Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1856-07-25
From the Boston Journal.
The Dispersion of the Kansas Legisla-


Of the Chicago Tribune, sends TO that paper
an interesting account OF the dispersion Of
the Topeka Legislature on the lth OF July,
and of the doings Of the Peoples Mass Con.
ycntion. The morning Of the Fourth opened
finely. and cannon IN the camp Of the cav
airy announced It's advent. About eight
hundred Free State mon were in the city in
the morning, Of whom five hundred had
arms aud were drilled. Five companies OF
dragons under Col Sumner were cncamped
southeast 81 the town, and five companies
from Fort Riley. under Major Merrill, on
the opposite side of the river, about TWO
miles northwest Of Constitution Hall.
The mass Convention met at eight o'clock.
The subject Of debate was the propriety OF
the Legislature converting, notwithstanding
the ntimation received from Col Sumner
that he would dispcrso that body ut all haz'
ards. Some buchanan intrigucrs in the
Convention endeayOrcd "a prevent the adop-
tion of stringent resolutions, and stroyc to
nut matters in train for a compromise nj
Wa,hington-thc repeal Of both the Shaw
NO, code and the Frco State Constitution,
or some similar cNpcdignt. but the assem-
Div was firm, and would not listen 20 such
sentiments. Every attempt On PASS any
resolution contemplating another election.
another Constitution, or another Territorial
Government, was unanimously voted down,
About ten O'Clock the business oi the Con-
ycn,ion was temporarily suspended, for the
purpos, OF listening O. the reading oi
PROCLAMATION from Marshal ponclson. That
individual, drcss'l in " pan pants, vest and
coat. and q shocking bad and very dirty
straw hat" mounted the platform, and r.
marking that be- WIS " not good at speak
inc. " requested Judge Elmurr 90 read the
PROCLAMATION. There proved TO be- four doe
nmcnts-frst. the Presidents proclamation
of February last next manifesto OF Gov.
shannon, issued a month previous, then
another proclamation dated July eth, issued
hy Daniel Wupisin, Secretary ol the Terri
tory and actin. Governor, and, lastly, a
note from Col. sumner, addressed 90 the
Legislature, announcing his determination
n cyccut, the command Of Wuodsou-iIr
the legislature 10 dispcrsc --'' at all ha1-
ards
As col. Sumner rode into town with his
men, about tw, hundroi ia number, the
Topeka Guard. were drawn up in front Of
Constitution Hall, 90 receive banner from
the ladies, but no notice was taken OF tho
Federal troops, whose horses heads touched
thc rr,c State soldiers. Col. = showed,
both by manner uI tone, that hc WIS de-
,,Fminod and expected % fight, this was
the anticipation ui ms men also.
~ soon u. the troops were stationed, The
Convention sent committee O. the Colonel
IN inumrc II hr intended 90 diurm them pr
d.,r#r,t thr Convention. H. replied that
hc dil not intend o. hryak up the C1nyru.
ton or di-irm the volunteers, he had come
there a. prevent the legislature from CON.
yynin:, and would 10 SD ii they attempted
assemble, but IL they dii not, Doe would IT,
main iu town till after l2-'hn hour @
which the legislature had adyuurneI-anI
then return O. his camp.
Tho SCENE when Col, sumner entered ihr
llus, OF Representative, % dl.p.r,l the
members. Z. thus pictured So
"Thr CDluur, entered the chamber Of The
House OF ErrrrSrntatiyo--his sword hang.
M hy his sile-with stern hut ngl'a'td
,Npr,s,iJu Ul cluut-uaugr. lie went mp %
the platform. Tho chamber was dgu>gly
crowded. 4 doop SILENCE cusuo,l, unhrpkcn
tin the soldier entered iut,a private CONVEX
SatiUn with some gentlemen around him.
At noon, Samuel + hpuln, Assistant Clerk
n the absence 0i the Speaker and CAici
Cl.rk, called the llous1 % ORDER, and pro-
r.etlrl o. call thc roll ul mcmhgr. with a.,
much coplucss and regularity rs 1t Colonel
summer had hoeu 40 LrIN,nwOrih AMI
Franklin picrcc myth. Twice The roll
wl, called over. Caleb :. Pratt callni Il a
,hirl time. Seventeen members answered
q, their names Their, were thiriy-iuur
members IN town. aud a. the people had de.
cI.i that the legislature should urDrccl,
Mr. Taprau rU,' and ordered the Sergeant.
at-Arm, % z, after absent members"
Upon this latter movement, Col sumner
Toe, from bis sat, and delivered his order
ilg the assembly o. di'prr-'.
The CONVENTION continued IT, session, and
adopted a large number of resolutions The
following ar, the points Of some Of them
Recommending the legislature % assemble
according o. adjournment and o. submit O.
ha dispersed only by L. ). troop, alhcrIng
q the present constitution and state gov
crumru, until the people oi Kansas shall
o,hcrwis, determine, that having always
actcl in accordance with the sririt and let
trr of the |. :. constitution, thc House Vt
Representatives are called upon 20 stop MI
supplies until thc Senate and the Executive
admit Kansas ne state under IT, present
constitution, appointing a committee 20
draw up memorial &, tie House VI Repro
senatiycs, requesting that body o. impslch
Judge Lccomp;c for high mi-!cmeanor in
Office. agd declaring that there Is not and
never has been any urglnifcI body Of Free
State mcu, % r.s.st tho execution OF the
laws.
4 State Central Committee Of eleven was
appointed O. assume the management aud
control Of the Free state party ul Kansas, -
a. q ensure unauimity and concert U action
and success.