Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-16
From the st. Louis Evening News.
A DesOlate Land.

One who has road the history of the war Of the
Roses or the death struggle between the Cavaliers
and Roundheads in England or who is familiar
with the contest for life and death between the
Wings and Tories In tho Carolinss, during the
Revolutionary war-or who viii turn his eyes to
the ruined fields and desolste valleys Of Mexico
need not be told how the fiery breath of interna
feuds parches beautiful land blasts its freshness
aud withers veins through which has flowed the
current that nourished the national life.
We saw yesterday two gentlemen, citizens of
Schuyler county, Illinois, who had just returned
from months travelling in Kansas. Their names
were Chadsy and Potts, and as they have no inter-
ests In the Territory to warp their views or bias
their opinions the account they gave of affairs
there may be relied on. We learn from them that
Kansas, q few months ago smiling fresh, and
prolific land, with bosom plethoric with abund-
ant sustenance for the Aourishment OF all who
might there seek q home, Is now picture Of des
olation. The capture Of Lawrence deepened and
intsnsifed the deadly animosity that had all along
existed between the Pro-Slavery and Free-Statc
parties, and was the finishing stroke to series Of
preceding events which turned a silent but watch
full hatred into open conflict. ,9lb
The Frce-State men, defeated and worsted, and
warned by the conduct and threats of their antag
0nists TO expect nothing but strife broke up their
households, suspended their undertakings, allowed
their fields and farms to 60 to wreck and waste
and retired with bitter spirits to the southern part
Of the Territory. There they organized themselves
into companies, as defensive and offensive meas
ure--to defend themselves from the attacks Ct
their enemies, and for the purpose, more effectu-
ally, Of attacking them.
The Free-State men, being on the frontiers of
the Territory, with their enemies between them
and tho only channel of escape, the Missouri river
and being prevented, by the constant apprehcn-
sion Of attacks, from filling their fields, are in a
precarious situation, and viii have to depend On
wild game for sustenancc. That body Of good
citizens, once numerous IN the Territory, who sided
with neither party, but attended to their own af-
fairs regardless of the issue of the dispute is not
now to be found Every man has been compelled
TO join one party or the other, and TO become ac
tive in it, behalf The substance of the Territory
is devourcd by the rowing, registering bands OF
guerilla fghtev, who, under the plea, that war
prevails, perpetrate deeds OF robbery, rapne,
slaughtcr and pillage that nothing can justify.
Our informants state that on their return from
the interior Of the Territory they met large com
panies of men from Missouri marching against the
Free.Statc men. They had been melted by the
false and exaggerated reports of Inassacres and
atrocities committed by the FrceState party, and
declared their determination to cut off the escape
Of the abolitionists, and stsrve them to death.
Mr.. Chadsy and Mr.. Potts were frequently in
sulted and stopped on their way by these armed
phuuc, dbu COiHpeIeu 10 give All hccouut oI theio-
selves. BuGord's company Of Southerners has de-
generated into set of drunken desperadoes, who
insult and matreat all who oppose them.
Our informants were only two miles distant from
Franklin when the fight occurred at that place
last "Wednesday. The pro-slavcry party used
cannon they had taken from Lawrence on the oc-
casion. Our infornants did not learn all the par
ticulars of the ARRAY, but we're informed by one
who was present that, after fighting half an hour
very briskly, both parties withdrew, only one or
two having been killed. 2aEai
All over the Territory, along the roadside,
houses are deserted and farms abandoned, and no.
where are there visible evidences of industry. So
cety is utterly dis0ganized laws disregarded labor
palsied, and order unknown. aaR tA
This 10 : depiorable and distressing picture, and
yet truthful one. Surely, one would think, If the
President owes any duty to Kansas that duty is to
the United States troops In arresting the bands
Of Missousans marching against the Free-Sate set
dement's, and the rowing bands of Free-State men
who are organised for pillsge and plumber, and in
preventing those conflicts that now almost daily
taking place. 1t Ia worse than folly II is madness,
10 call on one party in Kansas to keep the other
quiet and subordinate. Both parties should be
kept quiet, by the strong arm Of the government.