The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-06-14
From Kansas.


From Kansas.
From the many columns of Kansas news
with which the papers have been filed du-
ring the week, we can gather but few facts.
1t appears, after the murder or shooting of o
men, by the free state men at Hickory
Point. mentioned in our last, Marshal Do
MADISON got up a posse of some 10 or 5O
men. and despatched them under command
of Capt. Pate, to go and arrest the muir
derers. He made some arrests at place
called Shermanvilie, and was proceeding on
his way to Lecompton, with his prisoners,
when at Black Jack Point he was met by
about $50 free state men, under command OF
Capt. Reid, with whom he was obliged to
fsht. 4 man or tvYo was killed on each
side, when Capt Pate concluded to surren-
der As the battle, however, lasted four or
five hours, some of Pates lnen escaped to
Westport, and gave such exaggerated ac-
counts of the affair, that the whole country
on the Missouri border was ready to rise and
march to the relief Of the unfortunate cap
tain. Whitfield started at once with loo
men from Westport, Marshal Donaldson col
lccted a squad, and general war Oh eXter-
mnation seemed inevitable. Luckily, how
ever, about the time the parties were getting
into close proximity, Col Sumner happened
that way, just in time to prevent battle,
AMI after releasing Capt. Pate ordered all
parties to disperse.
The next We hear of Capt Reid he was
committing outragos on pro-slavery men near
Bull Creek, destroying houses, &c, but &c
can find little reli.ble information in refer
ence to the affair.
Gen. Whitfield, with his army, appears
to have gone 80 Prairie City, IL miles from
Lawrence. where it is alleged he was stop
ping ard searching travelers, until overhaul
ed again by Col. Summer, who, at the head
of a body of troops, commanded Whittield's
company to disperse, which they did, but
after going some five miles they again en-
camped \ body Of some 300 free state
men kept near them, but the presence Of
Col. Summers command had prevented a
collision. Finally, the very latest account
saws, Col. Sumner succeeded in dispensing
both parties and sending them to where they
belonged, SO that there is PEACE IN KANSAS.
Yes-let it be proclaimed to all the world,
THERE Is PEACE IL KANSAS,
To the abolitionists, who have manufactured
so much thunder out Of the Kansas news.
for the last three or four weeks, doubtless
this will be sad news. As such party can
live only on excitement, the collapse that
must follow the closing up of the troubles
in Kansas, must be most disastrous and fatal.
1t will be all the more So when the people
Come to understand fully how the fuss orr
ginated and how II was brought to such a
sudden close. As to the origin, we have eX-
planned that heretofore, and in another arti-
Gle to-day, commenting on a letter of Gov.
Reedcr recently disentombed, some more
light is given. And now for the manner in
which it was ended.
The matter can be explained in a word.
Gov. Shannon, after a series Of the most
strange and unaccountabie blundcrs, has
finally fallen back on the Presidents in
s,ructions given him last fall as to the man
ner in which he should preserve order in
Kansas, and peace has naturally followed.
1t appears the President had instructed him
to rely solely on Col. Sumner for force in
case he needed any, to execute the laws in
the territory. Instead of this, Gov. Shan
non authorized Marshal Donaldson to arm
the Carolinians, &c, to aid him, and the re-
suit was the attack on Lawrence and other
outrages. When information Of this affair
reached Washington, the President at once
sent the following despatch to Col. Sumner:
WASHINGTON CRY, May 90, SO.
To COL z. y. Sumner, Fort Ledrenu0JM:
have Just sent by telegraph, to Governor
Shannon, despatch, Of which the following
is copy:
"Since my telegraph of this morning was
sent, the Secretary of War has laid before
me Col Summers letter to you of the 18th
inst This suggestion strikes me as wise
and prudent, and | hope that before this
reaches You decisive measures will have been
taken to have the process IN the hands of
the Marshal quietly executed.
My knowledge Of facts is imperfect, but
with the force of Col Sumner at hand, j
perceive no occasion for the posse, armed or
unarmed, which the Marshal is said TO have
assembled at Leconpten The instructions
isouSu ~ sNN'SS-A a'It tOt EuinEST, L.
your last visit TO this city. must be efficient
ly executed Sufficient power was commit I
ted to you and you must use H.
"Obedience TO the laws and CONSEQUENT
security Of the citiz.ns of Kansas. are ,,ri-
mary objects. You must reprcss Iawi,ss /,
violence in the Territory in whatever form
it may manifest itself
(Signed) FRANKLIN PIERCE"
True copy
"E " SCxNEE. Col. LIST Cavalry"
The Suggestions" of Col. Sumner, al
Iuded to in this despatch were simply, that
whatever process it might be necessary to
have the aid of troops to enforce in the ter.
ritory should be placed in his hands, and he
would guaranty that it should be quietly exc
cuted, and that all bands Of men, no matter
where from, that came into the territory
armed should be disarmed at once, and If
they did not come as settlers, should be sent
home. The President opprores this sugge'-
zion. reprimands Shannon for allowing Mar
shall Donaldson to raise the posse that went
IN Lawrence, and instructs Shannon in fu-
ture to obey orders and follow the sugges-
tons Of Col Sumner.
And ,hereupon Shannon, with such flea
In hrs ear, wakes up to bis duty and pro-
eseas to obey the President, by issuing the
following proc!am a;ion;
,u.. fnforuation has been received