The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-09

were elected under the Topeka Con
stitution, and Robinson chosen Gov.
ernor. On the 4tb of March the State
Legislature met at Topeka, Gov. Rob.
Inson and other officers sworn in. the
Executive Committee discharged, and
the Legislature then adjourned to NEE,
at Topeka July 4th.
Although these proceedings were in
violation of no law, and demanded bv
the necessities of the OCCASION. and
although precedent and authority
could he found for them in the history
OF Michigan. Arkansas and California
the President of the United States is
sned proclamation denouneine the
formation of State Government as
an at OF rebellion. aud uphoIfing
and endorsing the bogus Legislature.
Acting upon this proclamation. and
in accordance with his own base in
stincts. Judge Leeompte charged the
Grand Jury to fnd indictments for
high treason against all who had par
tiripated in organizing the State G Gov-
eminent. The jury succnmbed. found
indictments against Robinson. Lane.
lseeder and many others, and presen-
ted the two Lawrence newspapers and
the Free-State Hotel as n,risances.
Tins affairs stood when the Com
greSsional Investigating Committee
arrived in the Territory. MANY ob<ta-
rles were thrown n their wav bv the
Pro-Slavery party. and every means
adopted bv which fair and inst inves-
tigation of Kansas affairs might he
prevented Bat Committee proved
equal to the ardrous responsibility
which devolved upon them. and we'll
performed noble duty. The result
of tkeir lahors and the character of
their report is well known. It sub
stantiated the illegalitv Of every cleo
tion held under the enactments Of the
bogus Legislature. and eorrohoratpd
the truth Of all that the Frpp-State
men Of Kansas were reported to have
Undergone.
Up to this time the Pro- Slavery
party had boan guilty Of cnpmitting
crimes at which the blood cuTdies-
j. w. r. Kelley had heen beaten and
Shamefnllv abused at Atchison the
Rev. Pardee Butler had been lvnrhed,
tarred and feathered and sent down
the Missouri on frail raft Collins
hal been cruelly murdered at Doni-
phan. and Dow at Hickory Point,
Barber had heen shot down hv Major
Clarke, Government official. end
Brown tortured to death near Leaven-
worth. And yet the murdprers ran at
large. boosted of their exploits and
openly defel the law Gov Robinson
was arrested May Sth. at Lexington.
Mo-. and sent ba''k TO Kansas. where.
with six others. he was thrown into
prison and kept confined for four
months.
On the 11th. Marshal Donaldson
raised force of ruffians, embracing
Major Bnford's "chivalric boys" and
marched to destroy Lawrence, un1er
the pretence that the citizens had aided
Reeder in resisting his authority
Like the swarm of Egyptian locusts
this force carried tlesolation as they
went. Jones anil Stuart. harmless
and excellent citizens. were shot down
like wild beasts. and upon the 2nth
of May the ruffians reached the city
of Lawrence. The citizens were al
most paralvzed with amazempnt as
they looked upon the angry and de-
moniac tbrengs bv which their homes
were surrounded. But they determined
on mustering all. as in the DAYS of
Rome. from twelve to SEVENTY. and re-
solved To beat back the ruthless inva-
ders of their peace and prosperity, or
fall like earnest men and patriots
The marauders. though outnumbering
their opponents FIVE to one were yet
afrai'l to risk a fair engagement and
sent bogus Sheriff Jones to secure their
arms and cannon by promising pro-
lection to lie and property. Deceived
and betrayed by those pledges, in an
evil hour the Free-Stata men agreed
to the terms, and the ruffians were al
lowed to pour into their city. and
then, regardless of their pledges and
plighted faith. did they commence
anew the work of ruin and plumber.
Two presses were destroyed. together
with beautiful new hotel. and Gov.
Robinson's private house, while Ateh-
isnn melted them to other deeds Of
violence anil wrong. Scattering from
lawrence. in foraging parties, Bu-
ford's men secured the country about
like lawless pirates. as they were.
Su IN was the policy Of the Law and
Order party"-the National Democ-
rary' of Kansas.
When the Free State men discov-
cred how useless. how worse than use
less. il was to appeal for protection to
Shannon. the Infamous Governor, to
the National Administration, to the
legal tribunals,-when in their distant
homes they found themselves forSaken,
BETRAYED and deserted, surrounded by
a relentless and blooi-thirsty foe bent
on driving them from their fire>i.les.
or q imsoning the soil with their blood
then was it that they felt called upon
to resort to arms AMI physical resis-
tanee. Inspirated by canse as pure
and holy as that for which Washing
ton fought and Warren fell. they rail-
lied under common hammer. and went
forth like the brave Magyars to defend
those rights which are intuitive in the
manly bsea>t. rights and liberties
which must be preserved by freemen
at all hazards. If they wouli preserve !
their own self-respeet. They did not
"gird on their armor" out Of revenge
for their wrongs. neither out of any
motive By NJ ich their in-
terests might be advanced. They
sought only to drive back the oppres-
sive honlss of unprincipled invaders, !
and to yindicate a principle which |
was dear 60 them as life itself.
A. 1t eE-a - -. -. -, -, . - 0e