Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-06-17
From the Providence Post.
AFFAIRS In KANSAS.

w TFom tue LfOtiuCuSC IO5k.
AFFAIRS In KANSAS.
We earnestly ask the friends of Liberty
Union and Order, TO consider calmly and can
didly the present state of things in Kansas
The lawmakers, the law executors, and tn,
laws friends, are openly defed, nnbushingly
insulted, and barbarously butcheredl All thi.
is done in the name of Freedom" Ard while
it is being done, meetings are being held in the
North-a dissolution of the Union is talked Of
and threatened-and money is raised with the
avowed purpose of sending armed men to Kan
sas to consummate the overthrow OF the laws
In fact, there is now no law in any free State
district in the Territory. Even the "city OF
Lawrence" with upwards OF thousand inhabi-
tants, has no municipal government, and has
had none, if we except committee OF Safety,
elected from time to time, at mass meetings.
The fanatics have scorned TO recognise the
laws, and have threatened death to any of their
number who should dare to accept office under
the legal authorities. Thus anarchy reigns
wherever the friends of law are not strong
enough to enforce order at the point Of the
bayonet; and destruction to property, and out
: rage to men, and death to peaceable citizens,
are carried wherever the black banner of Re-
bellon and Treason is allowed to float!
To continue this state of things the notori-
GUS vagabond, Reeder proposes to raise ten
thousand soldiers and one million OF collars
and Northern people are responding by large
contributions New York has contributed
$4,000; Worcester has raised $4,000; Chicago
pledges $4,000, and Boston as much more.
There is no pretence that this money is raised
to send bread to Kansas. Companies of fight
ing men are to be organized and armed with
it; and the boast at Worcester is, that "expe-
oEH. ~ haua VOL N IN IN ka
command
What can be the end of all this? What IS
it, already, but, embryo civil war-not only in
Kansas, but in New England? What are
these men to do, if not to assist in resisting
the laws?
We call upon our citizens to look calmly at
this matter, and answer us, il encouragement
to this !" Free State" movement, is not en-
enlargement to rebellion, anarchy and blood
shed! A posse Of men, we are told, under
Marshal Donaldson and Sheriff Jones, entered
Lawrence, destroyed two printing presses, and
battered down hotel, which had been declared
nuisances by grand jury. 1t is undeniable
that the papers issued from these presses were
devoted to the cause of rebellion, and had dared
the authorities to interfere with them-threat-
ening death to any emissary OF the bogus
legislature" who would cross their thresholds.
It is undeniable that the hotel was a fortihca-
ton, erected as the head quarters of the rebel
army, and wholly devoted to treason against
the government! Other outrages upon
property in the town are charged against the
men who we're connected with the posse or &C
companied it. We do not know to what extent
the charge is true but if true to the full ex-
tent set forth, who can wonder at 1t? Who
can wonder that the rights of property were
not respected in a community whose cardinal
virtue consists in denouncing and resisting
all law, and which boldly proclaims that it sub
mits, on this occasion TO have It's criminals ar
rested, only because it is too feeble to resist?
Instead Of wondering that one dwelling was
fired, and few stores broken open, contrary
to the express orders of the marshal and sheriff
should we not rather wonder that the whole
town was not destroyed, as we were at first
sured that il had been, as the leaders of the
rebellion probably expected it would be, and as
according 10 the rule of retaliation which gen.
orally prevails in lawless communities, it richly
deserves to be?
But even admitting that the conduct of Mar
shall Donaldson and Sheriff Jones was wholly
unjustiiable, does it follow that the people of
the North should appeal to the final arbiter-to
the power of the sword-as means OF redress
ing the wrong? 1t cannot be disputed that the
attack upon Lawrence, whether justihable or
not, grew out of unprouoked rebellion. 1t was
resorted to, because the people of Lawrence
had resisted the laws. Not bear in mind, the
laws which they had complained OF, but unques-
tionably good laws-laws for the protection of
the people. They had done this aoithom a
particle of prorocdtion no single case of hard
ship or oppression having occurred or been
com planned of under the sanction Of the Federal
or Territorial authority. For this resistance
recklessly urged aud madly enforced-they
suffered the attack of the 2lst of May. Does
it follow that they must retaliate with more
outrages-that the rebellion must be kept up
that the people of the North are justified in
sending fighting men there TO continue the
resistance Of law2 Must the whole country be
plunged into civil war to crafty few hotspurs
who have sworn that they will resist the govern
ment to bloody issue2
We tell the madcaps who are engaged in
this work of rebellion, that they have carried it
quite as far as they can carry it with safety
they are already guilty Of constructive treason.
They had better stopl The moment men are
sent from Illinois, or Massachusetts,, or New
York, or Rhode Island, for the avowed purpose
of aiding the fanatics of Lawrence in resisting
the civil authorities, that moment the fires Of
civil war are lighted upl From that moment,
the people Of the States must take their stand
on the side Of law, or on the side of rebellion
and anarchy. We can assure fanaticsm that
it will then have work to do out Of Kansas.
We are not all anarchists. Some of US mean
TO stand by the laws. And the law-loving peo-
pie OF New England, if need be, will teach these
hair-brained Abolitionists, who are now mar
shalling for bloody civil war, that they need
not 90 10 Kansas to find those who are willing
to shoulder their muskets in defence OF their
Government Civil war, once fairly begun,
cannot be confined to that loafer-ridden Terri
tory. 1t will reach fanatcism and madness in
their strong holds, and they will bite the dust.
They have carried their joke too far, when they
have appealed to the sword. Let them beware
of their danger in time.
From the New York Journal OF Commerce.
Kansas.
The instructions addressed to Governor
Shannon by the President on the 23d ult., a