Squatter sovereign., 1856-02-12

tsiCu SAiStiiiS u31tzStfttieSs my sSctis-
ed TO feel no hesitation Ia assuring me that
the Territorial laws should be executed.
and that there should b, no obstacle pre-
sented TO the serving Of any legal process !;
taey, however, as representatives OF the
citizens of Lawrence, reserved TO them
selves the right of testing the validity of
these laws IN the Supreme Court OF the
United Statos. They both claimed that a
majority of the. citizens Of Lawrence and
It's vicinity had never taken any other
ground. / did moi (although well aware
Of the incendiary nature oil the resolutions
which had been repeatedly passed at the
various meetings Of their party } consider
II necessary at the time to enter into any
controversy with them In relation to- their
previous position rs regarded the execution
of the Territorial iaws-that If they had
previously declared those laws null and
of no effect, aud avowed their determina-
tion to resist them to bloody issue |
felt i, TO be my duty to accept their present
declaration as an apology for the past and
an assurance (hoilow though it might BEL
OF improvement for the future. Whlfe
was determined, by every means IN my
power, and even if necessary by an appeal
to arms, TO exact obedience to the laws, /
felt urged by every dictate of humanity to
prevent collision which would have inev-
itabiy resulted in the destruction OF Law.
renee and It's inhabitants. This was in
deed no time to revive past offences, for
felt fully convinced that so far as Lawrence
and its inmates We're concerned, moments
were hours
Hear what the Governor says about the
commission which the traitors say was Civ
en- to Lane and Robinson. We never be-
lieved that Governor Shannon intended to
give permanent commission to them, but
were puzzled to know how the paper was
obtained. The Governor explains it, by
showing that it was obtained by lies, and
for fraudulent purpose.
GOV. SHANNON,S REPLY.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
SHAWNEE MIssIos, K T.,
December 25, 1855.
| DEAR SIR: Your favor of this Days date
is before me. In reply have to state that
| the arrangement of the difficulties with the
citizens assembled in the town of Law
renee during the recent disturbances, was
reduced 10 writing by myself, and intended
to be on liberal terms, and honorable alike
to all parties, In my arrangement with
them my great object was to secure the su-
premacy Of the law. and bring about, il
possible, more friendly feeling between
the two conflicting parties, and thus secure
lasting peace and amica bic relations.
knew that this object would be defeated by
insisting on any terms that would be hui
initiating to the parties concerned, and
was determined 10 extend to the citizens
assembled In Lawrence every opportunity
! for placing themselves in what | deemed
a correct position III reference to the exc.
cu,ion of the laws. The paper which was
shown you was probably correct copy oi
the arrangement entered into Oh the Ssl
| instant.
As to the paper dated on the 9th instant
and purpor!ing 10 be addressed to c. Rob
inson ane J. ii. Lane, desire to make al
expla nation, SO as TO present the truth il
relation to the manner IN which it was oh.
tanned, as we'll as my Object in signing it,
Ia order to understand this matter, it Is ne.
cessary should make some preliminary
statements.
On the morning Of the 9th, about sun
rise, issued my orders for disiianding
the forces assembled around Lawrence
[ remained at the Wakatusa camp unit
the forces at that place had retired. TIN:
they dad, in good order. about 10 o'clock
A. NJ, of that day (being Sunday went
in COM pany with Brga iier General Stricss
ier, to Lawrence, where, with Sherlt
Jones and others Of the pro-sIavery party
| spent considerable portion of the day
In the evening / was invites to attend {
social gathering Of ladies' and gentlemen
Of the town OF Lawrence, at the Emigran
! Aid Society Hotel, which accepted
There were but two rooms finished IN lh'
hotel; they were small. and in the thirs
story, and were, therefore, very mucl
crowded by the company assembled. Th'
time was spent in the most friendly ant
social manner, and it seemed TO bea mat
ter of congratulations on every side that th'
difficulties SO lately threatening had a
length been brought to a happy termina
ton. In the midst of this convirial party
: and about ten o'clock at night. DIR. G. Rob
inson came to me, and IN a state OF appa
rent excitement, declared that their pickle
guard had just come IN and reported tIa
, there was large Irregular force near til
town of Lawrence, who were threatenin
: an attack; adding that the citizens of Law
t renee claimed the protection of the execu
: tire, and to this end desired me to Civ
himself and Col. Lane written permissio
: TO repel the threatened assault. reptile
, to DIR. Robinson that they did not reauir
+ any authority from me, as they would b
n entirely justified in rspelling by forct an
u attack upon their town; that the law {
. selE-preservation Was sufficient, and thf
T any authority which might give woul
add nothing to its strength. The Docte
e replied that they bad been represented a
having arrayed themselves against the law
: and public ofice.sa Of the Territory, an
S he therefore wished me TO give him wri
e ten authority to repel the threatened as
q sauit, so that it might appear hereafter,
: a rencontre did take place, that they WEI
10