Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-01-12
WILSON SHANNON,
&. Robinson,
J. II. LANE.
Signed


You are hereby authorized aud directed to
take such measures, aud use the enrolled
force under your command in such a manner,
for the preservation Of the peace and the
protection of the persons and property OF the
people Of Lswrence All vicinity, as IN your
Judgment shall best secure that end.
(Sigued) WILSON SHANNON.
Lawrence, Dec 9, 1853.
After the signing of these articles of agree
meut Governor Shannon was called upon
and addressed the people OF Lawrence.
lie is thus reported -
"Thrre was part Of the people Of this
Territory who denied the validity of the laws
of the Territorial Legislature. lie was not
there TO urge that validity, but these laws
should be submitted to until u legal tribunal
had set them aside He did not see how
: there was any other course but such SUbmiS-
sion to them. and it certainly was nut his
part us an executive officer. 10 SIT them
aside or disregard them. He was happy TO
announce that after having an interview with
! the officers Of their Commiit itec,ui Safely, Ee
| had found them induced thus far to respect
| these laws, they being willing TO see them
enforced, provided they had the reserved
! right of testing and escaping from them lr-
! galiy. lie was happy to announce that all
| difficulties were settled faint cheers. There
was perfect understanding between the
| Executive and the Committee. The dltii-
cui,ips had arisen from misunderstanding
! lie would go down and dsband the Sheriff 3
posse. He would dismiss the officers of the
! Tcrrito orial militia. General Richardson aud
! S,rickles. but would order that their forces
he not disbauded until they were taken TO
Leayenworth,r or the neigAbo. hood Of West
port.
"All the difficulties were adjusted and he
was wiling and anxious to do all in his pew
er 20 prevent a collision and the shedding nl
blood lie hoped that the men now in the
Territory aud in camp below would he got
out of the Territory without hostlities inter.
vrung. lie would do all in his power IL
influence them. He would urge upOn the
| people Of Lawrence to be moderate, TO pnr.
! sue wise course. to AVOID collision. Don't
he too belligerent' lie wanted them to con
suit their Judgment and their reason. not
their feelings and their passions. One nd
vantage they would now have il they had I,
fight the fight would now he between then
and the mob. or course he could not con
denim them for defending themselves. The!
were right and he would do all in his powrl
tn sustain them, but he hoped the men en-
cumped could now be induced to leave. an,
hat there would be no elFuson Of blood. ii,
wanted it understood that he had called OF
no one but the people Of the Territory in hl
procumations. Ii there were MsSouran
here, they were here of their own accord.
"lIe hoped aud believed that the people o
Lawrence and vicinity were law-abiding peo
, pie Indeed, he had learned that he had mis-
understood them. and that they were eStima
bic and orderly people; but houses it wa
said had been burned, and other outrages ha,
been charged upon the Free State men
They must remember this when they judy
Of these things. They were perhaps limo
cent, but he hoped they would abide II judi
r cial tribunal. lie hoped now to preserve OF
der, and to get these men out Of the Terrtor
Ii he ceuld S, rye the people Of Kansas, as
' Governor or as Il private citizen, he would a
ways be happy 10 do so. faint cheers, !"
Such was the substance of his remarks, an
for the most part Of the language. lie is
tall man. somewhat beyond middle age, hi
? hair slightly grey. As 81 eaker he is rathe
stiff and old fashioned, not very logical, am
liable 10 forget in one part of his remark
: what he has said in another.