The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-11-06
KANSAS.
Prison OF THE HUNDRED,
LECONProN, KANSAS,
iIa..Jo.. p m
RuL

Prison OF THE HUNDRED,
LEcoNProN, KANSAS,
Thursday Ecening, Oct. Is, 1856.
TO the Editor o. the National Era:
Things still move on in their wonted course.
| A brave people can be forced to acuuiesce in
a system of Government for themselves which
they had no hand in making, only by strong
military power. Such has been the case in all
ages and with all men, while they continued to
be men, and such is the case in Kansas now.
New prisoners are still being brought in, and
others, after weeks of suffering during which
they have contracted diseases which will in
many cases accompany them to their graves,
beside the loss of time and property, which the
enemy have plundered at the prisoners homes.
while they are here for nothing in truth hut the
crime-in Kansas it is acrime-of daringto wish
and labor for the extension of the rights of man,
are at last discharged, when the demons who hold
sway find they have the wrong man. Gov
Geary is still in favor of allowing the people to
govern themselves in all things, unrestricted by
any power whatever, and yet, at the same time,
he asks US to submit for little ichile to the
government of foreign MOB. By that little
while he means until an entire new Legislature
could be elected. To do this even would REQUIRE
another year. But this is not all. There are coun.
ty officers appointed to serve for fotr years vet,
and any law repeating or materially modifying
the pretended one under which they were ap.
pointed, would be declared unconstitutional or
invalid by any and every one of our Territorial
or Federal Courts having jurisdiction in the
case. To talk of such submission, to a people
who have once tasted the sweets of Liberty, ia
useless hypocrisy. We have already endured
war-most horrible WARRIOR opinions sake, and
we are willing, yes anxious, to endure it to the
end of our lives, rather than be for one hour the
base slaves which such submission would make
US.
On Saturday last, the people of Topeka first
heard of the confinement of William o. Fisher
of whose case l have once before written YOU
in default of immediate payment of debt of
$50, and on Sunday they sent down a messen-
ger, who paid the money over to the Court, from
which he obtained an order to the officer of the
guard for Fishers discharge. 1t was dark be.
fore he passed the outside post of the sentinel,
but fearing they would drum up some new
charge on which to arrest him, he took a by.
path, and went all the way to Topeka the same
night on foot, although he was thought hardly
able to walk, and had been under care of the
physician during most of his imprisonment
While these negotiations were going on for
the discharge OF Fisher, another prisoner, l.. K
Moffet, formerly from Ohio, was making arrange
ments for "pairing off s" with him. He cut a
hole through the floor at the south end of the
prison, and at night passed through it, and in a
short time succeeded in making a hole in the
WALL by which he could pass through under an
elevated building on the south, between which
and the next building there is an alley three
or four feet In width. The first building is used
as the guard room. The Sentinels post extends
from the south end Of the prison directly into
the street, leaving this alley about twenty-five
feet beyond the post. About three o'clock on
Monday morning, Moffet crawled out into the
alley, and, after walking off very quietly two or
three rods, was seen by the sentinel, who hailed
him with Z" Who goes there?" "Officer OF the
night" responded Mofet, considerably accele-
rating his gait. The sentinel called out the
sergeant of the guard, who came out and fred
twice, but by this time the prisoner was in the
woods. Titus got out his regiment, and secured
the hills until daylight, but to no purpose. Every
morning, at eight o'clock, all the prisoners are
parsded in front of the prison for roll call and
counting. AS luck for us would have it, the
officers have always been very careless in stri-
king from the roll the names of those who have
been discharged.
Some two weeks ago, the officer of the guard
carelessly erased the name of Charles Digges.
whom Colonel Whipple's regiment, when sack
ing Osawkie, found in prison at that place,
with three heavy chains about him-all for
stealing his own horse. At his examination
for that heinous offence, all the witnesses ad-
mitted that the horse belonged to Digges, and
the committing Justice granted the same, but
said be was guilty of two offences which would
answer his purpose as we'll as if he had stolen
the horse. These were, that in the first place
he had neglected or refused recourse to the
Territorial td,os;" and, secondly, that "Me
id rascal came from Chicago" Well, as |
was going to say, it was arranged that at roll.
call, Digges should answer to the name of
Moffet the object of which was to prevent the
officers and other authorities from knowing the
residence of the prisoner who had escaped for.
once knowing it, we thought it not improbable
that they might send spies to his house to ar
rest him while paying last visit to his family
before fleeing to the States. All the names
were answered to as usual, which was q subject
of no little surprise to the officers. Determined,
however, TO ascertain who was the missing
NAN, the prisoners were ordered to step in front
and form another rank as their several names
were called. But this time, Digges saw some
Pro-Slavery men in the street. who were looking
at the prisoners, and, we'll aware that .aey would
recognise him as no. being KoBet, no one an
swered to that name; and after the call was
over, Digges was standing alone in the rear
Colonel Titus, who was present, after ascertain
ing his name, and also finding it marked on the
roll discharged" asked him why he remained
here, and was answered by another prisoner,
that boarding was cheaper here than anywhere
else. This was settler. Titus not relishing
the idea of having his friend Donaldson being
at the expense of boarding prisoners who were
kept here illegally, he ordered the guard to
pass Digges out. He did not stop to take his
extra clothes, ard even forgot mis- breakfast,
which was in waiting.
The troops came back on Monday from An
unsuccessful search for Lane, up towards Ne |
braska. In reply TO some questions asked them |
by the prisoners, they said they az didn't find |
him much" They came upon a train of emf |
grants to the number of go, I'll OF whom were |
taken into custody, ana marched under guard |
20 indianola, small town opposite Topeka,
and on the north bank of the Kaw. Tues |
day evening, the Governor went up and held |
council with them. Finding them to be peace |
full emigreDts, ne Welcomed them "gladly and |
heartily" to the enchanted land. He left un- |
der shower of cheers, and the smiGrants left
some for Topeka, Others Tor Lawrence and |
other places. 1t is said that the Governor spoke
very complementary of their conduct and ap. |
pearance.
have written you of the seizures of Babcock |
and Fay at Topeka, and of Mitchell at West |
on. The two former we're further examined on /
MondsY, and finally discharged, the officials |
experimenting they were getting into greater |
difficulty than they had sought. Captain Mitch
ell was brought in by the Marshal the same |
day. Annexed will be found his statement of |
the whole affair, which may be relied upon as /
true in every Particular.
The grand jury did not bet together until |