The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-08
T.RMs-saO0 PER Assua, Il ADvAscz.


resolution passed. In relation to Kansas
Territory. then unsettled 80
.Reso.ved, That if the Territory shall
be opened to settlement. we pledge our
selves to each other to extend the lnstl-
tutions of Missouri over the Territory
at whatever sacrifice of aood or Treas
ure.,
Passing by all the others, we propose
to note few items II the last attack
from Missouri. In July, one of our
citizens received letter from friend
in Missouri, stating that plan had been
iaatured there. by which. on a given day,
al the free State men in Kansas were
to be killed or taken prisoners and car,
ried out of the Territory. To eorrobo-
1zts, hil statemensse referred to the
building ofseveral fortifcations, orbloek
houses, in the Territory, inwhich were
stored largequantities of arms. ammuni-
ton, tents and provisions, and also the
gathering of strange men around these
points. The points mentioned were
Franklin,-Col. Titus, near Lecompton,
MIR. Saunders on Washington Creek
-Palmyra,-Mr Fox on Sugar Creek,
and some others. These places were
watched by the free State men for two
or three weeks and their suspicious were
confirmed. At tSaunders' fort, individ-
uals were iLdiscreet enough to boast of
their intention to kill every free State
man in the Wakarusa valley. They
had been mostly driven from the Wash
ington valley. This threatening, con-
neeted with the gathering of an unusu-
al number of men there, created consid-
cradle uneasiness,aad caused complaints
to be made to the commanding officer
of the troops. He sent over an officer
to make enquiries and observations
The officer returned and reported that
it was simply colony of Georgians
building village.
In the mean time several horses were
stolen and two or three houses burned,
belonging to Free State men. To set
tie the question of their purpose and In
tentions, Maj. Hoyt, of Lawrence, vol
unteered to go over and make enqui-
ries, and see for himself. He went over
and was murdered The next day Mr..
Williams was murdered by the same
company. Rumors were aaeat that
three other men were murdered by them
only the week before.
In the public mind, Col. Titus fort
YVES Intimately connected with this
Messengers were reported to be passing
s backwards and forwards between them
nearly every day. Col. Titus had a
large number of men, with military
stores and provisions. His men were
aggressive and insolent, and on the
night before his fort was taken, twenty
8 five of his men were out on an expedi-
tion to steal horses. They were met by
the Free State troops, and in the haste
of their retreat, lost the brides, halters
and picket ropes which they expected
to use in capturing the horses. Sever
al Free State men were missing about
this time a1d rumor fixed their death
upon Col. Titus and his company
One thing is certain; at the time of the
attack on his camp, he had young
man from Wisconsin prisoner in his
camp. He gave orders to his men to
shoot this prisoner the moment the at
tack was made. They fred at him, but
be ran to the Free State men and escap-
ed. He says the men told him they
had hung two free State men the day
before, and they intended to hang him.
S. During the fight he made an attempt
to kill Col. Titus. But Titus cried for
quarters. 1t was the belief then, as it
is now. that all their Notifications were
built for the purpose of harrassing and
destroying the free State men, aad pro-
tecting the pro-slayery men while do
ing it. The evidence is perfectly con-
elusive. First, it came from Missouri
that this plan had been adopted. and
would be Immediately carried into ope-
ration. People who live in Kansas,
saw the men come, saw them build their
: forts, saw them store them with arms
and supaunition, and tents. and every
necessary for war, and nothing for
agriculture. In all these places which
were claimed TO be Southern settle
ments'' were found no agricultural OF
mechanical tools and implements.
After the free State men began to lose
lhcir property, have their houses burnt,
Ind were threatened with death and ex-
srmination, and several of them were
ctnafly killed.-then, they assembled
nd broke up all these forts and took
one Of the inmates prisoners. This
rs net done till they had consulted The
rs. military authority and learned
ast hey could get no protection against
q aggressors from that source.