New-York daily tribune., 1856-07-19
KANSAS.
nysprRsvoN OF THE FREE-STATE LEG
IeLATIyE CONVENTION BY UNITED
oTATPg TROOPS

lOPEhh1 bAiJ -
Th. morning of the glorious Fourth broke cloud
liz m Topeka, on this the e0th ann erfa1. Of tue
birthday OF Freedom, but soon the clouds roliea
away before the fresh prairie breezes OF hAnsa''
and the golden sun looked down upon day hifa-
s,to con,ecrated to Freedom, but DOW chosen as
tbs occasion o. an outrage unpa 'alleled in our
coun,ry's bstory-e day in which the terrible
drama. I'VE will sabdue you, reached its cui-
minatlng point
To-day, Franklin Pierce has done wnn mas
only been done thrice in the annals of history
Oliver Cromwell fl rcibly dissolved the Long Par-
lament; Napoleon, with ferce of arm, dispersed
the National Assembly, and now, Franklin PIERCE
hss emnlo, I'd the national troops TO enter the hall
q; REPRESENTATIVES OF free people, and drive them
from it. That such monstrous despotlsm shouId
have begun to form part OF our governmental
policy, is startling fact, and should awakeo every
lover of American liberty 10 search 1or the leEt
landmarks of our glorious Constitution.
The national flag 6oated proudly over Topeka
On ibis Fourth of July; and over the Hall OF Leg
iAlation, or State buildings, was displayed nag
American in every respect, save that among euo
stars was q larger additional star on tne eorhel-
The or han star OF Kansas.
Around tire Jarce pew Hotel the Convention had
assembled and proee. ded to transact its business.
Som. halt dozen military companies, III haoa'
son uniform, parsded about. Ladies promendaed'
with little banners flying from their parasois. Inc
scele was highly interesting.
Ia spite Of the apparent indifference, many
hearts lhTobbed anxiousy for the denouement oi
the days proceedings 1t was Well known tua'
nearly all the military force IN Kansas vas con-
centrated within few hundred yards of Topeka,
AID that in the camp of Col. sumner was oecre-
t,ry Y oOdsOn the infamous Jehreys Lec0mpte,
Ionaldson, who led on the plundering hordes 10
the sack of Lawrence, Jadses Cato and ElWOre,
and other influential Pro-Slayery men; and " was
also known that those men, who have shown the
most inveterate hostility to the settlers OK haasas'
were plotting mischief against them All tnls was
known, aud although it might make the pulsaaon
OF some hearts beat QUICKER ID neithei oistoi oco
nor affected theiJ action.
About 10 o'clock, Postscript Donaldson accom-,
panied by Judge Elmore, entered the towa aod
gave it to be understood that he had prociaula-
tiun to read. The Convention paused IN It's ousi-
ness sld invited these gentlemen TO the stand.
ostsclipt Donaldson beng, like Moses, not par
ticuafy well qualified for public speaking, called
On bis Aaron in the shape ot Judge Eiii"lo,
Who read the Proclamation OF the President, dated
in February. Law-and Order document,
the signhcution of which was coDprenended at
the time aud which was nov made to DO lts "OrK
in The dIama, I've will subdue you. Next "as
1ta al the second proclamation OF Gov. Shannon,
issued month ago, and then followed ehe prociS-
nation Of Secretary WOOdson, which acting under
Presidential authority, commanded the Leglsis-
ture 10 disperse and threatened it with violence
from the troops in case they did not submit 20 tnls
oroer. The proclamation being read these gentle
men made their exodus as they mad made thelr ad
vent, neither being accompanied BY any external
or visible symptoms of moral earthquake, and
the Convention proceeded with lts buslness "hlcn
Laa been interrupted. This evidently chagrlntd
Postscript Donaldson, who turned round and luter-
rupted The debate upon resolution, by asking IL
We bad any reply to carry down to COL sumner
I he President informed MIR. d. that this assembage
was rot the Legislature to which the proc auation
had been specially addressed, out asked him if it
was desired hat We should send any reply7 Don
aiO son said no, but if We had any thing to send he
w.ulo convey it. The President on behalf of the
CGDyt tntion Informed him that we had no commu-
hiCatlOn TO send
These gentlemen left and matters went sn az
before it WIS nearly II o'clock, the sun was
blazlg down aud the the rmometer stood ut 1902
when we learned that col. Sumner, vita five com
Ianies OF cavalry aud two pieces OF brass cannon
were leaving their eump aud approaching Topeka
in tull military stray. Although they were only
2Ct yaIds Gtt the report did not disturb the Con
yfntion or other matters. If resistance had been
intended Col. sunner never would baVe entered
Topeka, and would Lave been met before he could
get possession, 1t had been determined that no
resistance thould BIZ offered the United States
troops but that We should proceed vito our bus-
Dess and let them do their worst Instructions
from Gov. RObint0n were, that the Legislature
ard the people should pay no attention to proc
lAmations which Invaded their constitutional
rights if the Legislature was dispersed at tho
polnt of the bay onet, to disperse without offering
to 60 hack to the Hall, aud not to attack the
troops; but if the troops ~antonly fired on The
Legislature Or the people, ~ fire back, and it
would have been done. Had this act Of cruelty
been added to the other crimss, not one of the Of
hctrs ould have been left TO tell the story. The
men are cur friends.
But Col Sumner fulfilled his duty in as gentle
manly u manner as such wretched orders could be
obeytd. At the mcment of his approach the NO
Topeka companies + and G, were drawn up be-
iole the Legislative Han building. They had just
marched up the street, preceded by martial music,
and lad formed III front OF the State House to re-
ceiye banner the ladies rad made for Company
g. Ibe street was filed with crowd, among
" HON were many ladies' aud children, when Col
Sun ner appeared with his forces rapidly debouch-
ipg into kaDsas avenue. With great rapidity and
considerable military 81 III he threw his lnen for
wa1d and by rapid orders, shouted in stern
slril voice, formed his companies into the strong
est lOfm t1ty cOuid occupy ZOE ulcir serVlct fer-
laps many hearts beat laster when they thought
that scene of carnage migL, in the next few nm
utes blot out the startling aud brilliant panorama
On the one hand the armed and uniformed dra-
go0ne, with flashing sabres-on the other only
two topeka companies, with their two banners,
ole OF them just received bearing the inscription,
Our lives ivr our rghts.' Noby they stood.
While the dragons approached the band was play
ing, but the dfummers continued to drum until the
drumstcks nearly touched the noses OF the adyanc-
iDg horses of the CragOons, and only gtopDed when