Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-05-17

was on its way to that city from Leavenworlh
Mo-, for the purpose Of destroying the tes,i-
muny taken by the Congressional commission
The force was moving Immediately on Lecump-
ton, there to join other parties mastering for
the same work. The proceedings Of the com
mit,ee had also been interrupted by an attempt
to arrest Gov. Reeder, on some frivolous pre-
text, aud take him to Lccompion, in order to
prevent his attendance upon the Investigations
Of the committee. He was first subpgnacd to
90 10 Lecompton, to give evidence on some COM
plant before grand jury, but refused to be
dragged away from the investigation on this pre-
text. Then writ was served on him, while
attending the si,ings Of the committee, by a
deputy marshal-said witt charging him with
contempt Of the subpenaed aforesaid. He ap-
pealed to the committee for protection or adj
vice. The committee decided that they bad no
Jurisdiction ia the premises, but the majority
(Mcssrs Howard and Sherman) expressed the
opinion that Gov. Reeder was protected by his
privilege The minority (Mr. Oliver held
that he was not so protected, and that the com
mission could not stand between him and war
rant in the hands Of deputy marshal. Gov.
Reeder declared that his life was not safe at
Lecompton--ihat he should claim his privilege
as acting under the authority Of Congress, and
that whoever should lay hands on him would
do so at his peril. The marshal thereupon left,
but was expected back with furce of United
States dragons. Judge Lecompte had charged
the grand jury at Lecomplou to indct all the
free state officers and members of the state leg
islaiure as guilty of high treason.
A dispatch dated a, ST. Louis, l2ih, gives
the following account Of The seizure Of Gov
Robinson. at Lexington, Mo. -
1.-THE steamer Star of the West arrived to-
day from Kanzas, and the following iniorna-
ton is derived from passengers. The steamer
left Kanzas on Saturday, the ioth, Gov. Rob-
insOu and family being among the passengers.
At Lexington, Mo-, Gov Robinson was await
ed upon by committee appointed by the cili-
zens, and notified that they should delain him
on the ground that he was fleeing from the ter
ritory to avoid arrest on an indictment Of trea-
son which had been found against him by the
grand jury Of the U. S. district court Gov.
Robinson replied that he had been informed by
one IF the grand jury thut an attempt had been
made 10 find bill, but had failed. This did
not satisfy the committee, they insisting that
Mr.. Robinson should remain, and he finally
consented to do so, on persuasion Of Mr.. Park
inson, captain Of the boat and Mr.. Barnard Of
Baltimore. lie was invited to the house of
Mr.. Sawyer, one of the committee, his family
proceeding on 10 St. Louis. The committee
agreed TO send messenger to Kanzas to ascer-
tain il an indictment had been found, and If aot,
all the expense of RS detention were to be
paid. No violence or indigniiy was offered
MI. r. during the proceeding. The commits
tee consisted Of General Shields, Mr.. Sawyer,
and a number of the most respectable citizens
The information upon which they acted was
derived from Capt Adams
There is evidently desperate purpose a
mong the border ruiilan to break up the con-
gressional investigation, from whose disclosures
they have so much fear, and their effort is
promptly seconded by Shannon, under the or
ders Of the administration, by using the United
States troops to harass the peaceable free state
settlers under cover of wrts issued by the of.
fcials appointed by Missouri. Even the lives
ufthe Witnesses before the commission are threat
ened, and ]. n. Mace, late OF Newburypor,
Mass, was shot at and dangerously wounded,
hSat l@aNithSS wv Aho ioAf iot hNNlllE NsuuGu
before the commission on the previous day, that
sheriff Jones headed Missouri mob at the G.
lection at Bloomington precinct in March, that
the judges Of election were asked 10 resign in
five minutes or die that they were allowed
one minute more to bless themselves, the five
having expired without their resignation that
in short they were driven from the polls, their
ballot boxes and poll-boxes iorcibly taken from
them, and their most inoflensive and peaceablc
citizens insulled and mlltreaied by armed men
from Missouri. He was fred at by two rufiians,
near his own cabin. One of the balls took Of
feet in his leg, and he fell. As soon as he
dropped the ruffans hath laughed heartily, and
one Of them said, "There is some more damned
good abolition wolf bat," and went away,
probably supposing he was dead Mr.. Mace
was able 10 crawl hack 10 his cabin. A Mr..
Cracklin of Lawrence was also shot at by the
Kickapoo rangers prowling about Lawrence
and had narrow escape from death. The
gang of murderers had been known to be there
seeking the lives of citizens for more than
week, but Gov. Shannon had taken no steps for
their dispersion by the U. S. troops.
The New York Times has published in de-
tail the evidence given before the commission
on the first three days Of its session. The facts
show the control of the elections BY force and
fraud Of the Missouri invaders to have been
more general and outrageous than the worst pre-
vious accounts had made them. The first wit
ness examined was Jordon Davidson, Mis-.
sourian, who testified that he was member of
a secret society formed in Missouri, the express
object Of which was to make Kansas slave
state--and that he had reason to believe tina, il
existed also in other southern states,--In Yir-
ginia, 10 Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas.
lie came from Missouri to Kansas 10 rote-was
sworn in on the spot as one of the officers of
election, and knew of many others who came
from Missouri and voted. William Lyons. an
other witness, testified that at the election.
March, 1855, he saw a Mr.. Shelby, who told
MN he had come 100 miles to vote, and 'that
soo Mlssourlans would yale on that day :''-he
himself knew that over 100 went to Douglas.
where the polls were held, that day to vote