Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-14

ted them to other deeds of violence and
wrong. Scattering from Lawrence in for
aging parties, Buford's men secured the
country like lawless pirates, as they were.
Such was the policy the Law and Order
party-the National Democracy" of Kan
sos.
When the Free State men discovered how
useless, how worse than useless, it was to
appeal f r protection TO Shannon. the in
famous Governor, TO the National Admins
tration, TO the legal tribuna's-when in
their distant homes they found themselves
torsaken. betrayed ard deserted, surrounded
by relentless and bloodthirsty foe, bent on
driving them from their 6resides, or GRIM
soning the soil with their blood, then it was
that they felt called upon 10 resort to arms
and physical resistance Inspired by cause
as pure and holy as that for which WASH
ington fought and Warren fell. they rallied
under a common banner. and went forth Ike
the brave Magvars TO defend those rights
which are intutive in the manly breast
ghts ard liberties which mus be preserved
by freemen at all hazards. If thew would
preserve their own self-respeet. Thev did
not "gird on their armor" out OF revenge
for their wrongs, neither out of any mer-
cenary motive bv which their interests might
be advanced. They sought only to drive
back the oppressive hordes Of unprincipled
invaders, and to vindicate principle whic b
was dear TO them as lie itself.
At the first engagement at Osawatomie,
the ruffians were surely beaten. At Palmyra
or Black ok, Captains Brown and Shore
routed band of plundprrrs under the lead of
Pate from Missouri. The battle of Frank
lin followed, in which the Free State men
were also victorious Whil field, the bogus
Delegate to Congress who was advancing
into the Territory with large force, was
unceremoniuusl sent back bv Col. Sum
ner, commandin, :he United States ORA
goors. The ruff ms murdered Free State
man, Central, in cold blood by way of re-
venge, and committed other heartlpss de-
probation. During The rema inder of the
month or June, the Trrritory was affi cted
with all the horrors of bloody civil war
Os.watomic was sacked by a large Pro-
Slavery company, who DESTROYED or carried
oreveryi hing ofvalue. and shameFullv abused
the unarmPd and deienseless citizens
Then followed the Missouri river outrages
The boats were stopped and searched
money. goods and arms stolen, and Northern
EN- igrants sent back penniless. Governor
Shannon, Colonel Sumner and Judge L.
compte re used TO interfere, and the Admin
istration openly encouraged the depreda-
ton
Tpon the 4th of July, the Free State Leg
islatue convened at Topeka, pursuant to
adjournment. 1t was day memorable in
the history of our government, upon which
our forefathers declared their independence
in Declaration which constitutes the no.
blest paper which graces the archives of any
nation, and marked correspondence exist
e1 between the two occasions, though sep.
arated by long line of y,ars The Free
S. ate men of Kansas me;, like the Revolu.
tonary patriots, In dark and trying hour
They met. as overs Of liberty, to organize
aganiZe against an existing oppression.
They met as men who felt the yoke OF bon.
dage, but who could not submit to the en-.
slavement of body and soul. For peaceful
delheration they had Convened, to consul,
the interests OF their coun ry, and to devote
themselves to the adm nistration of Justice
they met in obedience to the will OF a ma.
juriIy ol the residents oil Kansas, and they
were intrus,ed with the hopes and the
prayers of a suffering people. Then anc
there. in that sacred place, and on tha,
sulemn day, was an outrage committed
VII ch must efer remain III tupon he HI,
tOric pagan outrage that nantes th,
cheek OF every true American with shame
and paints with vivid culors the degentrac,
and degradation OF or Federal Government
tor, when the Legislature was { n the puin
OF coming to order, the gleam OF Unite,
States arms and the entrance of Fedora
troops were seen, and an officer of our Gov
ernment ordered the Legislature 10 dispose
| He spoke not for himself, but for a hip e.
officIal-for him who occupied the mos
honorable position that this or any countr,
knows. Cromwell once dispersed refrac
| tory Parliament, and the Great Napo leon a.
angry Assembly; but these usurpations o
authority we're nothing in comparison tc
that executed by Pierce in ordering Fed
eral off er to dispose a Legislature conven
ed IN violation of nc law or established prin
clPle IN country protesting 10 be a free
| republic. IL was the darkest of The man,
dark deeds that distinguished the last Ad
Inlnlstration, and consigned it to a grave O
| everlasting lniamy.
When The report of what was ira Inspiring
IN kanSas-ot ShunnOn's treacherv. tht
Rutfians' cruelty, and the Administration :
| uupllcity-reached tae Northern States
they were scarcely credited. Persons couh
not believe that the detailed crueries ha,
been committed, or that the G.yernmen
could lend its sanction and Endorsement to ,
set OF rutiian invaders. But, as the reDor,,
were substantlated AID the frigl t.u account
OF existing affairs verified, the Norther.
Peup.e a"oke to realizing sense of ,tei
duty, and contributed men end means q.
well as arms and provisions, for their frieno.
aud relatives in The Far West, WIN a,
aiacfi;y and lberalty that did them honor
As Northern emigration n the Missour
River Aas interd .cted, new route wa,
opened through Iowa, and Lane took cbarqt
oi large bocy Of emigrants, who reache,
kansas during The month of August. Tn,
supplies they brought, together with tn,
evluence they furnished tu the Free Stats
men that their struggles and privations were
not unappreciuted, cheered and animatec
them with new hope and fresh COURAGE
A snort time previous to tn s, Mr.. Day. ibe
only Free State Federal officer in the Ter.
rltvry, was cruelty murdered. Col. Sumne,
Who nad exhibited some humanity towar,
the Free Statemen, was superseded nv Gen
Smith, OF Louisiana, wh0 was expected :,
sIGe entirely with The Kansas invaders. Or
the 9th OF August, another contest tool
place between the respective parties. nea,
Osawatamle, and ii setoi Georgian maraud
ers were driven from their post. AT tn,