The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29

to Gov. Shannon. This they declared their in
tention to refuse, throwing themselves upon the
Constitution of the United States for their right
to retain them, The constitutional provision
on this subject is contained in the second article,
and is In the following words: -. a asi
A well-regulated militia being necessary to
the security of free State, the right of the peo-
pie to keep and bear arms shall not be infring-
ed"
Letters from the seat of the troubles state that
the " Free State" men only have arms for about
one in four of them that they have not one
third as many men in Lawrence as they had in
December, and that most of their leaders are
absent.
Dispatches from st. Louis state that there
had already been an encounter, and some lives
lost on both sides, but we have no reliable in
formation on that point.
THE APPEAL FOR PROTECTION
A letter dated at Lawrence, on the 18th of
May, states with some particularly the result of
appeals for protection which had been made to
Col. Sumner and Gov. Shannon.
A committee of the Board of Public Safety
waited upon Col Sumner on the evening of the
llth Instant to acquaint him with the threaten
ed condition of the town of Lawrence, and ask
his protection. His reply is given as follows
"Col. Sumner stated that nothing would give
him greater pleasure than to set us right, and
set Missouri right, had he the power, but he
was subservient to higher powers, and could
act only by request of Gov. Shannon; but that,
when once requested, he had discretionary
power to act as long and in just such man
ner as he saw fit He therefore wished US to
address a communication to Gov. Shannon,
similar to the one he had received, and he
hoped to be able to preserve peace"
A letter was at once despatched to Gov.
Shannon, asking his protection against the
threatened danger. AS given in the newspa-
pers the letter is as follows:
LAWRENCE, X. T., May IL, 1856.
" To has E1celleacy Wilson Shannon, Governor
of Kansas:
"DEAR SIR: The undersigned are charged
with the duty of communicating to your Ex-
cellency the following preamble and resolution,
adopted, by the citizens of Lawrence, at pub
lie meeting holden at this place, at O'Clock
this evening, viz:
Whereas we have the most reliable inform
alton, from various parts of the Territory and
the adjoining State of Missouri of the organi-
zation of guerrilla bands, who threaten the de-
struction of our town and its inhabitants
therefore,
; "Resolred, That Messrs Toplif Hutchin-
son, and Roberts, constitute a committee to in
form his Excellency Gov. Shannon of these
facts, and to call upon him in the name of the
people of Lawrence for protection against such
bands by the United States troops at his dis
posal.
"All of which is most respectfully submitted
by order of the people of Lawrence.
"Very truly, &C., c. W. ToPLIFF.
JOHN HUTCHINSON.
w. Y. Roberts,"
Gov. Shannon replied to the committee il
the following terms:
"ExEcUTUE OFFICE, LEcoMPToN, X. T.,
May H. 1856.
, "GENTLENEY: Your note of the 18th is re
ceived, and, in reply, have to state that there
is no force around or approaching Lawrence
except the legally constituted posse of the Uni
ted States Marshal and Sheriff of Douglas
county, each of whom, / am informed, have 9
: number of writs in their hands, for execution
against persons now in Lawrence. l shall il
no way interfere with either of these officers il
) the discharge of their official duties. If the
citizens of Lawrence submit themselves to the
) Territorial laws, and aid and assist the Mar
shall and Sheriff in the execution of processes
in their hands, as all good citizens are bound
to do when called on, they or all such will en-
3 But so long as they keep up military or arm
l ed organization to resist the Territorial laws
6 and the officers charged with their execution,
shall not Interfere to save them from the legiti
mate consequences of their illegal acts. l have
the honor to be yours, with great respect,
WILSON SHANNON"
All hope of succor from the constituted au
thorities being thus cut off, and believing thai
an attack on Lawrence would be made imme
diately, messages were to be sent to all parts
of the Territory for recruits. The position Of
the Free State men on the 18th, as stated III
the letter quoted above, was this:
"We shall permit the Marshal to enter oul
, town to make arrests, but not with hostile
army. We shall permit a small posse only to
attend him, while we will have our men at hand
J in the most available point. COL Topliff has
, been appointed first in command. He is late
ly from Rhode Island, and is the most expert
drill-master we have ever had. We shall send
despatch to the President, also to Congress
} by this or the next mall asking their immedi
, ate interposition."
The st. Louis Republican publishes the fol
lowing letter from its Kansas correspondent:
Wesfport, Nay l6.-The news from lie
compton and Lawrence is, that the rebels are
getting scared, and the authorities more and
more determined to enforce the laws. Unless
they submit immediately, and give up theil
weapons, the Abolitionists will have to fight
Will they give up? Will they fght7 No one
can now tell, but the opinion is that there will
be little battle, and the rebels will sue fol
peace and submit.
"Geo. w. Brown is now q prisoner here. He
was taken up and detained, it being known that
he was indicted by the United States Distric,
Court for treason.
The Committee are at Leavenworth city
| LII 49,
yesterday. We do not know when they will
get through; but so bitterly partisan has been
the course of the majority, that all moderate
men heartily wish them out of the country.
II leave for the seat of war tomorrow and
for that reason please excuse haste and brew
. ity."
From the jefferson Mol Inquirer.
We are handed the following extract from q
letter to a gentleman in this city from an old
and highly respected citizen of northwest Mis-
: souri,, aud one who - etrcngy pro-Slavery in
his sentiments, and in favor of ms.ling Eansas
slave State. The gentleman to whom the let
ter was addressed is also a pro-Slavery man
Now that the Government has taken steps to
enforce the laws of Kansas, and orGez2d the Uni
ted States troops to the aid of Gov. Shannon
if he should call for them, the citizens of Mis-
souri, should not interfere. No one will doub!
the power of the Government to enforce the
laws of the Territory. We do hope that the
sober second thought of the people of north
vest Missouri will influence them in this matter
If there are bad men-and we presume no one
| doubts tin snd about lawrence, it is no jus.
tfcaton for the citizens of this State or Kansas
Territory destroying the place. Let the Froper
, authorities punish those who violate the laws