The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-12-12

ed their houses. The ringleaders were
arrested and taken to Lecompton. Gov.
Shannon has called out the militia. Many
citizens from Independence, Weston and
st. Joseph, having gone and offered their
services. Lawrence is in arms, and has
five pieces of artillery. A number of
houses have been burned in Douglas coun-
ty, and several families have been driven
to Missouri and taken refuge. The law
and order people of the Territory have
rallied in large numbers to assist the Sheriff
in executing the laws. Sixteen houses
were burnt at Hickory Point, and several
citizens are missing.
The St. Louis Republican of Friday
morning, the 30th, makes only a brief
~allusion to these difficulties, but closes a
long editorial article on the general as
pect of affairs in the Territory as follows.
Speaking of the Constitution adopted by
the recent Free State Convention, it says:
Even if there were nothing in the
Constitution itself to make it obiectiona-
bic, the very history of its formation, and
that it was demanded by only a few citi-
zens of the Territory would ensure its
condemnation. But as, before that time,
the fillibusters will initiate a new govern
ment by the election of Governor and
other executive officers, the assembling OF
4 new Legislature, and the passage of
other laws, and the appointment of new
men to execute them, no human power
can stay the collision which must result
from these acts. Gov. Shannon cannot
shrink from the obligations which he has
taken upon himself neither can the
Judges nor the other officers who have
sworn to execute the law.
The public should understand that this
condition of affairs has been brought
about by the Abolitionists in Kansas,
urged on by their insane counsellors in the
Free States; that they have put themselves
in a position of open hostility to the ex-
listing Government, and have arms in their
hands to resist the mandates of the law;
and, come what may, they will be respon-
sible for it. If blood is shed, they must
be held to have provoked it by their own
acts, and this will be the Judgment of the
country. The only course left for them
to pursue, is to abandon" thsir unholy
projects, and wait until such time as a. full
population shall justify, and proper anthor-
ity has been. given for the formation of a
State Constitution.
ST. LOUIS, December 5.
Kansas Free State papers give the following
accounts of the difficulties in the territory
a young man, twenty-five years old, named
Daw, while at a blacksmith shop, where seve-
raj border rulTians had congregated, was DELHI
erately shot by one Coleman. An attempt
was made to arrest the murderer, but through
the aid of his abettors, he escaped to Missouri.
\ meeting of citizens convened on the spot
where the murder was committed to inquire
into the facts of the case. They pronounced
, the act a cold blooded murder on the part OF
Coleman, and charged Hagus, Burnley, Wood
and Wagner, as accessories.
A series of resolutions was passed, and a
committee appointed to Investigate.
Sheriff James arrested Jacob Bronson, al
whose house D.w we'd, for security of the
peace, but while proceeding to Lecompton he
(Bronson) was rescued by a party of his
, ~neighbors. James sent Pawnse to Missouri
for aid, declaring that the Governor had assur
) ed him the assistance of 900 men if needed
2 The Free State Convention in Kansas
The Free-State Convention that ha.
a been in session for some time at Topeka
i, Kansas, has brought it's labors to a close
The following is a synopsis of the results
of their deliberations
They adopted a constitution prepare
: tory to admission, as a State, into The
Union. The provision as to slavery il
not entirely acceptable to the New Yorl
Tribune. We quote from that journal
| "The question of paramount interest
4 as our readers are well aware, was thai
: of slavery; and we regret to say that the
t action of the convention on this subject
: was not exactly what the friends of i'm
e partial freedom had a right to expect from
4 a body of men elected for the avoweG
!. purpose of forming a free State. After
adopting a bill of rights, which declares
: that "slavery shall not exist in this State
e the convention not only recognize the ex.
a ~istence of slavery in the Territory, bu
permit its continuance till the 4th of July
1851, thus exhibiting a striking disregard
e for the "self-evident" truth proclaimed
by a very respectable body of men on the
e 4th of July, 1776, and a tender solicitude
e for the interests of the "border %rutlians'
S which the circumstances of the case seen
S hardly to have demanded at their hands
However, we shall heartily rejoice to see
. Kansas a free State after July, 1857, if il
cannot be made so before"
The same journal gives the following
general summary of the contents of the
constitution:
e "Among the provisions of the consti
. tuition as finally adopted, is one fixing the
i boundaries of the State in accordanc,
with those laid down in the Kansas-Ne
braska bill. extending west to the SUNNI