The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-08
Justice tc eev. eeary.

Letter writers for eastern journals
are very severe on Gov. Geary, because
he did not cause the whole army of
2,700 men, who were under Gen,
Reid, at Franklin, on the 18th of Sep
tember, to be arrested as outlaws and
treated as such. Gov. Geary's policy,
in general, does not meet our approba-
ton, but we cannot see how he could
have acted differently from what he did
In that instance. The Governor had
only entered upon the discharge of his
duties two days previous to that event.
He was hardly firmly seated in his Off
cial chair when the army alluded to,
called together officially by his prede-
cessor, and marched upon Lawrence with
the avowea purpose of itss.zssz==-===:-;z,uS- iittss.asz==-==;,S
was disbanded. He was wholly unin-
formed in regard to the action of Wood
son in respect to this army. He knew
large body of4men had been enlisted
into the service of the Territorial au-
thorities, hence his first official act was
to issue his proclamation commanding
all bodies of armed men to disband, of
course including those called together
by Woodson. The army under Gen.
Reid, disregarded the proclamation, and
with forced march, proceeded against
Lawrence, determined to obliterate it
and its inhabitants together ere Gov.
Geary should have cognizanee of their.
action. For six miles he ran his men,
determined to reach Lawrence before
help could come to the citizens. They
arrived at Franklin completely exhaust
ed, and the majority of them refused,
absolutely refused, to go any farther
that night.
In consequence of that refusal gen
eral fight was prevented. Atsix o'clock,
p. NJ, messenger reached Gov. Geary
detailing the fact that an army was
marching upon Lawrence. At nine o.
clock, the entire United States forces,
under the command Of Col. Cook,
we're laundering down the hill at the
south of Lawrence, and were soon en-
camped between us and the invading
forces. Col. Cook was full twelve miles
from US when he received his orders g To
remove his, entire command. with all
possible dispatch. to Lawrence" /" The
fact that he was here i'm three hours
shows that he lost no time after receiv-
ing that order. Gov. Geary appeared
at Franklin on the following morning,
in person. and dishanded that army
for army it was, mustered into tie pub
&c service By legally constituted officer.
He was apprehensive that if discharged
there, at Franklin. II would be turning
2,700 men lose upon the Territory, who
would organize into guerrilla parties
and deluge the country with blood, as
all men know was their desire. For
this reason he ordered the command
ants of the several divisions, and COM
panies. to march their respective com
mands to the points where they were
rendezsoused, and there discharge them,
knowing that in such case they would
be disbanded outside of the Territory
a portion Of the companies which were
organized in Platte county, and points
eontigusus. desired to cross the Kansas
ferry st Lawrence. This the the Gov
ernor positively refused them the privi-
lege Of doing, feeling that soIne impru-
dent action might bring on collision
between private individuals which would
soen become general. and from the
large number of persons who would be
involved. he would not have the power to
RESTRAIN them until there had been .
| frightfnl fow Of blood. He directed
those companies to pass on to Lecomp-
ton, and cross the river at that point.
They did so. and IN their route anrder-