The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-19
Kansas Affairs.

We have oOliihcu ieays s"o bo''o" b""!
Advcrtissr) permission to print the sub
Joined letter, ieih the names Of the writer
and the gentleman to whom it Is addressed
with thr design of showing by unimpeacha-
bic testimony the truth Of the present state
of affairs in Kansas Mr.. Lawrence tells
us that his correspondent is ''as reliable
man as ever lived, One with whom he has
had business transactions for several years.
This letter and many Others OF similar
tenor, show what is the present disposition
Of the federal government in ordering fresh
troops to Kansas to put down ''insurrection"
and to save the capital of the State, le-
compton) from obstruction" As TO the
latter, il could have been taken and burnt
by the Free State men at any time during
the past month, IL ,hey were really dosirOus
Of destroying" it, and Of emulating the
laurcls which General Pierce's administra-
ton won by the burning of Grcytown. ie-
compton contains less than twenty buildings
of an average value Of about 500 each
But the Free State men entertain no such
plans Of aggressive operations. Their policy
Is defensive; the preservation of themselves,
their wives, daughters and children, and the
protection of their property.
We present this letter as testimony which
must be satisfactory TO those who are not al
ready determined not to hear the truth and
to treat slightingly the state Of affairs in
Kanms.
We beg attention, also, to the fact that
the benefit derived from the relief contribu-
ted at the North is acknowledged IN this a.
II has been in numerous other letters
Boston Advertiser.
LAWRENCE, K,SzAs, August 81, 1856.
A. A. LAWRENCE, Esq, Boston -
Dear Sir Knowing the interest you feel
in the cause Of Kanas, have concluded to
trouble you with another line.
Long before you receive this, you will
learn of the new turn which events have
taken in KanEas. | am anxious that our
friends Mt the East should know that the at /
tacks we have recently made upon the enc
my were not unproyoked. We remained
passive until the only alternatives were, ac-
tive resistance, or expulsion from the terri.
toiy: The foe was surrounding US on all
sides. At Hickory Point, Franklin, WASH
ington Greek, Lccompton and other places,
they had constructed formidable forts, as.
sernblcd large bodies Of men, and collected
arms and provisions. Ii was evident that
their plans contemplated nothing short of
our determination. RObbcries became fire.
qucnt, and several bloody murders were
committed. Property was yaluclcSs and life
became insecure. In this state Of things,
the frcc-state men resolved TO fight, although
the odds appeared to DO against them
When news reached this place OF the brutal
Murder Of lioyt, the people could be res
trained no longer. Hence the attack upon
Franklin We endured the assaults of the
foe until il was necessary to strike n blow in
order to escape humiliation.
The recent events were not the result OF
the arrival Of lane, or his company. Only
one of his company was in the party which
attacked Franklin. That party was COM
posed Of the merchants, physicians, me-
chanics and laborers Of Lawrence, together
with some Of the principal citizens OF Frank
lin. wish it To be understood ut the North
that We stand upon the defensive. We do
not initiate our enemies in the outrages
which they are committing. While one OF
our party was engaged about his business
short time since. he was murdered, and
scalpcd while bis pulse yet shrobbed. a
woman ut bloomington. who ia an active
frce-state lady, WIS seized few nights since
BY four Missourians, gagged. bound hand
and foot, dragged from her house, and then
horribly violated. She will survive but
few days Our men are sometimes terribly
inl,ned when they hear Of such translc-
tions, but thus laI they have done ,hem-
selves infinite credit by refusing to initiate
the atrocities of the rufhlns. mention
these things as an excuse for the Dol mess OF
the measure we have adopted, &c any extern
uation is needed. i could name twenty
events which have recently happened, not a
whit less atrOcious than the above.
Do not imagine that our cause il hopeless.
The slave State men, wearied with the ex.
element. are leaving in large numbers. |
do not think there arc six hundred pro-
slavery settlers Mt present in this territory,
and the numh:s is becoming every day less.
All our trouSf's are caused by invasion
from Missouri.
Nv brother wishes me to inform you that
he was at the camp yesterday and conysrsed
with the prisoners. He left thirty-f'e dol
lars with them-enoush for their present
wants. lie has large number Of drafts on
hand, which he has not Yet bsen able to OBJ
tam the money upon. As soon as they arc
cashed he will attend further to your wishes
The people here are greatly Obliged to
their Northern friends for the assistance
which they are rendering. This relief is
most opportune, and has put an entirely
different face upon affairs.
have pcnned this amidst the greatest ex-
element, but have no time 10 re-write 1t.
Most truly your obedient servant,