The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03
A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE Contest IN
KANSAS.

we must content ourselves with sub
hitting so much of our friends letter as will
serve to show the spirit which animated the
Free State Party. He is one of the old Liber-
ty guard. Names, in most cases, We omit, for
obvious reasons.
The peculiar interest of the narrative de-
ponds upon the fact that it is not prepared BY
a newspaper correspondent, but by plain, un-
ambitious actor in the events. The postscript
from the wife, surrounded by perils, expecting
the storming of the town every hour. shows that,
in Kansas, the spirit of the Revolution yet lives
Having gone to Hickory Point, with wv
other citizens of Lawrence, to investigate /,
facts of the murder of Dow, our friend SAYS:
After the meeting adjourned, person at
tempted to burn the house of Coleman, which
was opposed; the fire was put out, aud vote
taken, which passed unanimously, against burn
ing 1t. The people then quietly dispersed. l
returned to Wakarusa with friend, having
loaned my pony to Mr.. -, at Blanton. a
paper town containing one house, on the south
bank Of WakarUsa, half way from Hickory
Point to Lawrence. We learned that party OF
fifteen well-armed horsemen had Just passed to-
ward Hickory Point. Believing mischief afoat,
We retired to the house of -- for consulta-
ton. 1t was soon agreed that horsemen must
be sent on their trail, and the neighbOrs alarm
ed. Messrs. -
and myself, were present. About this time, Mr..
- rode up, and said that Sheriff Jones,
with fifteen armed men, had gone To Hickory
Point, to arrest Mr.. Branson on a peace war
rant, sworn out by Buckley, one Of the murder
ers. We were also informed that Coleman had
given himself up. We saw at once through the
whole plot. Coleman was to have sham trial,
and be acquitted
To do this, 1t was necessary to destroy Bran
son, as he was the principal witness against
him. Hence. the warrant aud contemplated ar
rest. ---- was sent for fresh, fast, and strong
horses, and to send a man down Wakarusa for
help. -- was sent up Wakarusa, to alarm
the settlers. | enjoyed an ague chill until
- returned with two good horses, which,
we'll armed, we mounted, and galloped to Hick-
DRY Point, , -, and -, pro
ceeGing on foot to house near the same place,
which had been designated as place of gen,
eral rendezvous. Arriving at SBransons, we
found that they had arrested the old man, and
left, as they said, for Lawrence, for trial We
were chagrined and mortified rs we had hoped.
if we could not get there in time to warn the
old man of his danger, we might at least be
there at the time of the arrest.
1t was now near ten O'clock at night the
moon was high and shining brightly. making
1T easy to see objects at IA great distance on the
prairie. AS we knew-they had not taken the
road we went, we took another, but soon, By
inquiring and examining for EoofInarks, salts
fled ourselves that no horsemen had passed.
We then galloped over the prairie in different
directions, inquiring and examining the roads,
ppuld UQtp n nj Of
1t was then agreed that we should separate
We did so, --- returning by the place where
our friends were to meet going further
around, seeking information, and alarming our
friends, and hurrying To ---- in time to stop
a party Of ten who had collected, and we're about
leaving for our place of rendezvous.
soon after arrived. Feeling much discouraged,
as the Jones party had apparently eluded us,
We called a consultation, and were about send
ing messengers to Franklin, their headauarters.
four miles distant, to try to learn something of
them, when one of our men rushed in, eXcaim-
ing, " HOrSemeH are coming, amt almost here
The road running close TO the house on the
west side, and the door on the east they attempt
ed to run past but we rushed out in the oppo-
site direction, and into the road ahead Of them.
They halted within two rods of us. 4 moment
of silence ensued, when one of their party ask
son there?' Branson replied, dyes, l am
here. prisoner" - said "Come over
here One Of their party said, . If you move,
we will shoot you One of our men said,
b" Shoot, and be ID" Said - "A
shot on your part is your death signal-shGOt,
and not a man of you wW iedrc Giire" Bran
son said to us, will do just as you say" We
all said, "Come here" Guns were presented
and cooked on both sides Branson left their
ranks, rode to us, and dismounted turned the
mule loose, and was invited into the house to
1carm. Jones then announced himself" Sheriff
of Douglas county, said he had "a warrant.
issued by II. II. Cameron, Esq, of Lawrence"
him to arrest BransOn, and he L" must
ITO IT." We told him we had no sheriis, coun-
ties, or squires in Kansas; but if he must arrest
Branson, 'jwSt 10 90 at a." He informed US
that he was ono coward We told him we
charged him with no such thing, but thought
the fact that he took fifteen armed men to ar
rest one old man at midnight, when in bed, not
only indicated that he lCas no cOicard. but a
rcry Jrare man! He then threatened US with
United States troops, said he would call upon
the Governor, and have ten thousand here in
two days. We replied, that we cared nothing
for his troops; and az for the Governor, we wish
ed he toOttid do something, so that we might
know that we had y Governor. lie then whined
and coaxed, but all to no purpose lie finally
remounted his horse, and, at the head of his
party, bid us good night, aud left us complete
ly triumphant-and a triumph it was. Jones
had boosted, time after time, of his ability TO en-
force these laws; had said that with twenty men
be could enforce them anywhere; that he
" could whip any twenty Free State men him.
SELF" Pro-Slavery men here chimed the same
thing. Free State men said but little, but quiet
y awaited the crisis. That crisis came. Jones,
postmaster Of Wesport, Missouri, and Sheriff Of
douglas county, Kansas, with a warrant issued
by IL: III. Cameron, one of the most infamous
In Kansas, and the only man in Law
renee degraded enough to take the office of
Justice of the Peace under the mob Legisla-
iure, with his allies fifteen strong, arrest an old
man In the night, in bed, and before travelling
Six miles, party Of equal number, half Of
whom are unarmed, place themselves in the
road. The prisoner leaves his captors, Joins
his friends, and not the bursting of single cap
announces the event!
Our party soon increased to twenty FIVE;
- turned drummer had the honor of
being elected Captain, Lieutenant, and
to the tune of The Spirit of Seventy-Six," we
marched to Lawrence, five miles distant, walked
up few of the citizens, and agreed upon a
meeting at eight o'clock; and, as it was now
morning, we separated for breakfast. At eight
o'clock, Union Hall was crowded. The great
est excitement prevailed on the recitation of the
above facts. The action Of the rescuers was
fully endorsed, and preparations made to defend
the town and people. This was Tuesday.
Wednesday, but little was heard from our enc
mics. Jones was seen passing through town,
and three or four other suspicious characters
hanging around Thursdav Zones and three