The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-09
KANSAS AFFAIRS.

AA11&N0A0 az 4 h1h0.
Correspondence of the New York Times October g.
Repetch Of the Old Game-0ppression of the
Free State Men by Gov. Geary-More Arrests
of Free State Men, but Pro-slavery Men allow
cd to Go Free.
Lawrence, KANSAS, Sept. 81, 1856.
When l wrote you last, one hundred Free
State men who had been arrested by the dra-
goons were in custody at Lecompton; the Kan.
sas militia, which the Governor had caused to
be disbanded at Franklin, were on their march
to Missouri, via Westport and Leavenworth
taking with them cattle, horses, and other arti
ces OF value, plundered from the Free State
men.
The Free State men, cajoled by the fair
promises, pretty face, and pleasing address
of the Governor-believing in the sincerity OF
his declarations to give them peace and protec
ton, to disregard the Territorial laws, and
cause the obnoxious Territorial officers, who
held their appointment from the Federal Gov
ernment, to be removed-had laid aside their
arms and returned peacefully to their homes
Encouragement seemed to manifest itself in
every movement of the Free State settlers. They
believed that at last a Governor had been found
who would secure to and protect them in their
constitutional rights. This was all they de-
manded-it was what Governor Geary prom
lsed them-and believing in that promise, they
returned to their homes content.
The last FIVE days have sadly disappointed
and discouraged them. The Governor, whose
advent to them appeared so suspicious, is now
the object of scorn and contempt. Instead OF
acting in a manner to secure the impartial ad.
ministration of mstice-to give the settlers
their constitutional rights, and to secure to
them harmony and peace-he is acting exactly
to the opposite. The Kansas militia, whom
he disbanded at Franklin, took away with them
from 200 to 300 casle, belonging to Free State
men. The Governor was informed of this fact
by the Free State men-he made no attempt
to put stop to it-he did not seem to sympa-
thize with them. He told them that he should
write to General Reid, who commanded them,
and endeavor to have him return them-he
also told them that they did wrong that they
knew the Missourians were coming, and that
they should have driven their cattle away.
Bus said one of them, 81 could not drive my
saw-rnill away, and they burned that"
told you in my last of the murder of Buff
fun, who was shot by person belonging to
the disbanded Territorial militia-how this same
body of men, to whom this murderer was at.
tached, took away the horses belonging to the
Free State men on the road between Franklin
and Lecompton. Governor Geary knew all
this-he passed by the spot where Buffum was
shot, not thirty minutes after the deed was
done-it is said that he saw Buffum, then alive,
with his life-blood oozing from him-and be
saw the men on the road whose property had
been stolen. He had three hundred dragons
at Lawrence, part of whom were then on the
road to Lecompton, and he had full two hun
dred more at Lecompton.
Why did he not use these troops to arrest
and disarm and had in custody these murder.
ers and plunderers, as he had used them arrest
and hold in custody the one hundred Free State
men who were then ct Lecompton, under guard
1t is said that he endeavored to secure the ar.
rest of the murderer, and to prevent the taking
away OF the stolen horses. But the murderer
escaped, and the horses are gone. Every one
OF these men could have been secured at
Lecomp&on before crossing the ferry, had the
Governor 80 directed the troops. On Tuesday,
the Governor went to Topeka. He addressed
the citizens there-making the same glowing
promises as he had before made to the citizens
at Lawrence. The people received his remarks
with favor, and loudly cheered him when he
concluded.
The same day, Marshal Cramer arrested
twolve citizens of Topeka, on writs charging
them with being connected with the sacking
and plundering of the Pro-Slavery towns of
Osawke and Tecumseh. These prisoners
were taken to Lecompton, and confined with
the other Free State prisoners in the custody of
the troops. These prisoners have been kept
in confinement without sufficient food, and
many Of them have been exposed to the chilly
night air wahout even blanket to cover them.
They are charged with committing robbery,
arson, and murder, and on these charges are to
be examined tomorrow. Whatever they may
have done was done while the Territory was in
a state of OWL war. They were compelled to
rise and defend themselves against the foul
and bloody acts of the Kansas militia. De-
prived of the opportunity of getting food and
clothing by the blockade of the roads to Leaven-
worth and to Westport-their houses sacked
and burned-their property on the levees at
and Kansas city stolen--their
brutally murdered and scalped-
there was no hope for them to save themselves
from determination except to appeal to arms
This they did. They killed no man except in
manly hattle-thsy did not plumber, nor did
hey burn, until after the barbarians COM
nenced their hellish operations.
Governor Gsary came, promising an impair
ial administration and protection to all. Our
people, too neutrality-suspicious., IT possible, to
preserve the peace-accept the promises of the
Governor and return to their homes-a party
If one hundred men, who, at the urgent re-
,uest of the citizens of Hartville, and with the
and advice of the Governors aid, |
Mr.. Adams, went to defend the citizens of that |
oyn from the attack of an enemy. They pro. |
;eeded to that town, performed the object OF
heir mission, and were on their return, when |
hey were arrested by the United States troops.
Phe camp of the enemy, with whom they had
made treaty. was short distance off; the COM
nander of the troops knew it but instead of
rresting them, he returned to Lecompton with |
is Free State prisoners.
The Free State men had soH,e SIXTY horses
nth them. After their arrival at Lecompton,
Deputy Marsha Cramer and Donaldson gave
p these horses to any individual who would
make affidavit that they owned them, not per-
hitting the prisoners to offer any repptting tes-
imony in reply. In this way, the Free State
pen have been robbed Of several valuable
orses.
The Marshal and Deputy Marshals have
ontinued their attempts to arrest. Accompa-
lied with United States troops, they have twice
listed Lawrence to arrest Colonel Walker, and |
ther leading meh in the Free State army.
Appearances now indicate that every Free
state man who has, in the late struggle, borne
rms against the awful usurpation upon their ,
lights as American citizens, by the barbarians !
rom Missouri and the South, viii be arrested. |
Up to THIS time. no Pro Slavery man has been
arrested. The Governor has mustered into