The daily union., 1856-11-05
From me Daily PsnnsyivaaiaA.
THE KANSAS PRISONERS. ~

- A. ~ psUspaptrs announces that the freeSate
opsrs at Leoompton have published address TO the
Amaricau people This address, which has been some
time in preparation and withheld until this late period
before the presidential election under the impression that
ia missatemens could not be contradcted which 1t was
Iy Assigned TO influence was issued in Chicago, and
sets forth that the prisoners in question have been most
The writer OF this article just from Lecompton where
he des lie was there when these prisoners were brought
in and saw them less every day up TO the hour
f his departure from Kansas He is thoroughly acquainted
with all the circumstances OF their arrest and o the treat
ent they have subsequently received. And as they and
their friends for political effect have determined TO bring
,hr grievances before the public il win be WE'LL perhaps
that the following statement Of facts should also receive
publicity 1t will surely be much entitled TO belief as
communication signed by number OF men detected al
most in the very act and convicted oil the commission o
The highest crimes known the laws OF this or any other
country
Ths statement will not be contradcted by the prisoners
themselves their counsel yet by the hired etter-wr-
tes by whom the address in question was prepared ana
pubshed Every word OF it will be fully established by
The testimony that will appear upon the trial now being
prosecuted before the supreme court OF the Territory OF
Kansas.
Governor Geary arrived Lecompton the seat of gov
umen ON the night of the 10th September and on the
mornina of the llh issued proclamation commanding
MI bodies of men armed and equipped with munitions
of war without legal authority, TO disband or quit the
Territory.
This proclamation universal in its application ana
intended operate alike upon all armed organzatons
That there should be mistake this subject another
proclamation published on the same date, ordering
the territorial militia called into service by the former act
ing governor, disband and disperse.
AT this time Lane was concentrating his Army Of the
NORTH variousy estimated at from thousand to two
thousand ee-Stae men, in the neghborhood OF Topeka
alu Raid
Atchsou, and others marching with twenty-seven
hundred territorial militia to destroy Lawrence similar
distance to the east whilst every road in the country was
infested by Smaller bands brgands who were pundering
the settlements and assassinatng travellers.
The governor intended his proclamation to mean some
hiag and although he had that time than three
hundred and fifty United States dragons his service hi
determined to enforce it at every hazard He accordingly
despatched messengers in every direction TO make known
his purposes and although of the armed organiza
tons pretended look upon the whole matter as very
pleasant farce others that assuming too serious
an aspect to dsregarded There still at Lawrence
company OF Lanes forces commanded by Col Harvey
who resolved their quarters to Topeka, where
the main body was stationed. They accordingly, on The
l2b crossed the river at Lawrence taking circuitou
route to avoid coming in contact with the troops at LIE
compton About fifteen miles north of this latter plac'
they came upon a small settlement known as Hickory
Point and true their usual instincts and pursuits, plum
der and murder being their chief concern they attack
ed this settlement breaking open and robbing tht
stores and stealing the cattle mules, and horses IL
the neghborhood. With this booty they returned te
their depot at Lawrence first assuring thtir late victims
that they would favor hem with another visit Or
Saturday night they started again for Hickory Point hav
ING added some fifty to their number swelling their party
to upwards of one hundred and fy and carrying with
them brass They reached the settlement abou
eleven o'clock on Sunday morning The settlers of al
win heir
they and fed before them to several log
in which about sixty of them took shelter and prepared
defend themselves The Lawrence or Harvey party In de
rson read the settlers the abovenamed proclamation
and the of the governor commanded them TO sur
render This was refused, and attack at one
commenced with the cannon, which was kept up unit
near sundown-full six hours. Bot little damage wa
done the assaians being cautious TO approach within
rHeshot and the balls from the cannon not having suh
Gent force TO penetrate the logs One man, however o
the defenders was XII led, and several wounded.
message having reached the governor with informa
ton concerning the movements Of this maraudng band
he despatched companies Of dragons in their purui
who came upsu them the prairies OF midnight, anC
brought on the following morning one hundred and on
Of them as prisoners into Lecompton, together with tne
cannon ammunition, and small arms, consisting OF arg
number of rifles guns, pistols swords, Knives &c Their
being no Jail in the Territory the prisoners wers conveyed
encampment Of the United States troops where not
witbstRndng they well guarded ABOUT uozen
ceeded in making their escape
For time the prisoners persisted In regarding th'
entire transaction joke, their arrest and imprisonment
being intended only to ntimdate them aud that theJ
would shortly be released and permitted to renew with
impuuiy their outrageous depredatons Hence they talk
ei freely aud laughed heartily their exploits boastet
Hickory Point they had killed at least half dozer
Of the assailed and wounded twice many and re
GREETED that they compelled TO keep at too great
distance accomplish greater mischief Nor was II un
til they brought before civil tribunal and committed
to the charge Of murder that they could be In
duced imagine the affair to serious char
aer and they likely to be held accountable for
crime Up to that time they bad scofed at III,
officials and boldly pronounced the laws imperative
They now, however, assumed supplicating tone and
commenced uttering complaints Of unkind treatment
They FIRST found fault not having proper shelter where
upon caused be rented the largest and
Of the comfortable houses in Lecompton t having
been built and used for hote) to which be had them
moved and where they have since been alternately guard
ed by the militia and the United States troops That their
confinement is not very oppressive In this small oah-
prison Is evident from the fact that they
liberty to come out when they please and may be seen
line Of sentnes Their food Of which they also complain
s not luxurious that furnished st the Girard or
Astor House. but s good the circumstances will
allow, and is the in quality and quantity as that
furnished to the United States soldiers. II would have
been much better doubtless had not themselves and other
similar gangs Of bandits rendered the highways mpasa-