New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-29
MARSHAL DONALDSON's REPLY.

LEcoAPrr, X. T, May is, SO.
Messrs. G. w. DEITzLER and s. NJ. GREGs, Law
renee, X. T.:
On Yesterday I received communication addressed
10 me, signed by one OF you as President, and the
other as Secretary purportDg to have been adopted
by meeting Of the citizens Of Lawrence, held on yes
teIdsy morning. After speaking Of proclamation s-
sued BY myself you state, That there may be mis-
" understanding beg leave 10 AK respectfully that
ave may be reliably infomedl what are the demands
eainst us We desire most truthfully and earnest
" 10 declare that opposition whatever win now,
OF at any future time, be offered TO the execution Of
any legal process by yourself or aoy person acting
g for you; aso pledge ourselves TO asst you, IT
called upon in the execution ofany legal process &c.
From your protested ignorance ut the demands
against you, must conclude that you are strangers
and not citizens OF Lawrence, or OF recent date, or
been absent for come time more particularly when an
attempt made by my deputy TO execute the process
Of the First District Court of the United States for
Kansas Territory, against Ex-Governor Reeder, when
he made speech in the room and presence Of the
Congressional Committee, and denied the authority
and power Of said Court, and threatened the life Of
said deputy if be attempted to execute .aid process
which speech and defiant threats were loudly appsuded
by some or two hundred Of the citizens Of Law
renee who had assembled at the room on learning the
business of the Marshal, aud made such hostile
demonstrations that the Deputy thought he and bis
small posse would endanger their lives in executing
said process.
Your declaration that you will "truthfuly and
earnestly offer DO opposition now or at any future
time 10 the execution of any legal process &c, Is,
indeed, difficult to understand MAY ASK, gentle
mep what has produced this wonderful change in the
minds Of the people of Lawrence Have their minds
been suddenly opened that they are able 10 see
that there are laws in force in Kansas Territory which
should be obeyed Or is it that just now those for
whom have wrs have sought elsewhere Or 1t may
possibly be that you now, as heretofore, expect TO
screen yourselves behind the word lega-so signif-
canty used by you How am to rely your pledges
when I am well aware that the whole population of
Lawrence is armed and drilled and the town fortified
when, too l recollect the meetings and resolutions
adopted in Lawrence and elsewhere in TIE Territory,
openly defyiug the laws and the officers thereof,
and TIRE atening TO resist the TO bloody issue
and recently verified in the attempted assassination
of Sheriff Jones while in the discharge of his
official duty in Lawrence. Are you strangers to
all these things Some of you must be strangers at
Lawrence. II no outrsges have been committed by
the citizens Of Lawrence against the laws Of the
land, they need not fear any posse of mine; but
must take the liberty of executing all processes in my
hands, as United States Marshal, in roy time and
manner and shall only such power as is authorized
by law You say you call upon the constituted su.
uoriiy of the Government for protection. This in.
deed sounds strange, coming from a large body OF
men armed with Sharp's rifles and other implements
of war bound together by oaths and pledges to re-
sist the laws of the Government they call upon for
protection All persons in Kansas Territory, without
regard TO location who honestly submit TO the cons
tued authorities will find me ready 10 aid IN pro-
tectiDg them; and ell who seem TO resist the laws OF
the land and turn traitors to their county, VII ind
aiding in enforcing the laws, not - an onscer
as q citizen. Respectfully your,
J.B. DONALDSON, hsrshs Of the Territory Of ksnsas