The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-24
Report OF the st. Louis Kansas Commit ttee
Inuis Renahiican SAM

THoMAs ADDS EMMETT.
Report OF the st. Louis Kansas Committee.
From st. Louis Republica, Sept. 10
The mass meeting Of the citizens OF St Louis,
held q short time since, appointed committee to
visit Kansas Territory and inquire into the actual
promptly, and dep1ted two Of their number-M essrs
MLure and Lay-to undertake this service. They
have done SO, and have placed in our hands the fol-
lowing report:-
Kansas Territory beg leave to report, that in con-
formity to the requirements Of the resolutions Of
said meeting, have visited the Territory of Kansas
with view to learn the true state OF facts in rea
ton to the present disturbed and distracted condi-
ton OF that Territory.
We do not, sir, pretend to give full and detailed
statement Of every particular violation OF law and
order in that Inflated Territory for the time expend
ID in inquiries did not afford US the means Of go
doing; but we believe that we have succeeded m
collecting all the necessary facts in rer1on tn ali
the most prominent occurrence, and acts Of hosti
lily and violence committed against the citizens and
society Of Karssas.
Durlres tne early part Of summer, peace and quiet
prevailed generally through the Territory pro-save
~ men and free soiiers were living on neghborly
terms with each other-diaering With each other on
the subject Of slavery as other political topics This
cane excitement, upon the news being spread
through the Territory that Colonel James II. Lane
vas marching an army Of aboJt one Thousand nen
ilUtu Lie NOTtntdbVcIu SIdtcb 1UlO Ahusss, the
purpose Of controlling the political desnies Of the
Territory; and some time in the latter part Of July
or in the early part Of the month OF August last said
Lane, under the disguised name of Col. Cook, with
y estimated, from six hundred to one thousand
menu entered the Territory on its northern bound
airy, after having marched in o body through the
state Of Iowa and Nebraska Territory, to the Kan,
gain united after having marched some distance into
be Territory; about two hundred of this army are Ca
nadans. Soon after this and between the LIST and 18th
If August this army marched through the counties of
Lykins, Franklin and Douglas, robbing the pro-
slavery citizens OF their horses, mules, provisions
and arms, and commanding them to leave the Ter
ritory, many Of whom did so, with their families,
In most destitute condition; others sought protec-
lion by flying to other parts Of the Territory and
uniting with other pro-slavery men, formed compG-
Lies for the purpose Of protecting themselves against
The threatened assaults Of Lanes party. In very
short time most Of the abolition citizens OF the Ter
ritory armed themselves and united with Lanes
party, swelling his army to about fifteen hundred,
tLane says twenty-five hundred). On the l2tn Of
August at about III o'clock at night, company Of
Lanes men, numbering about two hundred and ffy,
made an attack on the town Of Franklin, where
small company of proslavery men (about fourteen
IN number) had collected and armed themselves for
protection
Lanes party commenced the attack by firing
upon the house in which the prO-slavcry men
we're the fire was returned, and after a hot CON
test Of some half hour or more, Lanes party
retreated, leaving seven of his men killed, and
much larger number wounded; they soon return.
ed and set fire to the house and burned II, and
took oil ts inmates prisoners. They then robbed
the Post Office, and also the dwelling houses OF the
town-so SIX in number Of all their vsluaIles,
ard returned to the town OF Lawrence, at which
place Lane had established his headquarters.
settlement known by the name Of "the Georgia
Colony which was composed OF number OF fam.
lies from the State Of Georgia, settled in the same
ncghborhood with their farms adjoining each other,
on the south side Of Kansas river was attacked on
the Esd August by company OF abolitonists, com
manded by = Brown, and all the houses Of the CO.
lony were burned, and everything of value was des
troyed or carried away by the victors; there were
no women or children at the colony at the time Of
the attack they had been removed for safety, and
but few men were there at the time-six Of whom
were supposed to be killed.
On the - day Of August a company OF Lanes
men, about three hundred in number, marched to q
settlement called "Treadwell's settlement" Ia
Douglas county, composed OF several families from
the South, settled near each other with their
slaves, engaged in farming. When the attack
vas made they all took shelter In Treedwell house.
The house was soon besieged by the abolitioniss.
They then attempted to escape BY fight, bat many
OF them were Killed and wounded. The houses
were burned and oil the property of value taken by
The next night o party of some two or three
hundred Of lanes regiment attacked the dwelling
house OF u. I. Titus, in which some twelve or if-
teen pro slavery men had taken refuge after having
teen driven from their own ,mes by the abolition
is,s Titus and the men in his house we're armed,
and resisted the assailants for line, killing
several Of their men, and compelled them 20 retreat
but they soon renewed the assault by firing o can
non several tines through the house, killing Que
man and severely wounding Mr.. Titus aud M. M.
Uolsey They then made preparations TO set fire e.
the house. when Mr.. Titus and the others In his
house surrendered. After Titus party we're made
prisoners, they commenced searching the house and
premises for Mrs. Titus, and after spending some
time In hunting for her, they demanded OF the pri-
soners where sbe vss. They informed them that she
was not there, but bad been sent away Tor safety
the day before They accused the prisoners Of lying,
that they knew she was there, and swore they
would And her, and continued their search; they
ripped mp the floor Of the house and searched under
prisoners, and burned the house.
After all these outrages by Lanes party the whole
country was under the most intense excitement and
alarm. Lane had established his headquarters at
Lawrence and wasSdaily sending out scouting aud
marauding parties TO plumber and rob, and in short
time they had all the horses and mules Ia the inte
nor Of the Territory In their possession, and the
proslavery men driven away and many Of them
murdered. Lane was no longer In disguise; he now
openly declared that Kansas should be free State
at all hazards and that the proslavery men should
all leave the Territory.
The Governor Of the Territory, in consequence Of
these enormites on the 25th OF August issued his
proclamnti n declaring the Territory in state OF
OF en- instruction and rebellion and calling upon all
the law abiding citizens and officers civil and milf
tary Of the Territory, to assist by all means In their
power 10 put down The insurrecton.
The whole country now became divided into two
great parties, the free sellers having before armed