Squatter sovereign. [volume] (Atchison, Kan. Terr.) 1855-1858, 1856-01-01

THE KANSAS WAR!

diluueU ID tHe o'eIt dttS on the part Oi dn
armed mob, which led to the exciting war
that has been raging in our Territory for
the past few weeks The causes are prob
ably known to most OF our readers. The
Abolition party in this Territory acknowl-
edoe no authority but that of its own will,
recognizes no government as existing, and
Irepudiates our Legislature and all acts of
that body. BY means of secret organi-
zatlon, they have ACCUMULATED large
amount Of arms and munitions of war, and
have made a formal declaration Of an
armed opposition to all laws, save those Of
their own making.
Pro-Slavery citizens in the vicinity oil
Lawrence have been brow-beaten and IN
suited, their stock killed, houses burned,
and lives threatened This state Of affairs
as matter of course, could not last, and
upon the determination Of Pro-Slavery
settler to stand up for his rights, the true
designs Of this secret order leaks out. TIE
commencement Of the difficulty originated
by three Abolitionsts, with Sharrs rifles.
going 10 the claim Of Coleman, u Pro-
/ Slavery man, and ordering him to leave.
Coleman demonstrated, stating that he was
una rlned and could not defend himself
He was allowed ten minutes to leave or lie
would be SHOT. He left for short time,
| but returned well armed. In returning lie
/, r. IL
dately renewed his threats, and attempted
- shoe, Coleman, but his gun missed fire.
Coleman then shot his assailans, who died
| immediately. Coleman gave himself up
| for trial.
A mob OF Abo,iiionis;s, armed with
Sharp's rifles, repaired to Coleman's house,
driving his wife and children off. burning
his house, and ordered other Pro-Slavery
men to leave and burned their houses
Deputy Marshal Jones arrested the leader
Of the mob, and obtained the names OF
twenty-five others who were engaged In
tliis violation OF law.
On the reception of this news at Law
renee, tie tocsin of war was sounded and
party enlisted to rescue the prisoners
from the hands OF the Sheriff. Sheriff
Jones summoned all the good citizens Of
Eecompton, (where lie held the prisoners)
70 assist him in executing the laws OF the
Territory.
: The Abolitio.is.s gathered in great
numbers at l. Lecompton, and demanded
tie release of their comrades, and the sur
render OF Coleman into their hands, that
they might punish him summarily. This
request was refused by the Sheriff, who
immediately sent an express to the Gov
crnor desiring aid. On the reception OF
this news at the capitol, the Governor i'm
&diately issued proclamation, calling
ont the militia ,sand forwarded an express
with the following order to the Major Cen
eral OF the Kansas Militia:
Head QuARTkRs,S SHAWNEE MISSION
KANSAS TERRITORY,
| Nov. 27, 1856.
MAJ. GENERAL WM. p. RIcHARDsox,
| SiR:-RclIahle information has reached
Inc that an armed military force is now in
Lawrence and that vicinity in open rebel
| lion against the laws of this Territory, and
that they have determined that no process
| in the hands of the Sheriff of that county
snail be executed. have received let
ter from 5. j. Jones, Sheriff Of Doug Ia
county, informing me that he had arrested
man under warrant placed in his hands
and while conveying Dim 10 Lecomp,on
| he was met by al armed force of some
| forty men, and that the prisoner was taken
out OF his custody and defiance lid 10 the
laws. l am also duly advised that an
armed hand Of men have burnt number
of houses. destroyed personal property, aud
turned whole families ou; OF doors In Doug
las county. Warrants will be issued
against those men and placed in the hands
ol the Sheriff Of Douglas county for exccu-
ton. He has written 10 me demanding
three thousand Hen TO aid him Ia the exc.
cutIon of tue process of the law.
/ Yea are therefore, hereby ordered to
collect together as large force as You can
in your division, and repair without delay,
to Leconpton, and report yourself TO S. j..
Jones, Sheriff of Douglas county. together
With tie number of your forces. aud render
~ ii'ti ala tiic diu diid aSS!Si1itSe tI your
power IN the execution of any legal pro-
cess Iii his hands. The forces under your
command afe 10 be used for the sole pur-
pose OF aiding the Sheriff in executing the
laws and Tor no other purpose.
/ have the honor to be
Your ohedient servant,
WILSON SHANNON.
| Immediately upon the reception of the
call for troops. the Pro-SIavery citizens of
Kansas in great numbers rallied around
their leaders and repaired TO Lecomp;on,