New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-01
FrRTBER ouTRAGEs IN KANSAS /:

Just as in common with all the decent people OF
all parties and opinions in the United States, we
were beginning to congratulate ourselves that the
reign of outrage and violence was suspended for
the present in Kansas, news arrives-for which see
the letters of our intelligent special correspondent
of further outbreaks of rufhanism on the part OF
the self-styed ''law and order party.
Our readers will recollect that the 18th of De-
cember was the day fixed upon for taking vote OF
the people upon the new Free-State Constitution.
Upon that day a large body of the same Missouri
Border Rufians, lately engaged in the invasion OF
Kansas, assembled in the Town of Leayenworth
under pretense of being "honorably" discharged
from their late highly distinguished services in the
cause of "law and ORDER; and being so assembled
TO the number of hundreds and wi it'll arms in their
hands, these brave men whom the mere report OF
Sharps rifles had lately frightened away from Law
renee. took advantage of the absence OF the Free
State men at dinner, to make an attack of wonder
full boldness (for them) upon the room where the
box of votes was deposited, and which was guarded
at the time by only three persons. Two OF these
who were armed made good their escape; the
other. who was unarmed, the Border Rufiians at
tackled with their accustomed intrepidlty, beat
him, and would have killed him on the spot, had
he not been rescued by a few Free-State men, and
one Pro-Slayery man who mustered to defend him.
By this great achievement the Border Ruffans
were exalted to high state of ferocity; nor does
much pluck appear to have been exhibited on the
other side. LeavenwOrth has but few Eastern
men, 1t is the principal seat of the Squatter-Sov-
ereignty Free-State party, who were so anxious
that the Topeka Convention should secure the
counteDance and support of Cass and Douglas, BY
indorsng the squatter- sovereignty falsehOod OF the
Kansas-Nebraska bill. These Douglas FreeState
men seem to have been completely cowed and
frightened and to have submissively knocked under
to the violence of the rufians, who appear to have
succeeded in completely breaking up the balloting
in that place on the Free-State Constitution.
Leayenworth, it will be recollected was thought
by the Lawrence men, according to the state
ments of our correspondent to have rather shown
the white feather during the recent siege, not
having done so much as might reasonably have
been expected from so large place in the way
of forwarding aid and reinforcement to the be-
sieged Free-State men. And now they experience
the common fate Of trimmers who attempt to SIT on
two stools-that Of falling to the ground themselves.
However, there is much to be said by way Of spoil
oey for the Leayenworth men, They are imme-
diately .on the Missouri border, exposed to the
whole fury of Border Rufhan inyasiCa. They
seem to have nc leaders on whom they can rely,
and worse than chat, no Sharp's rifles. Give them
these-and we trust they will not long want them
and we doubt not another time they will give
better account both Of themselves aud of the Bor-
der Ruffians.
But the outrages at Leayenworth did not cease
with the breaking up Of the ballOting on the Free
State Constitution. villain who had been con-
cerned in an attempt at murder at Kicka-
poo, a village few miles north of Leaven-
worth, having been arrested upon legal process
and examined, was committed to the same jail at
Leayenworth in which McCrea was recently i'm
prisOned. His friends tAereup0n mustered in force,
liberated the prisoner, and burned down the Jail.
We shall see what Gov. Shannon says to this new
rescue. VIII he issue another proclamation and
forward another telegraphic dispatch to the Presi
dent for aid What Shannon may do 10, however,
not nov Of the least consequence. Whatever may
be thought and said as to the past for all future
outrsges, burnings and murders that may occur in
Kansas, the people Of the United States VIII hold
responsible, not Shannon. not Stringiellow nor At
Gibson nor any other subordinate or wire-pullrr.