The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-11
RUFFIANIsM IN KANSAS TO BE UPHELD
Instructions to Gov. Geary and Con. Smith

instructions 10 Gov Geary ana Ton. smith.
The Washington Union of Saturday last
contains the letters of instructions of Mr.. Marcy,
Secretary of State, TO Governor Geary and Gen
eral Persiier Smith, and also instructions of the
Secretary OF War, Mr.. DAVIS, to General Smith
Mr.. Marcy, in has letter dated August &C.
merely refers Governor Geary TO instructions
heretofore given to his predecessor, Shannon,
and tells him to keep the President informed as
TO the state of things in Kansas, so that addi
tional forces may he sent out, if necessary. He
says I" In the instructions heretofore communi-
catedto your predecessor, in February last, in the
annual message to Congress Of the 9th of the
previous December, and in orders issued from
the War Department, printed copies of which
are hereby furnished, you viii find the policy
of the President fully represented. 1t is, first,
IL obtain order and quiet in the Territory of
Kansas and, secondly, if disturbances do occur
therein, 10 bring to punishment the offenders
Should the force which has been provided to
obtain these objects prove insufficient, You will
promptly make known the same to the President,
that he may take such measures in regard there
10, as To him may to ha demanded by tho
ekigencies of the case"
Ia another letter from Mr.. Marcy to Governor
Geary, dated September I'd, he states that ere
liable information has reached the President
that armed and organized bodies of men, arow.
ely IA rebellion against tie 7cYritoria Cor
efamenf, have concentrated in such numbers as
10 require additional military force for their dis
persion; you will have the militia of the Terri
tory completely enrolled and organized, to the
end that they may, ON short notice, be brought
into the service OF the United States, upon the
requisition of the Commander OF the Military
department in which Kansas is embraced"
Every one in the least acquainted with the
history of Kansas knows that by the "militia
of the Territory" is meant the Border Ruifians
OF Missouri, together with the rowing bands of
outlaws from South Carolina and Georgia, who
have for SIX months infested the Territory.
These were the militia employed by Sheriff
Jones, Marshal Donaldson, and Governor Shan
non, Tor the destruction of Lawrence, last May ::
and II was the same militia which attempted the
same thing IN the preceding November. In
each case, David Atchisoa, of Missouri, was the
Commander-inchief; and We see, by the last
news, that he has been elected Commander in
chief OF the forces on the present occasion.
The Secretary Of War, in a letter to General
Smith, dated September ID, reiterates and am.
plihes The instructions of Governor Marcy to
Governor Geary. lie asserts that the pos;,;on
OF the insurgents, AS shown by your letter and
his enclosures, Is that OF open rebellion against
the laws and constituted authorities, re: sand
the President" he says, has directed me
to say TO you, that you are authorized from
time to time to make requisi;ion upon the & Nv.
ernor for such militia force as you NAV require
10 enable you 10 execute your orders, and san,
press The inSnTTection against the Goce,,auaen,
cfbde Territory Of Kdnsas."
Among the dispatches are two or three let
tiers from General Smith, and one from General
Richardson, Of the Territorial, or, more prop
srly, the Border Ruflian militia. Not a ,coro
an any Of these o6iciai dispatches is sail abou
tie f,co or three Mousaad Missouri iaralers
arho, aocoriiRg 10 the Missouri papers, aud Il
the accounts from al quarters, are aosc muster
ing oa tie 6orters IF Kansas, mnder Genera
-atcAison. There is no intimation that the,
are in state of instruction or rebellion. and
that they must be dispersed. All the effort:
of the Administration are directed against the
Free State men, whose only offence has been an
effort to repel murderers and thieves from theil
doors The truth as, Ht the force raised b,
-AEclieoa, 40 Missouri, Is tie rery militia al.icl
as to be mustered into tie United States sescice
for tie destruction IF Tie Free State party.
The Secretary of War also calls Oh the Gov
errors of Kentucky and Illinois for troops, tc
quel the Kansas rebellion. Of course no
friend of Freedom will volunteer for the fou
purpose contemplated, and the force will con
list OF the most reckless and unprincipled ruff
fans, such as have been mustered by Atchisor
aud Stringfellow.
These dispatches fully confirm the account
.iyen elsewhere, in this days paper, of the in
feryiew between the President and the Kansas
Committee.
The refusal of the friends of Buchanan to
repeal the Infamous laws of Kansas is now
fully explained. They are kept on the statute
book, to be enforced at the point of the bay
onet, in order to establish Slavery in Kansas
The Administration does not intend to be foiled
In this criminal attempt. All its movements
tend la that direction. The repeal of the Mis-