The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-30

the militia camp, and that they would probably
be rode into town the next day, he concluded
to reriain over night, for the double purpose OF
getting his friend out on bail-for he thought
the Court would finally take him for the whole
amount-and obtaining his horses. He put
up at one OF the hotels, and retired for the
night. About midnight, he was arrested and
thrown into prison. Asking the cause. if he had
committed any crime or been guilty of any mis-
demeanor, he was told that he had not TO their
knowledge been guilty of any of these things, but
that he looked suspicious! In the morning he
was released by what process, know not
The officials, learning the cause of his staying
that he intended getting out warrant for the
retaking of his horses-frankly informed him
that he must not stay Cor any such purpose; that
he must leave Immediately; and thar, again
caught here, he should he severely punished. A,
this, he left without more ado.
This is great country, and Kansas the great
est part of it. Ephraim BANTER and Ell. Bowles,
both from Indiana, got out on bail the next
day.
Samuel Updegraff, the young man whom /
mentioned in my last letter as having been
brought here on charge Of stealing " five
acres of potatoes and three stacks of oats" was
brought up for examination on Monday. But
the evidence again failing to appear, the prose.
cutting attorney this time was bound to have
some fun and Mr.. Probate Judge Wood, be-
fore whom the examination was had, secondiAg
him in this, it at once arranged that young
Updegraff should be at once examined on
another charge, which no one had yet properly
laid in. So the machinery of the Court was put
in motion-frst handsomely lucubrated with
whisky-snd a committal was at last ground
out for stealing store worth $4,000. The ev.
idence produced went to show that Updegraff
w in he n oh Oh oh l.
residence, at the time, or rather on the same
day; and this was all, but enough for Court
which considered the matter in no other than
political light. One thing in this affair is
quite characteristic: the employment of one
Simms, a man of considerable notoriety in the
upper country, who was imported into Kansas
by the renowned Buford. 1t is only about two
months since he was engaged in highway rob.
berry. Four unarmed men one day passed
through Tecumseh, where Simms was then sta
toned with fourteen other Alabamians, on their
way from Topeka to Lawrence, each having
with him trunks, satchels, &c, containing bis
wearing apparel. AS soon as they had passed
eight of Bufords army, among whom was
Simms, were dispatched to ambush and rob the
travellers. Their defenceless condition rendered
them an easy prey. The object was accom-
plished but the men were allowed to pass on
A little way farther, they met company Of
Topeka volunteers returning home, and told
them their story. On arriving in town, the
company halted, and demanded to know of the
citizens whether they approved of this outrage
aud If not what they were willing to do about
1t, at the same time intimating that unless the
offenders were punished by the citizens, they
would take the matter in hand.
A meeting of the citizens was called, and a
committee Of FIVE chosen to examine into the
affair, and express the feelings of the people
This committee consisted entirely Of Pro.Sla
very men. Two of the committee lone of which
was Smms) were concerned in the robbery
both admitted this, and claimed of the towns.
people approval and protection. Two others
manfully expressed their disapprova, and de
sired to give the outlaws over to punishment
but Judge Elmore, the last of the committee
said he did not know whether highway robbery
was justifiable or not 1t WAS then agreed that
the matter should rest until the next day, when
another meeting was to be called. But the
l next day az ne new Spmpnapd new battles came
This is a tolerable specimen Of all case,
where Pro-Slavery men are on trial At auoth
er time, Simms came to Topeka to assess the
property of the people there, having first sen,
up word that he should take occasion to wht
every man who dared to insult him, or refuse
to enlist his property. He had been in town
but short time, when the small boys began to
| gather about the streets in expectation of some
fun. Some of them talked Of attending the tan
market; others of buying geese whether the
latter was intended as an honest remark con
corning commercial affairs, or as an insulting
comparison, | am unable to guess. But il
there was any fun under way, 1t was all spoiled
and the departure Of Mr.. Simms precipitated
by some of the older boys borrowing a wagon
to which he had tied his horse, and drawing
away the same the horse following. At this
Mr.. Simns took to his legs. and has not ven
tured to Topeka since. His horse was sent
down to him the same day.
Election day was more quiet than Was antici
pated. This was owing not to any unfounded ap
prehension of ours, but to the policy of Govern
or Geary in locking up the whisky, which
mentioned in my last letter as having been
brought into town on purpose for election day
As it was, Gen. Whitfield could barely gel
enough to treat four hundred and sixty odd men
as they came up and voted, and then give them
one good hearty drink at night, to end their Clio
ry with. Gen. Whitfield made speech of two
or three hours length, which, as near as | could
laarn, consisted simply of four great topics
four curses, which are nothing new to you,
suppose, as the Border Rufhan Democracy
throughout the States, generally, entertain the
same opinions WHICH Mr.. Whitfield expresses
viz Damn the Emigrant Aid Society, damn
Jim Lane, damn dog eater Fremont; and, finally
damn any man who prefers Freedom to Slavery
In concluding, the General said he would like
to fight Jim Lane, with five hundred men or
each side. 1t was on the same day, / believe
that an old woman, seeing five prisoners going
out under guard after water, went and report
ed fifty Yankees we're coming into town, which
| D. * 81 H. al, 20 doc
ated general CONSERVATION. Whitfield was in
town, but being at that time rather patriotically
drunk, felt it beneath his dignity to notice SC
small number of these "foreign cut throats;
at least, saw him make no demonstration.
About noon, a rumor reached US that 5000
Missourians we're on their way, to burn Law
renee and kangq US. Although this was believed by
most of the prisoners-for we have learned thai
nothing is too hard against US to prove real
ity-there was no fear, no excitement. We have
passed through too many stirring scenes, We
have long since conquered the terrors of death
l suppose the rumor had no foundation, except
the coming over of few hundred Mssourians
to vote at tire precincts below Lawrence.
| The Free State men nowhere pretended tc
vote. In Lawrence, Sheriff jones'" with all
formality, appointed three white slaves the
| Judges, and two others the clerks of election
| Seven votes we're cast-hve of them by the
Board. Under the bogus laws, each voter must
pay polltax of one dollar before casting his
vote. At Lawrence. Sheriff Jones paid one hal
this tax himself The last batch of sixty Mis-
| sissippians whose number | before enormously
stated at thirty, all took their dollars worth o.
voting. Some, | understand, had to vote severa
times, 10 order to get their money back again.
The militia all voted, too, although more than
t~c thirds of them told us that they did not pre-