Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-14
Letter from Governor Shannon.

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The citizens of Topeka, Kansas, having ap
piled for protection to Governor Shannon, he
addressed them the following letter.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, LEcoMPToY, X. T.,
May %, 1856.
GENTLEMEN: Your memorial, which is not
dated, has just been received. In reply, ]
would beg leave to say that ! have no doubt
that the outrages Of which you speak have
been greatly exaggerated and highly colored
1t may be that there are men on both sides
who are DESTROYS to complieate the present
difficulties in this Territory, and who feel no
particular interest in avoiding the evils of war
Under the circumstances il becomes the law.
abiding citizens to act with caution, and not
to lend too willing ear to all the reports that
are floating through the country.
The United States marshal as well as the
sheriff OF this county, as you are doubles
aware, have each been resisted in the execution
OF writs in their hands by citizens Of Law
renee. The life Of one was attempted and that
of another threatened, under circumstances to
justify the most serious apprehensions as to
personal safety il he should again attempt the
service OF writs in that place. Under these
circumstances each Of these officers, by virtue
of the power which the law invests in them,
assembled posse large enough to ensure the
service Of process.
They have got through serving the writs in
their hands as far as is practicable at present,
and each has dismissed his posse. Nearly all
who belonged to these posses have retired, and
! think there is not the slightest danger of your
being assailed or molested, unless private as
destinations and personal outrages should rouse
public feeling which would again bring into
the field a body Of men determined to revenge
real or supposed wrongs. 1t is useless to dis
guise the fact that there is at this moment i'm.
minent danger of this, result which know
you and all good citizens would deeply deplore
Mr. Cox aOd wife were fired upon last even.
ing when riding out OF Lawrence, the ball pas
sing between them. II is outrage of this kind
that is calculated to bring on a civil war, which
could not be controlled by the public authori-
ties, and which would end only by the entire
destruction of one or the other of the parties
Let me appeal TO one and all to unite in arrest
ing these threatened evils. Let no one attempt
70 redress his own wrong but appeal to the
law IN all cases. Ii is the only safety for all
parties, and | can see no reason WHY ample Sc.
curity for 10th person and property cannot be
as well secured In the Territory as any of the
States, If the citizens would in good faith unite
in aiding the officers Of the law in arresting
and bringing to justice oil persons who violate
the law.
IL is to be regretted that there is a party in
the Territory who refuse to recognise the va
lidity Of the Territorial laws, and consequently
take no part in bringing offenders to justice, or
in furnishing to the law officers the names of
witnesses whose testimony would be necessary
in order to ferret out crime. | would most re-
specially solicit the aid and assistance of the
citizens Of Topeka in establishing sound and
healthy administration OF the law as the best
means TO secure the peace and good order of
society. Within view Of securing all their