Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-09-26
The Armed Free state Men in
Kansas.

n du6das
Doubtless some of our readers have been
disturbed by fear that the free state men
OF Kansas may have erred in forming a mI,.
tary organization, apparently NOT limited cx-
clusvcly 10 self-deience. The following
document shows that the design was forssJ-
drfencc mereiy and that the free state men ol-
tered to lny down thcirornl at once, If either
the civil or the military power of the q. s..
Government would pledge protection To- their
lives and properly Neither branch Of the
Federal Government would do tins Aye
though the Constitution guarantees hfe,
liberty and properly" and though the Presi-
Dent Is bound by oath To execute faithfully
this supreme law of the luud --bnlh the cW-
IL and military powerm Kansas RErusEp To
DO IT. We submit that the free state mon
were right Ia their eudeivor 90 polect them
selves Abandoned by the Government, they
had no alternative but 10 submit o. robbery
aud murder, or to stand ON their natural 1ghL
which is pretty well recognized 10 oll other
savage communities the right Of sefpres-
eryauon.
"LAwRFNcE, Kansas Sept 3, 1856.
" COL Cook Commander Z. S forces al Le-
coeompion
"DEAR SIR: The Free State men Of Kan-
sas are now m arms for the purpose Of pro-
tectIng their property from destruction, and
the lives Of themselves and families from the
uhuman atrocities OF organized bands of as
sassins from an adjacent State. App ais 20
the clvll AUTHORITIES have proved truiless As
a last resort and to aver, the impending evil
we appeal 10 the authority YOU possess. We
respec fully represent that our ranks ARE com
posed Of bona fdo citizens Of Kansas and
none other TO satisfy you of the truth Of
this avernent, we invite Won IN person 10 VS.
It aud inspect our ranks. II any other meth
cd o proof OF this fat would be more nc
ceptnbe 10 you. II will be equally convenient
for Us. We ask you 10 assure us protection
ior ,'- tt"oo 'srd ,--npn~tp aod 10 that nnd
hat you dispense, Or cause 10 be dispersod
the baud of house burners hurse-stealers
and men stcalers FROM Missouri, known as
the Kansas Militia, now assembled q; In
danpla, on the Fort Riley road, M Lscomp.
TN. near your camp, at some point on the
Santa Fee road at Eiston, and other places.
If this shall be- done, We will lay down our
nrms and thankfully resume our ordinary oc-
equations.
" II you do not possess power 10 do this,
perhaps Won might ieel al liberty 100 insist thlt
the war be- conducted on principles generally
recognized among Christian belligereuts as
just and honorable prohibiting the desJruc-
tiou of the property of lnohensya and de-
iensrless persnns.
In behalf OF the Kansas State Central
Committee,
"GI MILES MOORE
OWN HUTCHINSON
"P. S.-Sholld we deem u necessary 20
decide this question by an appeal TO arnis,
would you deem 1t your duty 90 Interfere 10
case OF conflict; II. NJ. NJ.
"N. H."
The next morning, having received no re-
ply 10 the letter addressed 10 Col Cook, the
/ Free State men, 500 strong, marched upon
Lec0mplon. As they approached the town
IA hoile array, Col. Cooks command with
several pieces of artillery, came huuyinr 90
the scene. At the same time committee
was sent from the town to confer with Limo
on terms Of peace. II was finally agreed
that all the Free State men, to the number
of fifteen, held as prisoners IN Lccomp,on
should be released, be delivered that night
IN Lawrence under au escort, ana that the
togus Kansas militia should be- disbanded -
Whether those terms were fulfilled we do
moi know, but probably they were, as the Ia
test accounts by telegraph state, that the
State prsoners had all been released ON bail
that Governor Geary had issued "A procinma-
ton ordering ali armed binds TO dispense
that several of the Border Ruff ms and horse
tbleyes were already 10 he hands Of the q
). ifoopa among the rest, the notorious En-
Dry, the bugand and butcher of Leaven.
worth and that ON the 10Th there was iu-
bilce at Lawrence, at which tho state prs.
ouers made speeches.