Litchfield enquirer., 1856-01-03
Ths war 4 K.ns.. Term,n.sea.

The forces gathered from Missonri by
Gov. Shannon 20 aid in forcing the Free
State party to obey the laws Of the bogus
Legislature have been disbandcd, and the
danger Of war is for the present averted.
The accounts thus far received are mostly
from the Atchison party. who have sent
abroad The report that the Free State men
laid down their arms and agreed to abide
by the laws Of the so-called Legislature
until the question of their validity should
be. settled by the Courts. This was the
story which the Atchison leaders probably
found it necessary to invent in order to
cover their own retreat Other accounts
state that Shannon, after keeping bis bor-
der forces for fortnight encamped at sew
erai points near Lawrence. while his private
secretary Woodson busted himself in cir
eulating the most false and exciting ac-
counts of outrages by the settlers and
calling Justify for the aid of the Missouri
ans, the governor neither found courage nor
any specious pretense for leading the rabble
against Lawrence. He therefore proposed
parIey with the Free State leaders. and
under their escort visited Lawrence and
spent most Of the 9TH and 9Th in conference
with them. He withdrew his ridiculous
demand for the surrender Of the Sharpe's
rifles and finally reduced his propositions
of peace to the very simple and harmless
abstraction ..,hat the people should contest
the laws of The legislature in legal man
ner, SO long as fair trial before federal
tribunal was secured" As this was what
they had long declared to be their purpose,
they made no difficulty in re-af6rming their
position, and terms Of peace Were drawn
up accordingly. Shannon expressed great
concern, the tender-hearted man, lest he
should be unable TO draw off his forces, so
bent were they on mischief; but he would
do what he conld. Meanwhile his camp
at Wakarusa had been Invaded by a cold
storm Of wind and sleet on the nigh, Of the
7.h, and while the governor was making
peace his volunteers were hurrying home to
Missouri, blue and shivering, and pretend
ing to be horribly mad because they had no,
been allowed to fight. When Shannon
returned on the evening of the S,h, with
the articles Of peace 10 his pocket, his brave
allies had dwindied 10 sorry handful who
were perfectly willing to receive their pay
and retire to the peaceful pursuits of Mis-
souri, life. Thus ends Shannon's first effor,
to enforce the bogus laws and exterminaie
the Free State settlers of Kansas We
trust he may be recalled before he has time
to get up another such row. The inva-
iers complain that they lost many horses,
some having been stolen by the Indians,
some having s,rayed away. and others
having died a. Westport from fatigue.
They also lost many Of their aims. AT
Westport they threatened to tear down the
hotel a. Kansas City, and committee
from that place was appointed to 60 to
Westport to demonstrate; the inhabitants
determined to defend the hotel at all hazards
should the remonstrance fail Of effect. No
demonstration, however was made.
FURTHER OUTBREAKS.
After getting the above in type, and
while the country is congratula!ing on the
settlement Of difficulties, we hear Of new
outrages, While the Free State Consti,u-
ton was being voted for on the 18th De.
cembsr, collision occurred at Leavenworth
between the pro slavery and anti.slavery
parties. The ballot boxes were destroyed
by the mob, voting stopped, and house
belonging to an an.i-slavery man was
burned. A man charged with the las,
outrage was arrested and lodged in Jail
his friends broke open the Jail and the
prisoner was rescued-the building was
then burnt down. Great excitement pre-
vailed on all sides, and both parties had
sent for assistance.
A letter from Westpor,, dated 18th De.
cember, states that on Election day, the
border Missourians mohbed various voting
places on the Missouri River, and at several
points. would no. allow the polls to be
opened.
We are informed by the clerk tina,
there will be two Judges in at,endancs a,
the ensuing term Of the Superior Court