The daily union., 1856-10-28
10 the Secretary Of State.

DEAR SIR Col. VIM j. Preston, deputy United States
marshal who had accompanied Col p St Geo. Cook and
his command 10 the northern frontier to look after large
party of proessed immigrants who reported 10 be
about invading the Territory in that quarter in warke
ray and for hostile purposes returned to eeompon on the
He informed me that he had caused to be arrested
ganzed band consisting OF about two hundred and forty
persons, among whom were very few women and chill
dren, comprising some seven families
This party regularly formed in military order and
under the command of General Pomeroy Colonies
Eldridge and Perry and Others. They had with them
twenty wagons, in which were supply OF new arms,
mostly muskets with bayonets and sabres and lot OF
saddles &C. sufficient equip battalion, consisting one
fourth of cavalry and the remainder of infantry.
Besides these arms which evidently intended for
military purposes, and other and which were in the
wagons search of which strongly objected to- the
immigrants provided with shot-guns, rifles pistols
knives &C. sufficient for the ordinary of persons trav
eing in Kansas any other of the western Territories
From the reports OF the officers learn that tney naa
with them neither oxen household furniture mechanics
TOOLS agricultural implements any OF the necessary ap
purtenances OF peaceful settlers.
These persons entered the Territory the morning of
the 10th instant and met Col. Cooks command few
miles south Of the territorial line Here the deputy
sha questioned them their intentions the contents Of
their wagons and such other matters he considered ne
Cessary in the exercise Of his official duties Not satisfied
with their answers and being refused the privilege of
searching their eec he felt justified in considering them
party organized and armed in opposition to my proea-
nation OF the llh September After consultation with
Colonel Cook and other officers OF the army who agreed
with him in regard the character of the immigrants he
directed the search to be made which resulted IN the DIS
coyery Of the arms already mentioned.
An escort then offered them TO Lecompton in order
might examine them in person. and decide TO their
intentions which they refused TO accept Their super
huous then taken in charge of the troops and
the entire party put under arrest the families and all
others individually, being permitted to retire from the Or
ganization, if so disposed Few however avaied them
selves of this privilege
But little delay and less annoyance were occasoned
them by these proceedings Everything that circumstances
required permitted done for the comfort and con-
4 Qf
rather than retarded They accompanied by squad
of United States dragons in command OF Major H. H.
Sibley days rations dealt out TO them and they
allowed pursue the route themselves had chosen
Being apprized of the time at which they would prob
ably arrive at Topeka forwarded orders for their dten
on the northern side Of the river near that place
where, as promised met them on the morning OF the
\ l4h instant.
found them precisely they had been represented to
in official reports and whilst felt disposed and anxious
TO extend to them all the lenieDy could consistent with
proprety duty, and justice determined, at the same
time TO enforce in their case well as that OF every smi-
lar organization the spirit and intent Of my proclamation
OF the llth ultimo which commands "a bodies Of men
combined, armed, and equipped with munitions Of war,
without authority Of the government instantly to disband
quit the Territory, they will the contrary at
their peril This had done but a short time previous
with smaller body who entered Kansas this had DONE
from hn entirely different quarter and who, upon learning
my purposes not only submitted willingly TO be searched
but by my order withouta murmur and with cheer
! fulness, dsbanded and dispersed.
addressed these people in their encampment in regard
son they occupied and the eprchensibe attitude they
had assumed. ! reminded them that there was no pos
sible necessity or excuse for the existence OF large
armed organizations at present In the Territory Every
thing was quiet and peaceful And the very appearance
Of such unauthorized and niudcous they
presented while it could do possible good, cacu
lated, II II was not intended, TO spread anew drust and
CONSERVATION through the Territory and rekinde the fires
Of discord and strife that had swept the land
agng and desoatng everything that lay in their destuc
tive path.
Their apology for their evident and undeniable disre
gard TO my proclamation, though somewhat plausible
far from being satisfactory They bad made their arrange
ments they said TO emigate 70 Kansas, at time when
the Territory not only disturbed by anagouistc po
cal partes armed for each others destruction but when
numerous bands OF msrauders whose business was plum
der aud assassination infested all the highways rendering
travel extremely hazardous even though every possible
means for selfprotecton employed.
This excuse loses all its pertinency when II is under
stood that before the party crossed the territorial line they
apprzed through 9epuaton that bad visited me
that the condition Of things above described had ceased to
exist and that such the true OF affairs that any
persons could travel the route they proposed taking with
out moestaon the slightest cause tor apprehension
ipgorur them, through their messengers that heartily
welcomed all immie from every section Of the Union
who with peaceful atituS2 and apparently good in
tentions; and that 10 all such wouio asSrd ample pro-
lection while the other hand assured them that
party Of men, matter whence they came, what their
political bias TO enter and travel through the Territory
with hostile warke appearance TO the terror OF peacea
BILE citizens and the danger OF renewing the dsgaceu
and alarming scenes through which we had recently
passed 1t quite evident that this party did thus enter
the Territory, In defiance only Of my proclamation, but
my verbal cautions and therefore fully approve OF
the action taken by Col Cook Major Sbley and Deputy
\ Marshal Preston, well all the officers OF the army
who assisted In their detention, Search and guard
After showing the necessity Of so doing, insisted upon
1 the immediate dsbandment Of this continuation which
was agreed with great alacrity The majority Of the
men were evidently gra6ed learn that they had been
deceived in relation 10 Kansas affairs and that peace and
quiet instead Of strife and contention were regning here
Ny remarks received with ftequeut demonstrations
OF appreciation and at their close the organization
broken np its members dispensing in various directions
After they had been dismissed from custody and the fact
was announced TO them by Major Sibey their thankful
for his kind treatment toward them during the time
ho held them under arrest expressed by giving him
/ three hearty and enthusiastic cheers
In concluding this hastily letter. must express
my sincere regrets that societies exist ia Of the States
whose object s TO t such parties 10 the herein de-
scribed aud send them 10 this Territory their in
jury and the destruction OF the general welfare Of the
/ try. Very many persons induced to ont here
under hatterng promises which never fulfilled and
having neither money purchase food and clothing
trades occupations at which homes. livelihood
driven to the necessity OF becoming either paupers
thieves and such the unfortunate who have aided
materially in filing up the Of crimes that have
seriously affected the prosperity Of Kansas II is high time
that this fact should be clearly and generally understood