon tax e
one side? Why not call this meeting at the
center of the Territory 1t may be said that
Gov Shannon did not call this meeting, and
perhaps, strictly speaking, he did not; but
he responded TO it, and took the lead.
have been astonished. almost thunderstruck
Mt his conduct; my knowledge Of his antecc
dents had prepared me for much, but not FOL
this.
81 cannot regard this as hasty, UMPIRE
meditated effort; true, but few of the peo
pie throughout the Territory knew Of it. ane
still fewer cared but those who did know
acted deliberately. By this conduct, the hon.
or Of the National Government has beer
desperately compromised, and the best inter
est of this Territory has been fearfully leo
parded. The whole affair may end in smoke
but 80 far As il means ANYTHING, il is al ap-
peal for one party to attack another, ane
that appeal has been countenanced and car
ried out By the Governor Of the Territory.
| have no wish TO speak Of Kansas as
land Of violence and bloodshed belev,
most of the true lovers Of Kansas frown up
on Gil sucn stores but III cannot be denlcL
that the bowie knife, rife and revolver, ar,
felt TO be the best security, and high minded
honorable men do not think il beneath the
dignity or duty to carry them hahitually. 4
spark thrown among such combustible mate
rials, is fearful hazard, and woe be IT wher
it comes from him upon whom the people o.
this Territory are TO lean for support ans
protection.
Gov. Shannon's position is getting 10 b,
pretty well understood here, and there is ,
movement on font TO rnemorialize the prasi