The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-10
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ASSASSINATION
OF SHERIFF. JONES In KANSAS.

OF SHERIFF JONES IN KANSAS.
We have nothing in criminal device cool as that
which seeks to throw the responsibility of the assassna
ton of Sheriff Jones his friends Horace Greeley
leads off in this disgrace attempt deception and false
hood, follows:
The attempt fix the shooting of Jones the State
party will prove total failure As body they totally dis
and condemn it, and doubt very much whether the
person who fred the shot man. 1t seems to
us highly probable that the whole thing ruan
trick 1t not to suppose that Jones consented to
make a sacrifice Of his life the altar of borderruianism
The plan probably really to hit him, at most to
Craze him slightly He into the tent alleging that be
had been fired at out Of doors and perhaps intended
10 the soldiers witnesses to the fact of his being shot
at That he should been wounded dangerously might
have been a mistake or an accident
"The whole thing border-ruian trick" quoth the
racous editor of the Trbunel We will not look for Ian
guage to characterize gross outrage candor and
truth give the facts they stated in letter ad
dressed by Col VIM. Preston and Thomas NJ Crowder
both of Virginia. the editors of the Lecompon Union
These gentlemen present. and witnessed the whole
affair
They make the following statement:
Mr. Eprroa In compliance with your request, we give
below correct statement Of the immediate facts connected
with the assassination Of Sheriff Jones.
Being in Lawrence the Esd instant, the peace
able arrest six persons by Sheriff Jones' with detseh
ment of United States troops under Lieutenant Mcintosh
Everything of quietly till just before dark when
men, aed about in different places abused the pro
slavery men, General Pierce, Sheriff JONES' &C. Several
in the evening warned Sheriff Jones (upon inor
nation being given that possibly attempt upon his life
would be made) to be cautious and circumspeot. With
Lieutenant McIptosh we, with geptloman by the Of
Yates went the camp intending pass of time and spend
the night Soon after had made preparations for sleep
ing Mr. Jones In and commenced talking in regard TO
the for the night for the OF the prisoners
g NJ NJ "A -. \
went few PAGES from the tent to get glass Of water.
While engaged persons and inquired where
Sheriff Jone, was and made insulting remarks concerning
his courage when he from the sooppg posture
he was and remarked, "Iere am gentlemen and again
stopped when person in crowd standing fired
into the party, when the remark made by p, "Jones,
you shot" and upon examination II was found that
bullet bad passed through his pants without any injury.
The party returned to the tent where when commenced
talking about this dastardy and heish attempt
nation man. pretending to be drunk, intruded himself
into tent opinion for the express purpose Of find
ing the position Of Sheriff Jones. lie took seat when
he was told By sheriff that the party had for him.
when he immediately and le and, in less than i've
minutes as conversing together Jones fell,
claiming "ohP lie attempted to draw his knife and end
the dastardy scoundrel-worse than 6end, who would
thus under Of night attempt The life OF elowbeng
but the wound such TO prevent bis rising at all. The
shot came from the bind part Of the tent and aimed
the back Of the sheriff We have doubt ourselves that the
whole matter concoccdtho rascal hired for the
press purpose assassination and that there many per-
sons Lawrence concerned in this matter who very de-
srous to shield themselves behind this foul and dark
drel, unworthy even the name Of devil
THos. NJ. CRowDER,
WA. !. PRESTON.
Lroonprox, X. T., April "a, 1856.
p Swe are confident that assassin knew the exact
position Sheriff Jones in the tent for had he shot
do another might have been in sheriff Joness present
position. 7. NJ. G.
w. l. r.
1t is not right TO limit the responsibility for SO base
crime as Is here described the hired instrument who
drew the trigger and thus assassnated officer in the
discharge Of his duties Nor it enough hold those
leading in Kansas responsible who iueie such runs
to commit midnight murders that they may enjoy high
political bonors Nor isit yet enough TO hold the anat
cal preachers ia Now England responsible for intoxicating
the sbominabe sentiment that Shapes rifles better
moral agents than the Bible But the responsibility reaches
70 those political leaders who incucae the doctrine that
The laws Of Congress and the constitution ITSELF may be
resisted and nuli6ed with mpuniy by individuals or as
sociaons or mobs who choose to regard the institution Of
slavery as incapable egatiop and the constitution as
10 slavery rs compact with hell This subject Is sugges
tive Of many reflections but at present we adopt the fol-
| lowing excellent remarks OF the Boston Post:
terur spoort~o or JoSEs-REBUKE ANARCHy.We do not
automatically all the to the shooting Sheriff
Jones whether ho executing writ issued by Governor
or by the territorial courts by tho congres-
siops investigating committee. lis admitted however on
an hands that he the service Of the Law in the
vice Of officials recognised BY the President Of the United