The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22
KANSAS AFFAIRS.

Some Of the New York papers contain long
accounts from special correspondents at Law
renee, but as they are chiefly made up of frag.
mentary sketches Of the testimony taken before
the Committee, and of comments by the writer's,
it is not worth while to republish them.
The Tribune correspondent gives detailed
account of the attempt to arrest Reeder. Mr..
Oliver held that he was not protected by
privilege against the writ issued by Judge
Lecompte.
"Mr Howard said that, as legal question,
there could be but one opinion-Reeder had
his privilege. 1t was also a well-known prin.
ciple in law, that all parties are legally respon-
sible for knowing arho has such privilege, and
for their attacks on them. IF this Commission
was attacked through any of its members, it
might arrest the party so attacking its authority
and dignity for contempt, and send them to
Washington under arrest. He did not con-
ceive this was any case of premeditated attack,
and, in any case, the Committee had nothing
to decide; they were no tribunal before whom
question of the kind could come. They rest
ed on their privileges.
Mr.. Reeder, before he made his reply to
the officer, answered the position of Mr. Oliver.
He then said, that if this were a common case,
or if he thought he could 60, appear before the
Grand Jury, and testify, and return, in one or
even two days, he would 90. He had reason
to know that he could not do so he had reason
to believe that the object was to take him away
from the Commission. He had also reason to
believe that he could not 60 there, and remain
in personal safety. He believed, and he had
reason to beliece, that his life was menaced,
and, for these reasons, he rested on his priv-
&C IL
and all those present, that he would not obey
that writ; and that any man who attempted to
take him on it, or other like it, should make the
attempt at his peril. IF he lost his life in the
attempt, he would have no redress; if he sus-
tanned loss or injury, he would have no action"
The same correspondent chronicles the par
ticulars of another outrage:
The Rev. Pardee Butler, who was mobbed
at Atchison last fall, and sent down the Mis-
souri, on raft, has again been outraged there
He has been in Illinois, preaching, for some
time, and was returning to his family, who have
been living on his claim on Stranger Creek.
Passing through Atchison on the Both ult., he
was seized in the street by a mob, who, with.
out any pretence to investigation, tarred and
feathered him. The notorious Bob Kelly, edi-
tor of the SquGtter Sovereign, took an active
part, and Stringfellow looked on, smoking.
The mob consisted chiefly of that part of the
young Southerners who arrived at Atchaon.
Mr.. Butler escaped, and reached Lawrence
yesterday"
The following extracts are taken from the
Lawrence correspondence of the Missouri Dem.
ocrdt:
LAWRENCE, K. T., May 7, 1856.
"Mr. Jones, who was appointed by the Bar.
ons of Kansas Sheriff of Douglas county, is
not dead, nor in dying condition. He is rap
idly recovering. The people here are on the
track of the cowardly assassin. He is sup
posed to be u man, personal enemy of Jones,
Pro-Slavery squatter, who has frequently of
late been heard to threaten his life. The at
tempt to lay this cowardly act at the door of
the Free State party has excited great indigna-
ton here.
"The Congressional Committee went to To
peka yesterday; they will return tomorrow.
The evidence is appalling.
GA messenger from Tecumseh has Just ar
rived, with the news that indictments for high
treason have been found against Reeder, Rob-
inson, Roberts, Lane, Deitzler, and other prom
inent Free State men. AS Sir Charles Cold
stream remarked, There's going to be a row
here" The Atchison forces are marshalling
in the border counties. Secret handbills are
in course of circulation in Platte, CLAY, Jack
son, and Buchanan counties. This news was
brought here to-day by STAKEHOLDER from Mis-.
souri,, who, although Douglas Democrat, is
opposed to the iniquitous course of Atchison
and the Administration. He told the Free
State men to prepare for defence, without a
moments delay. They are prepared. There
is guard out tonight.
This morning, special messenger brought
the following note from prominent Free State
citizen of Leayenwortb.
"LEAvENwoRrH, Nays.
10 Governor Robinson It ia believed by