The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-13

First came the Law and Order Convention
at Leavenworth, on the l4th November, NIled
by the men who had mobbed Phillips, and set
at defiance all law and decency. The pretend
ed object was, to maintain order, and pledge
their aid to the Governor in enforcing the laws
Why this extraordinary zeal? No law had
been broken-the People of Kansas had simply
formed State Constitution, and resolved to
ask admission into the Union. What business
was this of the Missouri regulators? Governor
Shannon presided, thus allying himself with the
Slavery Propaganda, and was fierce in his de-
nunciations of the Free State men.
"He said that the Legislature was a legal
body, and that they who would not obey the
| laws passed by it, committed treason against
the Government; that Reeder's election was a
revolutionary movement, and that they who vo-
ted for him on the 9th of October nullifed the
organic act. He added, that if Congress should
by any means sanction the Constitution of the
| Free State Convention nothing more nor less
than civil war must follow.
The resolutions passed by the Pro-Slavery
Convention are in keeping with Gov. Shannon's
speech. They denounce Mr.. Reeder-they en-
dorse the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, and pronounce
the purposes of the Free State Convention
reasonable. They conclude by pledging the
Law and Order party, Union-loying party, and
State Rights party, of Kansas Territory to the
| support of Governor Shannon"
This was the beginning of the conflict. Shan
non and his regulators declared war, at once
against the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty,
and against the People of Kansas. The Pro-
Slavery papers on the border at the same time
published the most exaggerated accounts of the
"Secret Military Abolition League" as they
called it, and resorted to every devilish artifce
to inhame the public mind. 1t was easy to
see that the Nulliiers had resolved to bring on
| a conflict.
Now, bear in mind all these facts, and is any
one surprised at the reports of instruction and
bloodshed that have just reached US? The Mis-.
| souri, Legislature was engaged in the attempt
| to elect Senator, and there was possibility
that the Bentonites and Wings might enter into
an arrangement, that should secure the return
of Thomas H. Benton. Congress was on the
eve of meeting, and it was important to prevent
the Republican Element from obtaining the
| control of the organization. Alarming rumors
of civil war in Kansas, in which the Free State
men should be represented as the aggressors,
arrayed as rebels against the regularly consti-
tuted authorities might crush Bentonism in the
Missouri Legislature, and give to Conservatism
and Compromise the organization of Congress-.
See how cunningly the Internal plot is man
aged: We arrange the dispatches according
to date. They were sent to Jefferson, Mo-, to
Louisville, KY, and to Washington.
JEFFERSON CRY, Mo-, Nop. 20, 1855.
Colonel McCarty, of the Missouri House of
Representatives, received despatch this even
ing, which was read before the House. Colonel
McCarty says there is no doubt Of its genuine
| ness or correctness. Some regard it as hum
bug, to influence the Senatorial election. Jones
| is sheriff of Douglas county; Lawrence is the
| county seat:
Hestport, Nor. 27.-Colonel McCarty
| Governor Shannon has called out the militia
| against Lawrence. They are now in open re-
| bellion against the laws, and Jones is in dan
ger. We want help. Communicate this to the
| friends. A. g. Boone"
Communicate this to the friends!"
A dispatch sent from St. Louis to the Louis
rilLe COarier, in regard to the Kansas "Civil
War;" lets out little more. 1t reads thus in
| the Courier:
THE VERY LATEST
The Excitement Increasingly ssouriaas 40
ing to Kansas By Hundreds.
WEsrPoRT, Mo-, Nor. Bop. M.
The greatest excitement continues to exist
| in Kansas. The officers have been resisted bv
| the mobocrats, and the interposition of the
militia has been called for.
4 secret letter from Secretary Wo0dson to
| General Easton has been written in which the
writer requested General Easton to call for the
Rife Company at Platte City, Missouri, so as
| not to compromise Governor Shannon
-Four hundred men from Jackson county,
Missouri, are now en- route for Douglas county,
Kansas Territory. ST. Joseph and Weston, in
Missouri, are requested each to furnish the
same number Of men. The people of Kansas
are to be suljugated at all hazards.
JEFFERSON CRY, Noe. 90, 1866.
The Inquirer this morning publishes dispatch
es of a menacing character regarding Kansas
The substance is as follows:
INDEPENDENCE, Noe. 20, 1855.
! Near Hickory Point, on the Santa Fe road,
three Abolitionists with Sharp's rifles went to
the claim of Mr.. Coleman, Pro Slavery man,
and ordered him to leave. He was allowed ten
minutes to leave, or he would be shot He left
for short time, but returned well armed. He
met with one of the three men, who renewed
his threats, AMI attempted to shoot Coleman,
but his gun missed fire. Coleman then shot
his assaiant, who died Immediately. Coleman
gave himself up for trial. A mob of Abolition,
lists, armed with Sharp's rifles, repaired to Cole,
mans house, driving his wife and children off,
| burned his house, and ordered other Pro-Slaye,
| ry men to leave, and burned their houses.
Deputy Marshal Jones arrested the leader of
| the mob, and obtained the names of twenty
| others. Jones is now at Lecompton, with two
| prisoners and fifteen or twenty assistants The
| Abolitionists are gathering at Lecompton, de-
manding the release of their comrades and the
surrender of Coleman. The Governor has issu-
| ed proclamation, calling the militia to the as
sistance of the officers. Last night and this
morning, many persons from this city and coun.
| ty started to Lecompton, for the purpose of
placing their services at the disposal of the
| Governor. A letter from one of the editors of
the Western Dispatch, dated at Shawnee Mis-
sion to-day, states that the writer has learned
that number of citizens are missing at Hicko-
| ry Point and that sixteen or more houses had
| been burned. The Governor calls on law
abiding citizens to suppress the outbreak Dis
| patches from Western and St. Joseph last night
state that large meetings of the citizens have
been held, and companies formed to go to
| Kansas.
A dispatch from Independence, dated ycster-
day, states that Jones, the Sheriff of Douglas
| county, Kansas, and acting United States Den
uty Marshal, is still at Lecompton, with ffty-
two men, organized and equipped, to aid in en-
forcing the laws and suppressing the insurrec-
tiOnary movements ofthe Lawrence people. The
latter are organized also, and drilling for action.
They have FIVE pieces of cannon, and are re.