The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-05-10
Attempt to Arrest Senator Reeder.

:
On Wednesday last, the 7th inst,
while with the Committee at Teeumsehs
Gov. Reeder was summoned to appear
as, witness before the Grand Jury at
Leeompton, which he refused TO do.
The next day. Thursday last. the Com
mittee having returned to Lawrence IN
the meantime, a deputy marshal came
into the room where they were II ses-
sion, and served writ of attachment
on Gov. Reeder for contempt of court.
He arose and izformed the Committee of
the fact, stating that he had refused to
obey the summons to appear as wit
ness, for three reasons informality in
the writ, insecurity of person, and con-
stitutional privilege; besides which. he
could not possibly know anything about
the case, as the circumstances upon
wi:ch it was founded occurred while
he was in Washington. The writ was
not addressed to any officer. was not
properly signed, and specified no time.i
The object was to get him there as a
witness, and then trump up some charge
high treason, perhaps-upon which
to arrest him, and keep him impris-
oned or give him over to the mob to
be butchered. He was privileged under
the constitution. For these reasons he
refused to obey the summons. He
claimed the protection of the Committee.
Messrs. Howard and Sherman said he
was privileged from arrest; but they
were not sitting as court to decide up
on the matter; they would leayeit en-
tirely with him. Mr. Oliver thought
Reeder was not privileged from arrest
that Gen. Whitfield was the sitting Del
egate. alone entitled to the privilege
Gov. Reederconte that the privilege
extended to eontestants-that really he
was in Congress and the attempt to ar
rest him here, while attending to his
duties with the Committee, was the same
as if the attempt were made to arrest
him while in the Halls of Congress-
However. if he could be fully assured
his person wonld be perfectly secure-if
itwere rendered certain no violence would
be offered him,-he woald waive his
constitutional privilege, and go to Le-
compton. But this, he was satisfied,
could not be done. He would be killed
as certainly as he placed himself in their
hands, as threats were continually made
by the mob in Lecompton to take his life
if they could get hold of him under any
pretext. He had formed the resolution
to stand on his privilege. If any Off
GERS, he said, in attempting to arrest a
privileged citizen, should be seriously
manned, or killed, there would be no
redress. They were trespassers, and
the law would give them no protection.
If any man lad hands On Aim to arrest
him he did so at his peril!
He was not arrested. The Marshal,
with Messrs. Oliver and Whitfield, with
drew In anticipation of a collision, and
left the city. The claw and order" par
ty have been securing the country ever
since, raising and organizing the 'Ter-
ritorial Militia" The newly imported
South Carolinians, Alabamians, Geor-
gians, Missourians, &C., have been en-
rolled, and oficered with commissions
from Shannon, and concentrated at Le-
compton to await further orders.
Gov Reeder addressed letters to Gov.
Shannon and Judge lie Compte, stating
that if they would afford him protection
he would waive his privilege and appear
before the Court. Shannon answered
that be could afford him no other pro-
lection than that which any citizen had !;
that he could not restrain men if they
attempted violence. LIE Compte dis
dained TO return an answer.