The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-03
Fault.fnding.
We clip the following from a late
number of the Lecompton Union -
LECoMPToS CRY, Dec. Q, 1876.

LECoAPToS CITY, Dec. 9, 1856.
"MEssRs. EDITORS will you per-
NIT Law and Order man through
your columns to express his views
about certain things in our city that
don't exactly coincide with his views
of right and justice. 1t is well known
that some ten or fifteen of the Free
State prisoners were convicted at
the last term of the Court, and sem
fenced to the Penitentiary for a term
of years. 1t is also well known that
one Capt. Hampton, a Kentuckian,
was appointed by his Excellency
Gov. Geary, master of convicts, and
they were placed under his special
guardianship; Captain Hampton's du-
ty in the premises is evident to ALL
These men were convicted of base and
infamous crimes, after an impartial
trial before jury of their country
men, and they are nothing more nor
less than convicts, and should be
treated as such. What says the facts
in the case? Capt. Hampton, in his
efforts to raise them to an equal
ity with himself, has degraded him
self to close companionship with
them. We understand that he calls
them gentlemen-eats with them
drinks with them, and for aught we
know, sleeps with them occasionally.
GA fellow feeling makes us won
drous kind !" If Capt. Hampton is
carrying out his instructions received
from higher source, we can say in
his behalf, that he makes good and
willing tool; but if he is acting on his
own responsibility, and following the
dictates of his feelings, he should be
taught better.
We do not advocate the propriety
of dealing harshly and cruelty with
these fellows, but we strongly urge
upon Kansas officials-subs particu-
larly-the necessity of asserting and
maintaining the supremacy of the law,
and the absolute necessity of teaching
these fellows and their sympathizers
that Kansas convicts are no better
than those convicted of similar crimes
in New York.
"We understand further, that the
Capt. is in the daily habit of granting
these gentlemen their liberty upon pa
role Of honor, and allows them to go
where they please, three or four of
whom, taking advantage of his leni-
ency, have left for parts unknown,
thereby diminishing the number of his
children. 1t is customary to grant
liberty upon parole of honor to pris-
oners of war, but the practice of
granting such liberty to convicted
felons is peculiar to Capt. Hampton
alone, and if persisted in, we predict
that in two months there will not be
convict in the district.
We have not taken the trouble to
inquire into Captain Hampton's poll
tics. but we will take the liberty of
saying-and we draw our conclusions
from the premises-that If he wishes
to raise himself in the estimation of
the citizens Of Lawrence, he has hit +!
upon the right plan to do it, and if it |
is his intention to damn himself with |
the citizens of Lecompton, he has done
it. 1t may be that Capt. Hampton is |
a Law and Order" man-if so, he is |
one of that tender-toed, slack-twisted |
kind, that is willing to obey the laws |
as mere citizen, but is afraid to exc
cute them as an official. " Deliver US |
from saeA friends" !" They do more to
injure our cause than the combined |
forces of fanaticism and scoundrelism.
We hope that the Captain viii see his !,
error and amend-if not, We shall adj
yocate his speedy removal"
The above article, we suppose. was
written by G.. W. CLARK, late Indian
agent. Clark was formerly from Ar
kansas, and his article smacks strongly |
Of the rufianism of the border
Capt. Hampton is high-minded
gentleman from Kentucky, anda slave
holder. he has given bonds for the
faithful discharge of his duty in the
sum of $4,000. It is not likley that,
under these circumstance, he win dis
regard it, or violate his oath of Office.
e Mans ;ah.manity to man makes
countless thousands mourn But We
We never heard it charged as . crime /
against an officer that be was too hu-
name and too kind to the unfortunate. |
Capt. Hampton's public acts 50 far,