The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-17
KANSAS.

On the 4th of July, Convention of the Free
State men of Kansas was held at Topeka, the
same day the Legislature under the Free State
Constitution assembled there. Marshal DON
aldson's proclamation to dispense was unheed-
ed, but it was resolved that no resistance be
offered to United States troops.
Colonel Sumner, acting under orders from
the Administration, marched into Topeka at
the head of five companies of dragons. He
told the citizens that he would not interfere
with the Convention, but he had orders to
break up the Legislature, and he would do it.
"Sumner then repaired to the Hall of Rep
resentatives, and informed the members that he
had orders to dispense them. He said: Il am
called upon to perform the most painful duty of
my life. Under the authority of the President,
l am here to dispense this Legislature. In ac-
cordance with my orders, l command you to
dispense. God knows have no party feelings
in the matter, and will have none, while hold
my present position in Kansas. l have Just re-
turned from the border, where have been send
ing home the Missourians, and am now here
with instructions to dispense this Legislature.
[ again command you to disperse.'
"Judge Schuyler asked if they were to un-
derstand that they were to be driven out at the
point OF the bayonet? Colonel Sumner replied,
L will use the whole force under my command
to enforce my orders The House then dis
persed A similar scene was enacted in the
Senate, which also dispersed"
The blockade by the Border Ruffians is kept
up along the Missouri highways. The Weston
(Mo.l Reporter and the Jefferson (Mo.) Luqui-
rer, Benton papers, denounce it as an outrage
on the rights of emigrants, and an injury to
the interests of the State.
Emigrants from the free States are general
ly taking the Iowa route, the facilities of which
are daily increasing.
A doubtful report has reached some of the
newspapers, that Col. Lane, with his company
of emigrants, had been turned back; but a dis
patch in the st. Louis Republican announces
that he had safely reached Kansas.
The National Lntelligencer says:
"A Southern correspondent requests us to
state that several companies of Southern men
have been refused admission into Kansas by
Col. Sumner, and that this is the cause why
Southern men have dissrmed and refused the
landing of Northerners into that Territory"
Not single paper, not even of the Border
Ruffian stripe, contains the news. The "South-
ern correspondent" should be more precise.
The presumption is that he refers to Buford's
and Jackson's armed bands, which being found
in arms against the settlers, setting all law at
defiance, were driven out of the Territory.
"a Kansas Aid Convention met at Buffalo
on Thursday, the object of which is to secure,
as far as possible, unity and efficiency of &C.
ton throughout the country, ia behalf of Free
dom for Kansas. The following are among
the resolutions adopted:
RESOLVED, That we will proceed to appoint
National Kansas Committee of wise and up
right men, to whose discretion the whole con-
duct of our sacred cause shall be intrusted !;
that said committee shall be composed of one
person from each State, so far as there are
States in which a suitable person can be found |;
and that five additional members shall be put
upon the committee, who are to reside in the
city of Chicago, and that three shall constitute
a quorum, and Chicago be the usual place of
meeting of the committee.
" Resolced, That, by all that is precious and
urgent in the claims of Kansas and Liberty,
we call on the friends of justice and humanity
to organize forthwith State, county, town, and
township organizations, for the purpose of OBJ
tanning monthly subscriptions of money to en-.
able the National Committee TO bring to a
speedy and successful close the great work
which we shall commit to its hands.
"Resoloed, That the Convention recommend
to all emigrants to Kansas to travel through
the State of Iowa, and that Congress be urgent
ly requested to establish daily mail from To-
peka, via Nebraska, to Iowa city, and also a
daily mail, via Nebraska, to Mount Pleasant
and Burlington, Iowa.