New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-26

The detailed accounts from Kansas, which We
publi.h on another page. and which bring down the
startling history to within four days Of the fms
event, will be read with intense and melancholy
interest. Since the Congressional Investigation
began, we have not had a more dsmning mass Of
testimony as to the former violations Of law BY the
invaders from Missouri than that to-day presented
in the letters of cur Special CORE spondent; but
even this will BE- overlooked in his accounts, and in
those We have derived from other equally credita-
bic sources, of the preparations made there to
drown Liberty in the blood of her defenders. One
of these sources is gentleman who left Lawrence
on the 10th inst, sent BY the people to lay their
desperate straits before the President, and to be-
seech him to save them from slaughter, and the
town from devastation. We understand from this
geLtltm that Mr.. Pierce expressed great surprise
on being informed Of the state of things and posi-
lively promised to interfere, and to send orders
which would arrest the bloodthirsty Donaldson and
lis mob in their career OF outrage and crime; but
it does not appear that he kept his word. The
value Of Mr.. Perce's promise had been pretty we'll
ascertained before this last illustration of it.
We announced days ago. when giving in our
Kansas correspondence an account OF the hrst
movements toward the new raid upon Lawrencei
what the intention of that movement really WAS.
When, last Winter cold, hunger, the arms in the
hands of the State men, ard the hesitation oil
Gov. Shannon to take the responsibility OF blood
anderson, obliged the Border Rufhans to return
home, banked and disappointed, they vowed-and
the threats openly published at the time In oil
the Border Ruffian newspapers-to return IN tae
Spring, level Lawrence with the ground, and dis
perse its inhabitants. That was regarded at the
time as an idle threat and when, at the commence
meut of the present foray upon Lawrence, made
like the former one on the false pretense OF serving
writs, We announced what the real object was we
were held up to ridicule in various quarters, as
false or mistaken alarmists.
The responsibility of arson and murder which
last Winter Gov. Shannon declined to take, has
been assumed this Spring by the United States
officials, Judge Lecompte and Marshal Donaldson.
That these officials acted with the full concurrence
of President Pierce, is evident from the ascertained
fact that Col. Sumner Of the Dragons had positive
orders not to interfere for the protection of the
citizens of Lawrence, being specially instructed to
act, not as the preservation of order, life and
property might demand, but only as Gov. Shannon
might direct
The men of Lawrence were able and ready to
defend themselves from any merely rder-Rutfan
attack; but q Border Ruffian attack led by United
States officials, add cOuntenanced if not in
situated by the President, was more than
they could stand up against. All their most
influential men we're already arrested, or had been
obliged to fly; and under these circumstances the
town appears to have fallen an easy prey to the
posse comitatus of the United States. There 49,
80 far as We recOllect, no statute OF the United
States authorizing q posse comitatus to burn
houses; but that we suppose is provided for in the
Kansas code enacted BY the Border-Rafhan Legis-
latuIe. With two such learned and scrupulous
LAWYERS at the head of the movement as Judge Lee
compte and Presiden. Pierce to say nothing of the
occasional advice Of Gushing and Marcy, there
cannot be doubt that the Town Of Lawrence has
been burned down, and more or less of the inhabit
ants butchercd, all strictly according to law-at
least Border. Ruffan law, which seems to be the
only kind vouchssfed OF present to the Fyee-State
men of Kansas.
Mr.. Pierce will thus present himself to the Gin.
cinnati Convention IS candidate for reelection,
spripkled from head to foot with the blood of the
Free State men of Kansas, and his whole person
illuminated and lighted up with the blaze of their
burning houses. II that does not secure his re-
alectop, he will at least have the self sat saction
of having stickled at nothing, and having done
every thing be could. Arson and murder are quail
ifcstions for ssvedrivers nomination, such as 10
otbsr candidate has ever been able to boast. The
Border Rufians, il must be confessed, selected
their time well. Had President Pierce been other.
wise inclined to restrain them, so near the meeting
of the Cincinnati Convention be would not have
dared TO do il.
II remains 10 be seen whether the burning of
Lawrence is to be followed up, az msy be ex.
n. cted BY the expulsion of the Free State settler,
from their claims and the instalment of Border.
Rufian occupants in their places; also whether
these proceedings secure and establish the author
ity Of the Border-R uffan Legislature and the adj.
mission of Kansas into the Union as a Slave State
The Albany Argxs, after falsely accusing the
Free State men Of Kansas Of having organized .
systematic res stance 10 the authorities and Court.
of the United States, thus proceeds:
"Al candid men who will look 2. this Kansas mat.
ter without partisan feelings, must admit that great
and fatal mistake has been made by those who s5nb,
remedy for the alleged frauds in the trst election
Revolution was not appropriate remedy. Tb.rr
was no sufficient spoogy for resoring 10 it. L. never
can be justified except under the plea Of necessity
of
prom ping of demagogues would have trusted ~
nnotfer Election 10 correct The abuses OF the "a.