The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1856-12-06

4
trary power can inhict, followed by the
recent escape from Tecumseh, of the
majority of those awaiting trial there,
had inspired us with doubts as to the
nature of our reception. Apprehensive
lest the flight of the absent might be
visited upon those left, we thought best
to seek counsel and protection, if need
&c, fcm the GoyesnoS, end wrote fgsru4
accordingly. Receiving no reply, we
remembered his former promises, and
the result proved that we had not ex-
pected too much from him. Although
the mail is not opened between here
and Lecompton, yet the letter from
Lawrence did not reach him till the mails
had passed twice each way He told US,
too, he had received no communication
from Capt. Walker, though he heard
that several had been forwarded from
him.
His reply to our note of the previous
week, being all ready for the office, he
handed it to US. Forgetting that its
contents were just what we wanted at
the moment, l was slipping it into my
pocket, when he reminde1 me that rules
of etiquette, like all others, have their
exceptions, by desiring me to read it
there. A brief extract will be par
doned:--
eff the ladies are disposed to furnish
the Territorial prisoners dinner, either
cold or hot, or exhibit any other act
of sympathy towards them, they have
my consent to do SO, as they have also
the warrant of Holy Writ-'When |
was sick, and in prison, &C.
The temporary house of the convicts
for it was those sentenced to hard
labor, the ball and chain, that we visit
ed; there are no others at Lecompton-
stands a little out of the town; and
they like it much better on that account.
On our way, we met Capt. Hampton,
who has them in charge. Mr.. McAllis-
ter introduced him, and we walked on,
while he went up town-or down town.
Our escort told us that it was some
notice of Capt. Hampton in the Herald
Of Freedom, which called attention to
him, and led to his appointment over
his present charge.
His own appearance, as well as that
of the whole party, indicated more of
a family feeling than would result from
the nominal relations existing between
them. "hIy boys put them up kitchen,
! .yesferdey, . he said--and mentioned
other improvements going on for their
eomfort-and they told us they were
! going into town mex: week, to get
work for themselves. We neither saw,
heard, or thought much of the ball and
chain sentence, which we were told had
been suspended in its execution, by the
influence of the Governor and Capt.
Hampton. The Captain does not like
to be called keeper-gives them the
parole of honor-they go and come
without guard and he talks of fur
nishing each revolver and knife, so
that they can guard themselves
That, of course, is talk. But he re-
marked to us that he could not treat
them like thieves, murderers, &c, for
he knew they were not such. Though
| give them so much liberty" he says,
81 do it on my own responsibiiity.-
My honor is involved in their remain
ing. If they choose to leave me, for
felt my bonds" He has made ''sub''
of one of their own number, and when
inviting us to repeat -onr Yisit-which
we ali want to do-he added: ..If | am
not here, Mr.. Stewart, or these other
gentlemen indicating such as stood
near will take good care of you. Only
send us word when to look for you, and
we will have the floor washed, and our
clean clothes on, ready to receive you. +"
He seemed to enjoy the visit as much
as our friends or ourselves. One of the
ladies suggested that she was glad "our
boys" have SO good father. He
! "wished his wife were here, that they
might have a good mother, too" He
is from Kentucky-she a native OF
Ohio. Other Kentucky gentlemen
were introduced by Mr.. McAllistcr.
One of them has liberated all his slaves
who are able to take care of themselves,
and wants to come to Kansas, if it is
to be a Free State-which Mr.. McAllis-
j ter told him was beyond doubt. A
couple of the younger men must have
been engaged in the soft soap business,
or have lived where the article was In
great demand among the ladies. Af-
ter leaving with these, our unwearied
friend brought Gen. Pomeroy, whose
sunny face is ever welcome; and he par
, took with us of the generous repast
which our hosts so cheerfully supplied.
!, We were waited ON as the Governor
1 himself might covet to be served.
| Having repeated kind message from
him, and expressed our own wishes, we
were told, and the assurance several
times repeated, that they preferred see
ing the end of their troubles-that they
might have escaped long ago, had they
chosen; but they were unwilling to give
their enemies any such advantage over
them. They expressed the hope that
those who had fed from Tecumseh
f would voluntarily return for trial. and
; sent message to another, begging
him TO come back to Leeompton. He
is stranger to us all, and we never
j heard of him, except through them. A
/ sick man was sent here yesterday morn
/ ing, and another viii be removed as
soon as proper conveyance can be had.
I could add much, but this paper has
already overgrown the original intens
ton.
i You ought, though, to have seen the
trouble in getting our horse started
homeward-his excessive buoEancy OF
head and heels when he once got on The
way, and the contagious hilarity that
set us all a-fying, for time. towards
Lawrence. DO you wonder that We
mean to revisit that cheerful prison
house? Who wants to cook up the
i good things. and so?
forgot To state that the prisoner,