New-York daily tribune., 1856-09-01
THE ATTACK ON FRANKLIN.

From Our Special Correspondent
LAWRENCE, K T Aug. 20, 1856.
The last four or FIVE days have been marked by
series of incidents which form another chapter
in Kspsss's eyentful history. The rumors which
baye been carried back TO you from Missouri and
her Border Rufians have no dot been alarming
enough and it may have perpiexed those weak In
faith, in whose minds the past experience in Kan
sas affairs is not very vivid, to determine whether
the ends of Freedom here have, through desper-
ation grown less Discreet, or If the Border Ruf-
fans were manufacturing capital with which to
cover up further schemes Of villainy. will en-
deavOr to give the readers of The TRIBUNE
clear and succinct account OF the recent occur
reBces up to the present moment for fear other let
tiers may have failed to get through Missouri in
| these troubled times.
ali Of the recent occurrences are directly and
solely traceable to the conduct of the bands of
| young Sc uthern emgrants, or ButOrds men, These
fellows have been coming into the Territory for
weeks back and wherever they pitched their
camp trouble began. la fact, their object was
to make trouble. Well aware that they could
act With perfect impunity, so far as law and legal
officers are concerned, 1t is not astonishing that
these bands of reckless young men should have
acted as they have done. Inspired by those who
have brought them here and sustained them with
hatred of the Free.State settlers and having all
their hopes of distinction and plunder based on
the occurrence of these difficulties, they of course
sought them. 1t will be remembered that they
were not only permitted to enter the Territory but
inrtted BY letter from Gov. Shannon to Col Bu-
ford. But little pretension to being "actual set
tier" did these men ever make, for, with whatever
slrs they are justly chargeable, they have not
1.-THE OF the hypocrisy Of their political apoli.
gists, and yet, what little pretensons they did
make have been proven by their conduct to be a
farce. Yet II was not for this that they ever en-
countered the strong arm of outraged Free-State
men. 10 speculate on the comparative rights of
armed emigrants' and peaceful settlers, I" may
suit political theorists outside of Kansas but the
unmeanng clap trap Of this is understood here
American citizens have constitutional right 10 bear
arms and to take arms with them when they em.
grste to Kansas, should they see proper. Indeed,
no sensible emigrant would think of going to Kan
Eas without them ever since Missouri invaded her
ballot boxes and stained her soil with the blood of
Free.State settlers. Be they frQg the North or
South, no one here questions the right of men 10
take the necessary steps for their own defense.
1he difficulties We deplore are chargeable to an.
other source. suppose no sensible man would
ask that person whose dearest rights, whose
property and life are menaced, should be disarmed
in order to keep the peace" Neither do the
Free State settlers pretend that they have the
light to drive out these settlers merely because they
live in camps and do not make bona Eds improve
ments. Had the Free State men reilly been de.
ilrous Of q pretext, they have, unfortunately for
them, got something much more tangible to work
Cd.
The affair at Osswattamie, of which / sent a
detailed account, was the first of the recent dis
turbaDces, although not at all connected with any
Of the other occurrences. The camp of Georgians
there had become an unendurable pest to the
neiehborbood they had infested for weeks. No
traveller could pass the roads without being mo-
lested. Free-State men were taken prisoners.
robbed, and abused. 1t was at the instance of the
settlers close to this Georgian camp that an expe
dltion was planned to put stop 10 it's opertops
Even after much had been endured, ii wa, not
done until an appeal had been made to the troops
and had failed. Then, a. I mentioned when
gave an account Of the occurrence. there w.s no
fight because the Georgians fed - soOn az thew
were menaced.
The most gross accounts Of this occurrence have
been circulated on the Missouri border. and il hss