Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1856-10-30
Altsrrllantolls lsraOinp.
High-ganded Outrages in Kansas.
From Me CAieaqo Trilune.


A special messenger from Kansas, who rea-
ched this city on Saturday evening last, direct
from Nebraska City, brings us intelligence OI
another one Of the high handed inva.
,siOns Of the constitutional rights Of American
citizens in that Territory, by which the work
of its final enslavement by the South, aided
and abetted by the Administration. is to be
contaminated.
A train Of ESQ emigranIs under the conduct
of Mr. Elridge, of Lawrence, in company with
Gen. s. G. Pomeroy and Mr.. Perry, al
50 Of that place, left Oscaols, Iowa, whittier
they had proceeded by two routes, on the eth
Of September for Nebraska City. They cross
ed the river at the latter place, and on the 7th
Of October took up their march for the Terrific
~. They crossed the south line of Nebraska
and entered Kansas on the morning of the l6ti
when three or fouI miles in the Territory were
met and surrounded by baud Of 600 to 700
United States troops--dragoons, artillery and
infantry-with six p eces Of canton, acting as
the posse Of Deputy Marshal Preston, and were
disarmed and taken prisoners, in defiance OF
all their constitutional ights and without any
process OF law. real or pretended! The leaders
of the train were warned Of the presence of
this body Of men; but rtl ing upon the rights
which were guaranteed them as american ciii-
Gems and upon the promises of protection given
them by Governor Goary, they had no reason
to suspect that they would be interruptel in
this violent and illegal manner an3 hence took
no pains to avoid by fight or to resist by force
this piraticsl army until they found themselves
fully in their power. When the train was stop
ped, it was proceeding as it had proceeded
through Iowa, without military organization.
without military officers, the wagons scattered
in line of two mills in length over the prairie
and the men in squads, some with, but nearly
all without arms, were walking by the side Of
the teams, There was no pretence that it was
a military band, none that the men were orga
nized for offensive purposes, none that they hal
committed any crime for which they had laid
themselves liable, by jast Interpretation Of any
law 10 arrest, But search Of the wagons was
ordered By Preston. who. by the way. is
sprig of a lawyer just from Virginia, who ac
Cepted the appointment Of Deputy Marshal for
the special purpose Of the capture Of this train
and when it was ascer.ained by overhauling the
contents of the wagons that taere were less than
two rounds Of ammunition for each gun-that
all the powder was contained 10 one kegP and
that for these two hundred and City men there
was keg partly full Of cartridges made up fer
the use of the night guard. it vas decided
that this was an invading army and that it
mast be put under arrest.
The leaders Of the train had taken the preoa-
ution to send two men around by the Missouri
river, when the main party left Mount Pleasant
to explain to the Governor the number objects,
and condition of the men. An interview with
him resulted in promise on bis part, that the
men should be protected, and to eviuCe his ap'
parent earnestness, be gave Mr.. Morrow, one
Of the messengers, the letter of safe conduct,
which is embodied in the statement Of the pris-
Oners that we publish below. This letter was
sent by express and met the train at Nebraska
City, armed with il, the leaders apprehended
no danger of interruption or detention. When
the command to stop was given this letter of
Gov. Geary's was produced, but it was not sat
isfaetOry to the Virginia lawyer acting by his
command. He declined 10 accept it as pass,
and ordered the search to be made. To this
the emigrants demurred, and asked for an es-
cort, that they might go at once to LecomptOu
and give the Governor the opportunity Of judg-
ing for himself whether they were or were not
q hostile army. This request was denied on
protence that the force was not sufficient-that
% he men for the escort could not be spared -
The search was conducted by breaking open
: their boxes, trunks and valisps, hauling out
the contents Of the wagons, throwing beds, ,clO'
thing and cooking utensils into the mud and
tramphng them under their feet, 1t had the
result thatws have stated, and no other. ex-
cept that bog Of ten Sharpes rifles, and q
box Of two dozen reYOlyers going through at
. freight and paid for as such by their owner
who was taking them'in to sell, were brough
to light Here vas treason. Here was rebel
lion.5 The arms--thOse ten guns IN boxes apd
the Halls rifles belonging to the men. tOgethe
With the one keg Of powder and one half ket
sartridges--were seized and packed in o. s
wagon and placed under guard. and the men
were then arrested and marched off towar,
Topeka. where they have probably BY this tim
e arrived. It's probable that, now they ar
robbed of all m pans Of defence, Of their horse
81 ard provisions, they will be put upon trial 70
murder or some other offence easily cobiure