The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29

La notwithstanding that they mediate no
...;.tance to the laws, that they will aid him in
.rfrcing judicial process-but he is implacable.
Tlsv must be subdued, disdrmed. They ap-
al to Colonel Sumner-he cannot interpose-
|. has no orders. They appeal to the Govern
and here is the answer:
d. Gentlemen: Your note of the 18th is re-
lived. and in reply l have to state that there
!. 10 force around or approaching Lawrence
cent the legally constituted posse of the
United States marshal and sheriff of Douglas
c,uuty. each of whom, | am informed, have a
,,mber of writs in their hands for execution
arainst persons in Lawrence. l shall In no
,ey interfere with either of these officers in the
E.clarge of their official duties. If the citi-
ms of Lawrence submit themselves to the
territorial laws, and aid and assist the mar
hal and sheriff in the execution of processes
: their hands, as all good citizens are bound
n do when called on, they, or all such, will
sntitIe themselves to the protection of the law.
But 70 long as they keep up military or armed
o,,anization to resist the Territorial laws and
The officers charged with their execution. L
ebsI not interfere to save them from the legiti-
mste consequences Of their illegal acts. have
The honor to be yours, with great respect.
"WILsON SHANNON"
This man knows that they are not organized
70 resist the laws-ne knows that Buford's men
and the Missouri invaders constitute the force
Of the Marshal, and that once in possession OF
Lawrence, there is no help for the prescribed
people-his answer is brutal.
Again, we ask, does the President intend to
allow these atrocious proceedings to 60 on till
the reign Of Terror pass into the reign of
Blood? Il is with him to decide-hs is the
responsibility. A single word to Governor
Shannon and Colonel Sumner and crimes
never to be forgiven, may be prevented.
Meantime, shall the lesson taught by this
fearful state OF things be lost on the People of
the Free States? Do they not see that the
question of Freedom or Slavery, Peace or War
70, Kansas, hangs upon the action Of the Fed
er4l Executive? Do they not see, that had
tha country now, a just, firm, wise President,
peace. order, security, would be at once restored
10 Kansas, and our fellow-citizens there, now
prescribed and in danger of determination,
would be saved from Oppression, and protected
ia all their rights? Will they not lay aside all
their controversies, Subordinate all minor con-
siierations, and unite as one man to redress by
one act at the ballot-box, next November, the
great wrong which has brought the country to
the verge of Civil War? Let them ponder
these questions.
Dc The following compilation of the news
from Kansas we take from the National I,atelli-
,sacer We do so, because that paper is so
conservative that nobody will suspect it of
emitting anything that might tend to mitigate
the conduct of the Pro-Slavery party; but the
reader will find nothing, absolutely nothing, of
the kind. Every act in the gloomy drama
demonstrates fell purpose to exterminate the
Free State men of Kansas, and the fact, that
the President is aiding and abetting the bloody
conspiracy. The withdrawal of Colonel Sum-
ner, the announcement of Marshal Donaldson,
and the cold -blooded, villanous reply of Gov
eruor Shannon to the People of Lawrence,
show this. Colonel Sumner says he would
peace, but he is not permitted to interfere.
Very WELL For the blood shed, for the crime
committed, the President is responsible. Can
the Peoples Representatives do nothing2 II
be viii not use the United States army to pre-
vent the hatchery of American citizens, to pre-
vent civil war, then let the House of Represent
atiyes refuse him the appropriations necessary
To maintain the army. If it is to be used only
when fugitive slave is to be arrested, or other
interests of Slavery require its interposition,
the sooner it is disbanded, the better
WAR IN KANSAS.
So have already published the proclamation
of Masshal Donaldson to the people of Kansas,
alleging the obstruction of the law in the exc
cuiion of certain judicial writs, and calling upon
the citizens to aid him as posse. 1t seems
that the resistance contemplated by the " Free
Safe" party was to the laws Of the Territorial
legislature, and not to those of Congress.
They disclaim any agency in the shooting of
Sheriff Jones, and condemn the outrage. The
occasion of the last difficulty seems to have
been the attempt to arrest ex. Governor Reeder,
whilst attending the Committee of Investiga-
ton. he claiming the privileges and immunites
of u member of Congress. A meeting Of the
citizens of the town of Lawrence was held on
She 18th of May, for the purpose of answering
the allegations of the Marshal. We copy their
resolutions:
" h-fettS, Dy q 1rOclamatlOn 10 Inc feOple
Of Kansas Territory by j. B. Donaldson,
United States Marshal for said Territory, issued
the lth day of May, 1856, it is alleged that
certain judicial writs of arrest have been di-
Iecied to him by the first District Court of the
United States, &c, to be executed within the
county Of Douglas; and that an attempt to ex-
ecu,e them by the United States deputy mar
hal was violently resisted by large number
ST the citizens of Lawrence, and there is every
reason to believe that any attempt to execute
these writs will be resisted by a large body of
armed men: Therefore it is
"Resolred 6y this public meeting of tile cih-
ems Of Laurence, held this 18Th day Of May,
1856, That the allegations and charges against
as contained in the aforesaid proclamation are
wholly untrue ia fact, and the conclusion entire
" false which is drawn from them that the
aforesaid deputy marshal was resisted in no
manner whatever, nor by any person whom
soever, in the execution of the said wfits, ex
cePt by him whose arrest the said deputy mar
shal was seeking to make; and that we now,
as We have done heretofore, declare our willing
ness and determination, without resistance, to
acquesce in the serving upon us of any judi
cal writs against us by the United States Mar
shall for Kansas Territory, and will furnish him
posse for that purpose if so requested; but
that we are ready to- resist, IL need be unto
death, the ragages and desolation of an in
Fading mob"
No reply to this was given, but guard was
placed around the town, which stopped all
passengers on the road. Upon the receipt of
more threatening news, the Town Council was
called together. after which town meeting was
convened, and the following letter addressed to
Marshal Donaldson.
j Is. Donaldson IT. s. Bfarshal fer Kansas Territory:
Ia. L..
issued by YOURSELF dated llth of May, and also
nave reliable information this morning that