The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-01
Gov. w.yteLwha. can he Do,


Our friends in the country ara anxious
to know what Gov. WALKER's intentions
are towards Lawrence, and why he march
ed the q. s. troops into the vicinity of
this place at this time. We have no in
formation on the subject, save such as has
been made public through the Governors
proclamation, or was acquired through the
committee who visited him on the day of
his arrival with the troops in town. On
that occasion, it will be recollected, the
Governor stated that he had information
of conspiracy, on the part of certain In
dividuals, after their defeat at Topeka, to
set the whole machinery of the State gov
eminent in motion; to reverse the order
of things, and execute in detail what they
had undertaken to do at single effort.
Although the bills to charter cities and
counties were defeated in the Senate, it
was determined to organize cities, COM
mencing with Lawrence, Quindaro, Osa-
watomie, &C., and follow it up with other
organizations until the whole State was
thoroughly organized; then to perfect
the organization by setting the wheels of
theState government in motion, and drive
out the Territorial authorities. The
Governor remarked that it rested with
him to remain silent until he was elected
from the Territoiy, or place himself in a
defensive attitude. The committee might
have stated that while holding their inter-
view with the Governor, a couple of gen.
tlemen from Quindaro called upon him,
and communicated their intention of Or
ganizing an independent city government
at that place, and wished to know wheth-
er measures would be taken to break up
such an organization there, if attempted,
thus furnishing the committee evidence
that the Governors information did not
rest with him on mere suspicious. We
might state also, in this connection, that
we understand other organizations have
already been commenced on similar ba-
sis in other parts of the Territory. AS we
stated last week, the Governor can only
arrest the prime movers in this city move
ment. He can cause writ of quo s0a,rantC
to issue from the District Court of the
United States, and inquire of them "by
what authority they exercise certain
franchises. If they do not show valid
justification, they can be ordered to desist
in future, aud be fined for usurping such
authority in the past, and stand commit
ted until such fine is paid. In case they
still continue to exercise the franchise af-
ter being ordered to the contrary, they car
be punished for contempt of Court, and
such penalties may be imposed upon them
as the caprice of the Court may deter.
mine.
. Or they may be proceeded against un-
der Territorial authority and fined fol
usurpation of office. 1t is also probable
they could be reached with other forms oi
law, but in all of them the remedy is a
| feasible one, and collision between the
U. S. authorities and the people is not to
be apprehended. Indeed the people out
side of Lawrence should not mix up with
the matter, nor involve themselves in the
strife unless Gov. WALKER resorts to vio-
lence in defiance of law. In that case
which no man has any reason to appre-
hend will ever occur-we should have
cause to unite as one man against him.
Let us suggest to our readers that Gov.
WALKER is lawyer of large experience.
He may be hasty in his movements, as we
believe he was in this instance, neverthe-
less, we are confident he will not act out
side the law, and place himself in a vul-
nerable position from which. ho viii be-
come the target for his enemies from every
Quarter