American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-09-20
OGlcial correspondence OLA Kan.
eNS Affairs

Ssso <Ahh"btD
WAsBiNoToN, Sept On order tn
correct false aud exaggerated ststenents
regarding The consideration Of things
in Kansas, end the acts aud purposes
of the Government If the United S:4trs
aud to sh"w the precise truth. in both
respects the Union of Tomorrow will
publish The following correspondence
DgrARTMENr OF STATE,
Washington. Aug, &c. 1856.
SIR:-The present condition Of the
Territory of Kansas RENDERS ynur do.
ties as Governor highly responsible and
deli cate. In the instructions hereto
fore communicated TO your predecessor
in February last, in the annual message
TO Congress of December gath previ.
oos, and in tho orders issued from tho
War Department. (printed copies Of
which are herewith furnished) you will
find the policy of the President fully
presented. 1t is first, to maintsin or.
der and quiet i" The territory of Kan.
sas; and second il disturbances occur
therein to bring to punishment The of.
Tenders. Should the force which has
been provided to attain these objects
prove insufficient, you will promptly
make known the fact to the President
that he may take such measures in re.
gard thereto as to him may seem to be
demanded by the exigencies of the case.
1t is impariant that tho President
should DO kept we'll informed as to the
state of things in Kansas, and that the
source of his information should be such
as 10 insu'ei it's accuracy; you arc there.
fore directed by him to communicate
constantly with this department such
facts as it is deemed important to have
early known here. You will cau,e TO
be transmitted by telegraph as we'll as
by mail. The President INDUCES
hope that byyour energy, imparlality,
and discretion, the tranquility of The
Territory will be restored. and the per.
sons and property ofour citizens there.
in protected. am. sir. ETC.,
.4- w. l.. NANCY.
His Excellency. John w. Geary, Gov
ernor of Kansas Territory.
In letter to the War Department
of Aug. 22d. General Smith speaks of
exaggeiations relative tn contemplated
attacks, but says that con the assurance
OF both the Governor and Major Sedg-
wick that there are eigh, hundred arm
ed men assembled at Lawrence, and
who can be increased in twelve hours to
twelve hundred, and it is expected they
would attack and destroy the capito! of
the Territory. Lecomp,on. have order.
cd 1t Johnson's second Cavalry to 90
there with all the troops at Fort Leav.
onwor'h. except small company. and
have ordered all the men from Fort Ri.
ley, except small garrison to The same
place, | have sent down to have all the
troops, recruits and others at Jefferson
Barracks to be sent here and will send
them and any companies of the Sixth,
that may alive to reinforce the com.
maud with Kansas, if necessary.
A large force may prevent any ,io-
lence whilst small one might tempt
to the commission Of it,"
He further says, II enclose also q
communication from an officer of militia
on the Northern border of the Territory
showing how contradictory and incon-
sistent are the accounts spread over the
country, for the party that Lane brought
from Iowa is on the northen border and
on the Kansas at the same time. Col.
Summers regiment canno, now muster
four hundred men, including Capt Stew.
arts company on its way to forr Lara.
mic, and detachment under Lieut..
Wheston, en- route for, Fort Kearney,
with the Sioux prisoners. Lient. Col.
Cookies six companies have little more
than one hundred horses.
In letter from Gov. Shannon to
General Smith, dated at Lecompton.
saying he had just returned from Law
renee, whence he had been with view
ofProcuring the release of min eteen prs.
oners that were taken, he also says he
saw in that place at least 500 men who
manifested fixed purpose to demolish
THIS town. Ho remarked that he knew
they intended an attack, and that too
in very short time. and that it would
seem that the business of "whippinp
out as it is called, the pro slavery pars
ty had been commenced Under these
circumstances he requests G eneralSmih
to send from the fort all his disposible
force.
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