The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-12-19
The Kansas Trouble.

Inc pFoSIaFefy anu aDOllIlon ACCOUNTS
of the late disturbances in Kansas are
directly contradictory. Each party cast
ing the entire blame on the other. As
we stated last week the accounts were
somewhat exaggerated. 1t is true that
Coleman was killed, and that the Governor
telegraphed to the President for aid in
supprcssing the riot. The present indi-
cations are that it. will be suppressed
without further bloodshed. ,rI
Governor Shannon has issued the fol-
lowing Proclamation "~.'3s
By tie Governor Of Kansas Territory.
WHEREAS, reliable information has been
received that a numerous association of
lawless men, armed with deadly weapons
and supplied with all the implements Of
war, combined and confederated together
for the avowed purpose of opposing by
force and violence the execution of the
laws of this Territory, did, at the county
of Douglas, on or about the 26th. of this
month, make a violent assault on the
Sheriff of said county with deadly weap-
ons, and did overcome said officer, and
did rescue from his custody by force and
violence, q person arrested by virtue of a
peace warrant, and then and there a pris-
oner holden by the said Sheriff, and other
scandalous outragcs did commit in viola
ton of law. -
And Whereas also, information has
been received that this confederated band
of lawlcss men did, about the same time,
set fire to and burn down a number of
houses of peaceable and unoffending citi-
zens, and did destroy a considerable
amount of personal property, and have
repeatedly proclaimed that they wonld
regard no law of this Territory, resist by
force of arms all officers, and those aiding
and assisting them in the execution of the
laws, or any process issued in pursuance
thereof.
And whereas, also, I have received sat-
isfactory information that this armed or
ganization of lawless men, have proclaim
ed their determination to attack the said
Sheriff of Douglas county, and rescue
from his custody q prisoner for the avow-
ed purpose of executing him without a
judicial trial, and at the same time threat
ened the life of the said Sheriff, AID other
citizens. Now, therefore, to the end that
the authority of the laws may he main
tanned, and those concerned in violating
them brought to immediate and condign
punishment, and that the said Sheriff of
Douglas county may be protected from
lawless violence, in the execution of the
lawful warrants and other process in his
hands, l Wilson Shannon, Governor of
said Territory, have issued this my Proc
lamation, calling on all well disposed citi-
zens of this Territory to rally to the sup
port of the laws of their country, and re-
curing and commanding all officers, civil
and military, and all other citizens of this
Territory, who shall be found within the
vicinity of these outrages, to be aiding
and assisting, by all means in their power
in quelling this armed organization, and
assisting the said Sheriff and his deputies
in r%ecapturing the above named prisoner,
and aiding and assisting him in the exc
cution of all legal processes in his hands.
And 1 do further command that the Dis
trict Attorney for the District in which
these outrages took place, and all other
persons concerned in the administration
or execution of the laws, cause the above
offenders, and all such as aided or assist
ed them, to be Immediately arrested and
proceeded with according to law.
Given under my hand and the seal of
this Territory, this tw%enty-ninth
day of November, in the year of
L. s. our Lord eighteen hundred and
a ffty-five. a1.
f WILSON SHANNON,
BY the Governor: ID. WooDsoN, Sec
rotary of the Territory.