The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-09
COLONEL LANE AND HIS CONGRESSIONAL SUP
PoRTERs--wHO ARE THE RUFFIANS IN KAN

The statute laws of every civilized country make ample
prYson for the punishment OF those who have attempted
but without success carry out criminal inentons
against life property the peace and good order of
cey No culpt yet set up for defence the total fall
ure Of his plans as full or partial exenuaon of his vo-
ation Of the law The detected burglar would in vain
claim when caught that booty had been found in his pos
session In criminal cases. the intention Of the accused has
always had and properly So prePonderatng influence
with judge and jury.
The failure of the back-republcan members of the
House Of Representatives in their persistent attempts TO
cut of supplies for the support Of government make their
the less criminal in the eyes of indignant and
outraged people Their bodest attempt revolution
by dsbandng the army when its services impeave
needed to maintain the supremacy OF the laws, has so filed
the country with establishment and indignation by the
audacy OF the treason that the previous acts of the
men, equally revolutionary in spirit and object have for
the time been passed in silence We conceive that the
proviso attached to the cvappropraton bill by the black
republicans of the House, and which was subsequently
stricken of, equals in magnitude the outrage contem-
plated by the provso attached to the army bill Ac-
cordng to that provso the salaries of the judges in Kan
not to be paid until they had caused to be dis
missed the indictments for treason which had been found
against Messrs Lane Reeder and Robinson The Kansas
judges told in many words that they must ex-
pound and administer the according the ntepre
taon and wishes of reasonable majority in the federal
House of Representatives, and that if they failed in render
ing prompt obedience to the orders of their masters they
should be starved into submission The instances not
rare in France England where judges have proved will
ling instruments in the hands of its Parliaments and
Kings, but in country this is the first of de-
hberate attempt the part of majority in the popular
branch of Congress to amper with the purity of the
mine From debating decisions inferior federal
court the transition to higher sphere for revolutionary
action both easy and natural and only surprise is
that the black republicans did stop the salaries of the
justices of the Supreme Court of the Uaied States until
that august body had agreed to pronounce the fugitive
slave law unconstitutional.
The black republicans had not so much at heart the
protection of Messrs Reeder and Robinson as they had
the safety of the leader of the invading army Colonel
Lane. We will not stop to inquire whether Judge Le-
compte was right wrong in his views in regard to
constructive treason for that for jury to set
tie after the testimony has been produced the
made and the charge given Admitting for arguments
sake that the of these three individuals were
which might justify the exercise of executive clemency
how stood the facts at the time when the black republicans
sought to place Col Lane beyond the reach of the laws
which it alleged he had violated 2 He had placed
himself rather he had been placed by the revouions
OF New England, New York, and the western States
the head of large armed force. He had thoroughly
drilled that force for offensive warlis operations He and
his men had entered Kansas to settle and till the soil
but an invading army and for the avowed purpose
driving out of the Territory by knife bullet and bayo
net all who were not willing to adopt their reasonable
sentiments or to carry out their reasonable objects
Through the agency of the telegraph and the monstrous
abricatons of hired leter-wrters the black republican
have succeeded great extent in preudicing and be-
wildering the public mind of the North as to the real
state of affairs in the Territory of Kansas The day has
at last gone by for the successful imposition of asehood
and Misrepresentation The mission of Col Lane is now
perfectly understood the motives which actuated his
congressional friends shield him from the punishmens
due his crimes
We cannot close this article better than by making
for the following extracts from letter which appears IN
late number Of the Pennsylvania The letter bears date
Independence August 27 and is written by gentleman
of high official standing and unquestioned veracity
al arrived here yesterday for New Mexico and
having leisure my hands will give account OF the
ing dihculties IN Kansas This unfortunate Territory had
remained in state Of comparative quiet until the
Lane and his regiment when disorder civil war were
again renewed.
The first that of the coming of these eeboot
for their conduct shows them be SUCH noticed In
the Chicago papers month ago TO that effect and the,
next heard Of Fort des Mones Iowa. thence they
marched for the Missouri river which they struck in the vi
cnity Of ST. Joseph When they arrived at the latter point
they said to be in quite starving condition. much dis
satisfied and that they dbanding rapidly and not
much attention paid 10 them but Il Is now thought the,
placed these reports In circulation 10 deceive the
Of the Territory 20 their true object They numbered
from 500 10 600 men, and well armed. Before thew en-
tered the Territory they sent word the governor they
wished bona 6de settlers and not as an armed
force ser which they into the Territory and march
cd to Lawrence In parties Of twenty and thirty men, wer,
they organized. Their first act take hasty enumern
ton or the inhabitants Of the counties of Douglas and Frank
lin to how they stood upon the question Of slavery
after which Lanes went 10 the farms and houses Of the
settlers and told the slavery and conservative men that
they must declare themselves In favor OF
leave the Territory. They Immediately commenced com
hitting outages upon those who refused comply with
their demands, such driving the families from their homes
stealing tho horses and guns and sometimes money Among
Others they drove settler named Davis from nj, home
of Franklin, who was oversken on tho road
with his family, by party Of twenty-6 Of Lane
men, who made young man, in company with Davis dis
from bis horse, which they took rode awsy The,
overlook another settler named Muir when they took III
horses from his wagon, leaving himself with wife and chill
dren In the road with Of reaching their friends
except foot One family had TO fly from their house il
the night naked in which condition they sought safety and
shelter in Missouri
Their next aggressive upon the settlers