The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29

tCnSiou W refuse, throwing themselves upon the
Constitution of the United States for their right
to retain them. The! constitutional provision
on this subject is contained In the second article
and is in the following words: a .. 4a.
" A well-regulated militia being necessary to
the security of free State, the right of the peo
pie to keep and bear arms shall not be infring
ed"
Letters from the seat of the troubles state that
the Free State" men only have arms for about
one in four of them; that they have not one
third as many men in Lawrence as they had in
December, and that most of their leaders are
absent.
Dispatches from st. Louis state that there
had already been an encounter, and some lives
lost on both sides, but we have no reliable in
formation on that point.
THE APPEAL FOR PROTECTION
A letter dated at Lawrence, on the 18th of
May, states with some particularly the result of
appeals for protection which had been made to
Col. Sumner and Gov. Shannon.
committee of the Board of Public Safety
waited upon Col. Sumner on the evening of the
llth instant, to acquaint him with the threaten
ed condition of the town of Lawrence and ask
his protection. His reply is given as follows ;
"Col. Sumner stated that nothing would give
him greater pleasure than to set as right, and
set Missouri right, had he the power, but he
was subservent to higher powers, and could
act only by request of Gov. Shannon; but that,
when once requested, he had discretionary
power to act as long and in Just such a man
ner as he saw fit. He therefore wished US to
address communication to Gov. Shannon,
similar to the one he had received, and he
hoped to be able to preserve peace"
A letter was at once despatched to Gov.
Shannon, asking his protection against the
A. Al
pers, the letter is as follows:
"LAwRENcE, X. T., May IL, 1856.
To his Erceuency Wilson Shannon, Governor
Of Kansas:
"DEAR SIR: The undersigned are charged
with the duty of communicating to your Ex-
cellency the following preamble and resolution,
adopted, by the citizens of Lawrence, at pub
lie meeting holden at this place, at o'clock
this evening, viz
Whereas we have the most reliable inform
alton, from various parts Of the Territory and
the ad Joining State of Missouri of the organi-
zation of guerrilla bands, who threaten the de-
struction of our town and its inhabitants !;
therefore,
"ReSolDed, That Messrs. Topliff, Hutchn-
son, and Roberts, constitute a committee to in
form his Excellency Gov. Shannon of these
facts, and to call upon him in the name of the
people of Lawrence for protection against such
bands by the United States troops at his dis
posal.
"All of which is most respectfully submitted,
by order of the people of Lawrence.
"Very truly, &C., c. W. ToPLIFF.
JOHN HUTCHINSON.
w. Y. Roberts,"
Gov. Shannon replied to the committee in
the following terms:
"ExEcUTIvE OFFICE, LEcoMPToN, X. T.,
May IL, 1856.
"GENTLEMEN: Your note of the It'll is re-
ceived and, in reply, have to state that there
is no force around or approaching Lawrence,
except the legally constituted posse of the Uni
ted States Marshal and Sheriff of Douglas
county, each of whom, am informed, have a
number of writs in their hands, for execution
| against persons now in Lawrence. / shall in
no way interfere with either of these officers in
the discharge of their official duties. If the
citizens of Lawrence submit themselves to the
| Territorial laws, and aid and assist the Mar
shall and Sheriff in the execution of processes
in their hands, as all good citizens are bound
| to do when called on, they or all such will en-
; title themselves to the protection of the law.
/ But so long they keep up military or arm
! ed organization to resist the Territorial laws,
and the officers charged with their execution /
shall not Interfere to save them from the legiti-
mate consequences of their illegal acts. have
the honor to be yours, with great respect,
"WHsON SHANNON"
All hope Of succor from the constituted au-
thorities being thus cut off, and believing that
an attack on Lawrence would be made imme-
diately, messages were TO be sent to all parts
of the Territory for recruits. The position of
the Free State men on the l2th as stated IL
the letter quoted above, was this:
"We shall permit the Marshal to enter our
town to make arrests, but not with hostile
aray. We shall permit small posse only to
attend him, while we will have our men at hand
in the most available point. Col Topliff has
been appointed first in command. He is late
| ly from Rhode Island, and is the most expert
| drill-master we have ever had. We shall send
despatch to the President also to Congress,
by this or the next mail, asking their immedi-
ate interposition."
The ST. Louis Republican publishes the fol-
lowing letter from its Kansas correspondent:
WeSfpOrt, May l6.-The news from Lee
compton and Lawrence is, that the rebels are
getting scared and the authorities more and
more determined to enforce the laws. Unless
they submit immediately, and give up their
weapons, the Aboltion.sts will have to tight.
Will they give up? Will they hght7 No one
be little battle, and the rebels will sue for
peace and submit.
"Geo. w. Brown is now a prisoner here. He
was taken up and detained it being known that
he was indicted by the United States District
Court for treason.
"The Committee are at Leayenworth city.
They commenced holding their session again
yesterday. We do not know when they will
get through; but so bitterly partisan has been
the course of the majority, that all moderate
men heartily wish them out Of the country.
II leave for the seat of war tomorrow, and
for that reason please excuse haste and brew
ity."
From the Jefferson tsfo) Inquirer
We are handed the following extract from q
letter to gentleman in this city from an old
and highly respected citizen of northwest Mis-
souri,, aud one who Is Ctrcngly pro-Savery in
his sentiments, and in favor of ms.ing Kansas
slave State. The gentleman to whom the let
ter was addressed is also pro-Slavery man.
Now that tn Government has taken steps to
enforce the laws of Kansas, and ordered the Uni.
ted States troops to the aid of Gov. Shannon
if he should call for them, the citizens of Mis-
souri, should not interfere. No one will doubt
the power of the Government to enforce the
laws of the Territory. We do hope that the
sober second thought of the people of north
vest Missouri will influence them in this matter.
If there are bad men-and we presume no one
doubts tin and about Lawrence, it is no JUS
LITIGATION for the citizens of this State Kansas
Territory destroying the place. Let the proper
authorities punish those who violate the laws,
but let net the calamities of civil war be brought
upon the people Of the country, because of the
folly of few political fanstiGs.
Schemes are now on foot, which, il not ar
rested, will pat an end to our glorious Union.
There is a fixed determination to destroy Law