The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-08-21

| Routed ~ Free state Men.
A messenger has just arrived from Kan
sas with reliable information about the re-
ported attack upon the town Of Franklin.
II seems that the Border Ruffians have
been industriously improving the time for
several months past in preparation for q
general attack upon the Free State settlers
to wipe them out with fire and sword.
For this purpose they have erected block
houses in which they have stored away am-
muntion and provisions. They felt SO
confident OF success that they made no Sc
cret OF their intention and even fixed the
| time for the attack.
Already had they commenced numbering
the Free State men. A Free State man
by the name Of Hoyt, from Massachusetts,,
was found shot near the blork house on
Washington Greek, aud smother one whose
name the messenger did not remember, was
also shot near the same place.
The Free Stats men being perfectly sc-
quainted with this state OF facts, and know.
ing full well that there would be no inter-
position on the part the government, were
compelled to take the initiative, and accor-
dinghy, on the night of the 18th inst, attack
ed the border ruffian block house at Frank
lin, where it was known quantity Of arms,
&c, were stored. This block house was
defended by some twenty men-who OF
course had great advantage in being deien-
ded by the fertilization.
The Free State men, however, succeeded
in taking the house after fight OF some
hours, One Free State man was killed and
TWO severely wounded. They captured
some 30 stand of arms and cannon. The
arms were mostly stolen from Lawrence at
the sack OF that place in the spring.
A dispatch from st. Louis gives what pur-
ports To be an account of another battle, but
we think it probable that it is only another
version Of the affair at Franklin.
From the above information and our
knowledge Of the state of affairs in Kansas,
We can scarcely doubt that very serious trou-
bic may be expected. Atchison and String
fellow came down the Missouri last week
with the intention of holding meetings in
the border towns and thoroughly arousing
the hordes of border ruffians who have here.
toiore been ever ready TO make warlike
foray into Kansas to carry out practically
the squatter sovereignty doctrines OF the
save.driving democracy.
The Free State men we are fully assur.
ed are prepared for any emergency. Num-
bering three to one of the actual settlers,
no difficulty need be appreheEded from them,
for they are men oi peace; but II the Mis-
souri, ruftiians undertake again the sscking
Of Lawrence or amy Of the Free State
towns, there VIII BE- lighting in right good
earnest.
To such pass uas the vaulting ambition
OF Dir. Douglas in repeating the Missouri
Compromise in order to secure seat in the
Preside ntial chair, and the miserable truck
ling of Mr.. Pierce to the slavery propo gan
dists, rought our once peaceful and happy
country. What is to be the result that
Advise Being who has heretofore guarded
the interests Of the Republic, alone knows,
and in him only can good men hope in this
hour of darkness and danger. The Free
State men of Kansas have endured about all
it is possible for humanity to suffer, and few
will doubt that the time for decisive action
has come. The slavery propagandists were
establishing pos'e through the territory,
preparatory TO Ut uei Ineursion oil the rui-
fans to sweep them from their chosen
homes on the fair fields Of Kansas. They
must defend themselves or die, and who
can blame them for exercising tae right Of
sell. efence, acknowledged in all ages "to
be the first law of nature"
By the proclamation of the President,
Congress meets tomorrow, and the country
will be deeply anxious to see what effect
this Kansas news will have on that body.
We hope the House will stand firm, and not
recede in any particular from the noble
stand they have taken. Let them demand
as preliminary to everything else that the
Fee State men OF Kansas shall be fully
protected in their persons and property, and
that Gov. Robinson aud those who have
been so unjustly aud tyrannicaliy imprison-
ed for so many months, shall be at once
discharged, or that they shall be tried with
on, delay before an impartial tribunal
Bring them before the Supreme Court oil
I. G United States, and let their accusers
tneet them face to face. Let Dir. Pierce
aud his Cabinet, let the majority in the
Senate cease basely to truckle to the sla-
very propagandis,s, and act on the broad
and immutable principles of individual and
national Justice, and the Kansas difficulties
can very soon be efieetually and peacefully