New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-08
MEASUREs-FTRM ATTITUDE
OF THE FREE STATE MEN.

wrote BY the mail this morning ct daylight
and gave YOU an account of the murder com nitted
at Hickory Point last week and the rescue mads
le,t night of Mr.. Branson, who had been taken in
very irregular manner by one Jones, sheriff elect
of the shawnee Legislature for this county. bat
who at present is Postmaster at Westport, Mo-
meeting was called here this morning II
convened about O'Clock. 1t had been hurriediy
called, but wss large one, and firm aud resslste
spirit was manifested
S.N Wood. esq., was called 10 the chair A
gentleman present, Mr.. J. B. Abbott, was called
On to state the objects of the meeting. Hc spoke
of tie murder, Of the meeting at Hickory Point
the asy before, the violent arrest Of Mr.. Brsnsoa.
one Of the most peaceable citizens Of the CousV.
of the rescue and the necessity Of protecting Mr..
BrsnsOn and also Of defending the comuuaig
from attacks made upon it. These men had seat
dispatch to Governor Shannon, and threatened
that large force, chiefly MissouriAns, would b.
here to effect recapture.
Mr.. Brstson himself being present wa, called
on He is man of forty or 6fy; aquiet, respect
blslcokipg farmer He spoke simply and briefly.
He said that the deceased person who had been
shot bosreed with him; that the meeting Of the
citizens the 6sy before had first convened at bio
house, and had then proceeded to the spot whore
Dow had been murdered. That he had attended
that meeting aud returned home when it broke ap,
and retired to bed at the usual hour. About9
o'clock be WAS awakened by some kind Of noiso,
aud immediately asked "WhO is there :" Tho
reply was A friend" He responded, Come TO-"
when the door was driven open, and Immediately
the house was filled with armed men. He wss
undressed and had got into the middle of the losr.
when Mr.. Jones, Postmaster Of WestpOrt whs
bad been elected sheriff Of Douglas County By
the bogus Legislature, presented pistol at bis
breast and exclaimed. You are my prisoner"
They then ordered him to put on his clothes i'm.
mediately. He responded that he hoped they
wouldn't hurry him. but Jones and some Of the
Others replied tia. they wouh"-tbst he must
leone Immediately" or /" they would blow Ain to
h-llr He hurried on bis clothes a. fast AZ he
could, when they took hin and put hin on uuls
and star ed of, leaving his family in distress aud
anxio.y. There wss aLOthsr man about the hOuse,
who started add gave the alarm after they left.
From BIZ house Mr. Brsnson stated his csp.ors
did not follow d rect course, but rode round vt
was close to bin wtat he had been taken f.rs
The mao replied. "Oh, it was only yesee oar
rant" lie sfterwsrd asked Jones what he VA
taken fort Jones said, I" Oh Just q pescs var.
rsnt-but we rad no fun. We expected to have
seen those sixty men that were there to dsy-ws
have had DO fun
This, lie said was the talk of all of them q
they came alorg; they were boastsg of what thoy
would have done, and wishing they could have mst
his friends. As they approached the hous, OF
Mir. Abbott, they met the company Of mes fifteen
| Ia NUMBER (exscsly the same a. Jones's party)
ubo bad been apprised Of bis abduction. and had
come out 10 rescue him, having approximations
that bis life vas Ia dagger. This co npany wss
planted across the road JOness party halted -
they came near A voice frym his friends 70
quested BraLson to come out and join them Q
voice from the Jones company said they would
shoot him if he did. There was clicking of ts
locks--Western Rifles ON one side, aud SharpA
BITES on the other sud both parties leveled their
pieces Mr. Brsnson rode his mule out froa
smoDg the party who had taken him, and, stopping
between the parties, asked wha. be would do with
the mule. 4 YOice from bis friends said, Z" Lss
him go" He dismounted, and a man stepped
from the ranks Of the Free State party and gave
the mule kick, driving him back 20 the opposite
party These lstter commenced to curse sad
threaten. The Free-Stare men did not say much,
and seemed determined 10 lot their opponents
make the first attack. This the latter did rot sp-
pear to relish, and kept threatening, the waeidbo
sheriff declaring that Governor shannon had prom
lied that they should have ten thousand mes to
enforce the laws OF their Legislature, sud that
they would let them see His party, however,
retrested, and sent messengers to Governor Shan
non for a military force, while the Free State men
wheeled about ana marched ~ Lawrence; nost
OF them lived about the Wauksrusa, but they went
to Lawrence to organize defense against their
-
requested by some friends to leave Lawrence ssd
secret himself or Ay, so that no one would have
even the semblaDce Of IN excuse for attackins
Lawrepce. He said he did rot ash 10 nsolvs
any Of HE ffiepds, and Ii 1t was the will Of tho
majority he would 60, but be did not want to Iesso
bis wife bis family and property we're there usprs
tected, o. d be could 20 home, even II they should
murder him, az they had cone BIS friend Dos
His remarks, which were rather simple and
plain narrative than a speech, bad profouaa
effect; and when be spoke OF leaving, shers were
loud cries Of So No, no"
q p Iowry. esq late secretary Of Gov.
X. eder. rose ADD proposed that committee Of
20, sknn6 ne elected 10 cooperate with the militia
so,'ani,. frat he understood were organized foe
~ rr'n,usl deferse OF all Mr. Lowry said be had
h;,ls,to taken 10 part in the matter, but from tho
..nsct Of affairs the time had como when it ives
;rsnn bent on every one TO act He wished NJ
irregular proceedings taken, AID merely proposed
this committee, and the gsnization they should
perfect, "a 4 I'M asure Of deenss, not of aggressics
lie thought the interests and security 0, evey ens
was involved, and that il would be irrational and
improper for any to stand back. The genaemss's
remarks were well received, and his prspositiM
immediately sdoptsd
Mr.. Conway Of Council City, who hsppeoed 10
be pfesent, spoke. He said they were GA tia
Vesse Of important svsats, sad taey must DO exs-