Smyrna times., 1856-10-01
Condition of Affairs In Kansas.

~N~@N~@S~S~N
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Ledger
thus sums up the state of affairs in this Terri
tory:
have already been long enough in the ter
ritory to have obtained pretty thorough know
ledge of the existing difficulties, which are GER
tainly very imperfectly understood at dis
tance. The rumors you receive increase most
marvellously as they travel, and not one out of
every dozen has scarcely the shadow OF foun.
datIon IN truth. The questions of pro-slavery
and free State have less to do at present with
Kansas troubles than other matters, far more
serious in their nature and more difficult TO re-
move. That there exists violent opposition
to each other, by certain agitatore on both sides
OF this political quarrel, there can be no doubt;
but that the ma jorty of the settlers are tired of
the question, and are disposed to view it with
calmpess and conduct tc ward it with proprety,
is equally true. The greP test enemies of Kan
sas are aspiring demagogues from distant dis
tricts and hordes Of banditti, who, having taken
advantage of the medding interference of the
above named class, now roam the country, plum
dering peaceable people of all they possess,
reckless Of consequences and Indifferent as to
the political opinions Of their victims. 1t is of
little Importance to what party man belongs,
or from wi at section of country he has come,
If he dareS to venture alone upon the highway,
he will be sure to receive pistol or rife ball
in his body, and his pockets be emptied of their
contents. The bandtti Of Italy and Spain and
: the ladrones of Mexico, were never SO brutal
E and cOwardly as the gangs of thieves and as
sasslns that have Overrun this Territory. A
viler or more dastardly Sc: of robbers never
disgraced humanity. They scour the country
in large gangs, mounted on stolen horses, by
night and day, enter dwellings, insult families
! abuse and murder men, carry OFF everything
they can find that s valuable, drive away cat
tie and horses, burn houses, and destroy what
G ever they cannot use. Thirteen bodies were
; last week found murdered by the roadside, nea
' Leavenworth. In close proximity, and burieC
+, by the United States soldiers. These atroci
ties are charged upon each other by both th
: free State and slavery parties; but the truth is
Il they are perpetrated by men who care nothin!
/ for the question of slavery, either one way o
the other; but are murderers and plunderers b
nature and occupation.
e Parties were also enrolled from distant sta tes
10 who had no direct interest in Kansas, and VIII
l. never intended to become settlers. These LAT
10 ter were influenced by two considerations; OF
position to free soil, and opportunities for plum
'e der. The militia, thus organized, instead
"a proving beneficial, only increased the difficu
le ties. 1t caused opposing organizations of ire
ss soil men, who also called for and obtained n
- cruits from abroad. These parties arraye
~ themselves in open hostility against each othe
u and hence, several conflicts took place, whc
lis resulted in the destruction of considerable prt
Sc perty, and the loss of few lives. But neitht
of these conflicts have been sufficiently seriol
i TO Justify the reports Of them that have bee
- widely circulated for political capital and spec
lative purposes. The treesoil party maintain
its headquarters at Lawrence, twelve miles di
tant from this place, and numbers about s
hundred men, which rumOrs have exaggerat
as to as many thousands. They are command
= by Gen. Lane, of whom have already spoke
Ids and have doubtless, in their expeditions aft
les provisions, done considerable unprovoked mi
ne chief
IN Some of the parties of the authorized milit
Dr. have not been behind them, in that regard
he They have entered and robbed dwellings, m,
ST. treated their residents aud stolen their effec
use and in other respects have been the CROSSE
On vlolators of the laws and the w~rst dsturbt
les of the peace. The very horses they ride we
Ter stolen, or, as they say, "pressed into the st
The vice." from the very persons whom they we
The organized to protect. Hence the necessl
M not only of disbandlng the armed bands, W
er are acting without any authority, but also thC
all who are the organized militia or protective
will Ice.
ing This morning | accompany the Govern
ion under an escort of United States troops, 10
10 compton, where the new Government will
medately be formed. Kansas Territory, 50
by as have yet seen it, is decidedly one oil
TO most beautiful countries | have ever witness