The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-08
Letter from Gov. GearY.


interest. It shows two things-frst,
that the Governor is not wanting in
decision of character and energetic ac-
ton: and, second, that aattery is his
stock in trade. If Gen. Reid, the Gov
eraor of Missouri. and the people of
that . noble, conservative State love
adulation we have no objections to
Gov. Geary's soft-soaping them their
entire satisfaction. He accomplished
his purpose with Cen Reid, and in
duced him to disband his msreenaries
and take them home again to Missouri,
from whence, according to Gov. GPs own
showing, they came.
Executive DEPARTMENT
Lecompton, KIT Sept.25th 1861
To General John W. Reid:
Dean SIR Your favor of the Goth
ult. was received by last nights mail,
and although pressed by official busi-
ness, / hasten to give an immediate
response to your very friendly letter.
In order to make nay reply entirely
lucid and satisfactory, / will first an
lswer your interrog gatories in their order.
In reply to your first I have to state
that {" on the day before the arrival of
your forces, | had visited Lawrence in
person, accompanied by about 800 Uni
ted States Dragons, and that l caused
my printed proclamation to be cireulat-
ed there, commanding = all bodies Of
men, combined, armed and equipped
with munitions of war without authori-
ty of the Government, instantly to dis
band or quit the Territory, as they will
answer the contrary at their peril. At
Lawrence I neither saw Lane nor any
body of armed forces nor have | seen
Lane since.
In reply to your second interrogatory
| answer that +" | was at Lawrence at
the time of your approach" and that so
far as its inhabitants were concerned,
The place was almost in a defenceless
condition, and the saeking and taking
of it under the circumstances, would
have reflected no honor upon the attack
ing party.
In reply to your third interrogatory,
I-say that was compelled by official
duty to prevent your entry into Law
renee by the interposition of the U. S.
troops" and that | would have done so.
In reply to your last interrogatory /
say that the town of Lawrence could
not have been taken by the forces under
your command on Sunday, the 14th
inst, except in violation of my author
ity, in opposition to my power and in
defiance of the u S. Troops, being pre-
sent and under my command.
In reply to the other portions of your
letter / have the honor to submit to you
an extract from letter which address
ed to the Governor of Missouri on tn,
Goth inst, as follows:
Your estimates of the patriotism
and honorable bearing of the good cit
izens of Missouri: is by no means exalt-
ed, as was fully demonstrated by their
conduct when recently assembled in
great forces before the town of
Lawrence. 5
They came there with fixed deter
animation to destroy thattown,in in Fetslie-
ton. as they said, for wrongs which
their fellow citizens of Missouri had ex-
perieneed at the hands Of the citizens of
Lawrence
Ny presence there was indeed most
opportune, and your Excellency cannot,
imagine my emotion of gratitude. when
in response to my appeal, the army of
Missourians, most gracefully resolved
to disband, return to their respective
homes, and trust to my efforts for the
protection of their friends here.
| trust that your Excellency viii in
some way do me the favor to commun
icate to those of your citizens. who.
upon that occasion, so honorably re-
|sponded to my appeal, my heartfelt
thanks and my sincere obligations.
If the Missourians had executed their
purpose of burning Lawrence and driv
ing out It's inhabitants, it would have
been stain upon the eseuteheon of your
noble, conservative State, which time
could scarcely have esfaced. Having
burned Lawrence and destroyed its in
habitants, excited by. the contest and
rendered more fierce by their work of
blood, they would have marched upon
Topeka, and it would have met the fate
of Lawrence, and the Free State men
would have been literally exterminated.
Such catastrophe would have excit-
ed SO great horror, and stirred up so
fierce an indignation throughout the en-
tire North, that ali my efforts to preserve
the peace of the Territory would have
been utterly impotent and futile. We
would have been literally overrun by
Northern army, and the flames of civil
war would have been Endled through
out the country.
1t Is. therefore, source of hearty
graduation that the good citizens of
Missouri have had the good sense to
place themselves In a correct position,
and thus render essential service to the
cause of good order.
trust that IN future the same cour-
tesy will be extended towards ME by
your citizens, and that the most cordial
relations may exist between the two
Governments.
In conclusion ] have to unite with
you In the earnest expression of regret
that some bad mon, connected with
your expedition did upon their retire
ment commit outrages which all good
men should deplore.D
cannot, however, close this hasty
letter without expressing my warm
thanks to yon individually. for your
manly and generous conduct on the oc-
casion referred to and for your prompt
compliance with my wishes.
Very respectfully, your-obd't sery't.
Jso. w. GEARY.
Governor Of Kansas Territory.
W We have received several mo-
L