The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-28
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS.
Nisser Wsr,hippers' Accounts.

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Niger Ws,hippers' Accounts.
Correspondence OF the Springfield lMass) Republican
LAWRENCE, X. T., May l6, 1856.
The free State inhabitants of Kansas have no rea-
son to he proud Of American citizenship. Hitherto
it has been supposed that American citizenship was
guaranty of the largest liberty within the pale of
law and security to personal and nalienable rights
So much Franklin Pierce said in his inaugural.
Yet he knows and everybody knows, that the gross
est Outrages are repeatedly perpetrated on unoend
ing citizens in Kansas without the faintest hope Of
remedy. Wilson Shannon knows it, and yet ap-
proslavery men have him in their power at Lecomp-
ton, and he dares not take q step against their
wishes. He is fully atoning for his free State pro.
essions made during the December war. The con-
men able in the extreme. Emphatically the Reign
Of Terror is here. No man ia safe and no woman
either, Leading men and those who have got valu
able claims are especially proscribei.
! Yesterday eleven free State men unarmed were
quietly at work, in Benicia, four miles from Law
renee. One OF them was Mr. Hancock, formerly Of
Cambridge, and another Mr. Shimmons, late OF
Worcester. They were surrounded by party Of
t. entyfve border rufians, armed to the teeth
taken prisoners and detained for more than hour,
during which they we're obliged to submit to much
we're ever caught there again they should be
strung up.' They also said they were going into
Lawrence Ito wipe out the ID abolition city,
and either kill or drive out every free State man.
i
mons who made some courageous retort to
threat of theirs. A portion Of this ruffianly
band had previously gone into the house Of
Mr.. Simmons, during his absence, to steal his
arms His brave wife seized pistol aud presenting
it to the breast Of one of these officers was about to
| fire when another Of the towards who stood behind
her, grasped her arm and defeated her laudabe
purpose. This is only one instance of the many
outrages to which the people are subjected. 1t Is
exaggeration to say that such like acts of oppres
sion are occurring every day. Yet Shannon the Of
fetal of Frank Pierce, refuses to listen to our prayer
| for help.
The proslavery forces are collecting at Lecomp.
ton. They Already number one thousand men and
| additions are mede every day. This fact causes
much alarm, for these fellows evidently have some
internal purpose to execute. 1t is impossible to
determine precisely what it is. They assemble
| in obedience to the proclamation Of j. B. Donald
son, United States Marshal OF the Territory.
The substance of this proclamation is that whereas
resistance has been made to the execution of certain
judicial wrts OF arrest by large number Of the cit
zens of Lawrence therefore the law abiding citizens
OF the Territory are directed to assemble at Lecomp
pose Of assisting him in the execution Of said writs"
The honest, veracious and patriotic editor Of the
Boston Post, who certainly ia in favor OF free nsti
tutions in Kansas since this beautiful country is
the above proclamation addressed to the claw
abiding citizens of the Territory, extensively cir
culated in the border towns Of Missouri, while no.
q copy is to be found in any free State town OF
doubt not, however, that editor, in the honesty
OF his heart, will hereafter argue, especially when
the report of the investigating committee Of Con-
gess is kown that the Inhabitants Of Pstte and
ought to be "the law abiding citizens Of the Terri
tory" Of Kansas, referred to in the proclamation
aforesaid. But this proclamation Is an unmitigated
lie, and therefore an insult to the citizens Of Law
renee. No resistance whatever has been offered by
them to the execution of the law, and neither do
they propose to offer any, The only proof that
Donaldson has, rccording to his own showing, Of
such resistance u.s. lst that two weeks ago last Sab
bath Sheriff Jones came into town to arrest
5. F. Tappan. He showed no warrant what.
ever for he had none. When he inquired
Of the citizens where Tappan was, they laughed
at him. 1t is this cachination on the part of
some men in Lawrence, which the marshal con.
strues into an act of resistance to the execution Of
the law. I'd. When the deputy Of the marshal at
tempted to arrest Gov Reeder, the latter bravely
said, 'that no man should touch him but at his pc
ril" One hundred men standing by applauded the
expression, This applause is construed into an act
Of resistance to the execution Of the aw Sd. The
citizens of Lawrence have Sharps rifles, thank God
The possession of these weapons Is construed into
act Of resistance to the exc cuton Of law! What
a Daniel come to judgment is Marshal Donaldson.
Just as il In land where thieves and assassins are
proving about seeking what they may devour, no
pose rebellion.
On Monday last the citizens had meeting, in
which certain resolutions were passed in answer to
prOCI2maLO0,
no violence to any officer in the execution of his
preceIt but will resist even unto death the "ra.
wages Of an invading mob" On Tuesday, General
Pomeroy arrived His advent was hailed with great
demonstrations of JOY He has the entire confidence
Of the people. A committee Of safety was immedi'
ately appointed, of which he is the chairman. Gen.
Pomeroy is at the head Of the provisional gov
ernment and is conducting affairs with the greatest
sent communication to Donaldson, in which they
ask him to state in writing precisely what ne re.
quires of the people Of Lawrence. They also repeat
that no resistance whatever Will DC onered 70 Inc
execution of the territorial law.
This paper was taken to Donaldson by Lieutenant
Governor Roberts, Mr. Miller, editor of the Free
State, and Mr. Babcock, postmaster. On arriving
at Lecompton party OF Georgians seized MI. NH
Ter and dragged him from his horse, saying that
they had an account to settle with him. Mr.. Miller
asked what he had done. They answered that he
was from South Carolina, and edited the Free
State, and that was enough to damn him.. lie
the charge of being South Carolinian abolition
ist-an offence nearly allied to the objectionable
sin. Counsel was assigned him-a pro-savery
He was finally released through the most earnest
appeals of rOsayery friends after being obliged to
nav his counsel ten dollars and five dollars to
the august court. His horse and revolver were also
stolen.
The reply of Donaldson extends over three pages
of foolscap in which the true issue is covered up by
many words. He tries to prove that the citizens OF
Lawrence are in an attitude OF hostlnty 10 the AWE
SAYS he will execute his Its in his own time and
manner, and darkly intimates that he shall demand
the surrender Of Sharp's rifles.
Such is the position Of affairs at this moment
of writing. God only knows what will be the
result. Many Of the free State men are busily en-
gagged on their farms at distance from Law
renee. They will be slow to believe that our city
| IL In danger for II has been reported from time
to time ever since last December, that Lawrence ia
| going to be attacked Immediately. have strong
hopes that fight will be avoided, yet IL were 70
annalyze those hopes, fear should find at least
! a part of their foundation in my own wishes. The
time has not yet come for the battle if one is to
! ensue. Will the North understand it2 VIII the
North do its duty in the premises2 Governor Rob
| inions departure and arrest add to the present
difficulty though hope ultimately 1t will be for the
best. Some one will probably leave immediately to
transact part Of the business with which he was In
| trusted. commit this letter to faithful person
| who will take il to st. Louis, and mail it there.