Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-03-03
COLUMBUS, Feb. 12, 1857. ,.....,
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
The War ian lk lkamSns--PAsSAgc in
Gssici:al History

The correspondence of the War depart
ment, though neither very elegant nor very
brilliant, is yet valuable us evidence. 1t
contains ample testimony to the fu IL truth
Of what the Republican party constantly
alleged, and the Pro-Slavery party rs con-
stantly dened-the invasion of Kansas,
the abuse of authority, the rapine, outrage
and violence practiced upon unotfendimg
citizens by the propagandlsts Of slavery in
that territory. The evidence is complete.
We shall cite here two or three passages,
which explain and illustrate some of the
most remarkable scenes in the Kansas war.
One of the most extraordinary things i'll
Kansas was the dispersion of the Topeka
Legislature, or Convention, by IL military
force under Col. Sumner. This was done
on last 9TH Of July-a very fitting day on
which to perform an act of. tyranny, and
give an insult to freedom. In thus char
acterzng it, we blame not Col. Sumner,
for he was only the instrument, and was
at last made the sacrifice of the political
charlataus who employed both army and
Judges for their purpose. Col. Sumner, as
we said, dispersed the Topeka Legislature
by force, on the 4th of July, OF course
there was not u particle of law, or pretense
of law. TO call peaceful body of men,
assembled, whether to make laws or pre-
tend to make, or to resolve against the
| Government, an ''insurrectiOnary" body,
was pure nonsense. 1t was one of those
fictons to which only men bent on wrong
or outrage ever resort. The author Of this
act was Woodson, acting Governor of Kan
sas, and one Of Pierce's appoiulees from
Missouri On the 4th of July, (rather IL
late hour) he issued his proclamation for
bidding the Topeka Legislature to assem-
be lie claimed to do this under author
ity of the Presidents proclamation of the
/ lth of February. The Tacts of the dis
persion are these, given by Col, Sumner,
i'll his report of July 7th.
"On the morning of the 4th the proc
lamation (enclosed) was read TO the peo-
pie by the Marshal, and also that from the
! President. A part of the members COM
piled with them, and did not assemble; !;
but a number of both houses determined
to meet at all hazards, and l was obliged
to march my command into town, and draw
it up in front of the building i'll which the
Legislature was to meet. l then went in
to the house of Representatives, which
had not organized, and said to them that
uUllcG IIt Va tACsf L tSSiOOiC
and the Governor, the Topeka Legislature
could not assemble, and must disperse.-
They had the good sense to yield at once,
and say that they should not array them
selves against the authorities of the Uni
ted States. l then went into the upper
4 house or council, and made few remarks
to them, and they at once conceded with
the lower house; and thus the Topeka
government was brought to an end .
i Thus was one of the most unconstitu-
tional and oppressive acts known in our his
tory very civilly and courteously ended.
! In the midst of the bloody tragedy then
enacting, this was not sufficiently regard
ed at the time; but Jefferson Davis, who
has a sort of sharp political cunning, saw
and DREADED this blunder. Accordingly,
he calls upon Col. Sumner to explain how
twas the judicial power was not sufficient
to do all that was required on that occa-
sion He replies, in a letter of the 1th
. of August, stating that Woodsoh,' the
acting Governor, was in his camp--declar'
ing the Topeka Convention an ''insurrec
ton" DC, and that lie was really acting
under his sdirection. Col. Sumner appears
to have been entirely blameless,. but OF
b the character of the act, SECRETARY Davis
, made this comment, and it is entirely de
4 cisive of the case :;a ..e.iul ll,-r 30
!. l''If the .-serious con sequences antici
pated by the Colonel commanding 1st cav
!, airy from theoonvention. of, the Free Stat
Legislature of Kansas had been realized
it might have been necessary forshim t.
use the military force under his commanC
to suppress resistance to the execution O
j the laws. and he would Laxe had. un- dis