The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-10-08
EXTRACT FROM A KANSAS
LETTER.
LRcoMPToN, Kansas Territory, !,
SeDtemher To. 1855.

September I9r 1856.
As muchignorance prevails in the Ststsss :
relative to the true condition Of affairs IN
this distracted yet lovely Territory, you
can have no objection to publish line
from all actual settler. ....se. ~
On the 18th Of September, the new
Governor, John w. Geary. made his ap-
pearance at Lecompton. Gems Reid,
Heiskel and Atchison, with an army Of
2,7O0 men, were approaching Lawrence .
with a fixed purpose to "vips It out - Of
existence. Lane, from his headquarters
at Topeka, was devastating the country in 2
that neighborhood, aud each party was re. =
solved to e.rterminate the other as the only
hope of peace.
To exhort contending factions, so filed.
with bitterness and hate, to forbearanee
aud justice seemed hopeless and ungra-
cious task. But this high duty Governor
Geary at once energetically undertook to
perform and in spite of seemingly insur-
moultable obstacles his success has been
instant and complete.
To give you an insight into Kansas
affairs and enable you to appreciate the
true state of things, it is necessary to say
that there are two leading parties here.
with third hanging like camp followers
upon the skirts of both. These parties
will term the Pro- Slavery party, the Free :.
State party and the Plunderers. TheY, i.
is now fourth party springing up here, =
composed of the honest, law-loving men
Of both parties, including the substantial !.
squatters; men who Eave only the trus
interests of Kansas at heart, whom 1 will !
!, designate "the friends of Kansas andlthe
Union" 5s,,a.s, fI.ss
The free state men from Lawrence sub-
sequently attacked Hickory Point, and 5.
cannonaded it for six hours. killing num-
ber of persons. The Governors dragoonsr
were down upon these men, and l0I were
handsomely captured and brought to Le-ssi
compton. This was the first indication
of energy on the part of the government, sl
and at once had most beneficent effect.
The next incident of Importance was Z.
the movement of the army under Generals
Reid, Heiskel and Atchison, with 2,10UE
Missourians, upon Lawrence. The mo-
ment the news reached the GorerDsr hests
once went to Lawrence with the United =
! States dragons, and bysa frank, manly L,
. statement of his policy and his deterpiaa-a
| tion to govcra the country himself, appeal-s
| ing to the patriotism Of all true hearted 4
Americans, and promising future protec-s
tion to life and property, the Governor
succeeded in turning back the Missourisns.
without spilling one drop of blood they
agreed to disband and return to their
homes. : 5 s
The next morning the Governor aud
escort proceeded to Topeka the head
quarters of the notorious Jim Lane. He
was among the missing and was reported
TO be out OF the the territory, Topeka is
beautifully situated near the Kansas river. 5
on high level plane
When it was assertained that the Gov
ernor was among them, the leading men
at once called upon him aud most inter-
esting interview ensued.
Many wished to interrogate the Coy
ernor, and others desired to commit him
| to their own line of policy. To all these.
persons he had but one reply: 80 s.
/ "Gentlemen, come not to treat scith.
but to goveras you There is now in this
Territory NO other Governor than John.
w. Geary. / will protect the lives and :
property Of every peace loving and law :,
abiding citizen with all the power comnit-. :
ted to me. Twill punish every law -breakcT.,
will not for moment tolerate any .qpes-
tioning of my authority. Every person 5
in favor of restoring peace to this dis
tracted Territory can range themselyess
under my banner; all Others / will treat ss 8
bandits and robbers, and will extirpate. !.
all such at the point Of the bayonet. - !.
Don't talk meto about slavery or freedom
free state men or pro-slavery mem,
until we have restored the benign influence
lof peace to this beautiful country-until
we have punished the murderer and dris-
len out the bandit and rabble, and retorns :. Z
led the industrious citizens to their homsa !.
and claims. Don't ] pray you, .emhar- 5.
|rass me with these political questions. = :,
You shall all, without distinction q. party, s.,
be protected" -. S s. !.
i The response was instant and enthusias.
jtic. "A vote was immediately passed to 5.
sustain the Governor, and when he leff 8
the town Of Topeka the people assemhiea !.
en- masse and gave six enthusiastic cheers. !.
for Governor Geary. This was apother !.
lgreat moral triumph, was delig htfal to coacs.
template, and is bright feather ID fhe.s
Goyernor's cap. 5. ss..ss3... sss -.
4 What q change weeks energetic. IL ],
partial administration Of affairs has pro-. !. 5
lduced herel Instead of the reign ,of tefs s, ,
lror, with every man thirsting for the blood !
OF his enemy, confidence is being rsstsred
squatters are returning to their claims and
1hope is again dawning upon this cogntur..
~ There is no news this week. Thss =
papers are all SO full of politics, they heve'ss
no room fer news, s. .,,.ss s,;.
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