New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-28
TRIAL OF COY. ROBINSON.
from Our Special Correspondent.


LAWRENCE, Aug. 90 1857.
Yesterday the case Of Gov. Robinson was closed
aud last night the "Jury," band of twelve Lee
compton men, were it'll absent, determining
whether Charles Robinson had committed crime
against the Governments; whether the people of
Territory have the right TO initiate the steps for
State Government; whether the people of Kansas
have right to try constitutional means to relieve
themselves Of usurpaticn hatefnl to them, or if
they must fall back on revolution; lastly, whether
Republicanism is mockery in America.
In making his Defense Gov Robinson determined
that he would not avail himself If any circumstances
that would avoid the issue. KrO.ing that the
people and himself had legal right to do all they
have done he rested bis case upun It's true merits.
In doing so be merits the thanks OF all who prize
our free institutions. He has proved himself emf
Dently worthy of the popular confidence he has re-
ceiyed. for b. has made the Of the people his
own.
| might denOunce all the steps in this trial as
Migrants let me rather enumerate them In the
first place, all the urOrs are LecoRiptoR men. TO
this the counsel of Gov. Robinson very properly Ob-
iected Even the bogus law under which jnries
are selected, OF rather packed by bogus sheriff,
does make it point that the jury shall be taken
IRON different parts of the district. To pack
Jury from one place was bad enough. To
pack jury oil from Lecompton was signifi-
cant. The motion of the prisoners counsel OBJ
jecting to the jury on this ground, was
overruled by Judge Cato. The prisoner then
thought if the Court was determined TO violate even
bogus laws in order 10 pack LecOmpton jury that
he must submit at present 10 the ruling. In qIes-
tiOLiDg the jury, the prosecutor put the questions
Had they formed no opinion, and were they not ill.,
terested No honest man living in Kansas and ia
mliar with the events as all are, could answer the
first question IN the negative. No Eree-State man
could answer the second question ncgath ely, for the
cause of Coy. Robinson was the peoples cause.
The twelve Iecompton Jurors took all the oaths
with great gustO, and thus packed, partisan Le-
comptOn Jury went 10 trial, under the r0iog OF
Federal Judge, and backed up by the United States
army.
Only one witness was examined; no others APP
peared. He was worthless, mean Free-State
renegade. j. NJ. luton was a member of the old
Constitutional Convention. He was also member
of the first State Legislature, and at lis first con-
yeDng he was candidate for Speaker. In his best
Free-State days he was hunkerish black law man.
Last Summer he went over 10 the eGemy, AMI has
since chiefly lived in Lecompton where he hes been
TAILOR If Free State men, and helped bogus Sherfs
10 hunt prosecuted Free-State people He has
eaten the miserable bread of lreachery, and ne
stood like another lscaIiOt to testify against the
representative of all WHO have struggled Tor freedom
in Kansas. His eSldence was 10 this effect: Charles
RObdsOn had taken an oath OF office; he had sent
a Message and "a document puiporting to be the
Message was introduced. Here the attorneys made
a point. On cTOss-eXamlnGtiOn the witness was I'M
able 10 prove any connection between the prisoner
and the document. | nder such circumstances the
counsel moved that the testimony OF the witness in
rr,a ID 10 this supposed Message be ruled out until
there was testimony a. prove that it was from
Charles Robinson. Tbs motion the Court in the
plebitude Of its judcial wisdom overru'ed. The
ruling of the Court wSs toe same in all points small
as great that came before lt-unmistakaby parti-
san IN It's leanincs-yi0lenty irregular and without
precedent. On the cross eza minatiOn the witness
Testified that il the design of those who framed
the Topeka Constitution, and who had proceeded 10
organize state Governrelt under it, merely to
have al the machinery Of State Government ready
IN case of admission bto the Union.
Judge G.. ". Smith and the Hon. Marcus J.
Parrot, made speeches in defense of the prisoners.
That of Mr.. Parrot was chiefly directed 10 the legal
aspects Of The question. Judge Smith directed part
Of bis remarks sgans. the Pro Slavery usurpation
and spoke on the merits OF the peoples cause The
legal argument by both amounted to this: that Gov
Robinson bad usurped nobodys Office; that be bad
never interfered with or pretended 10 act for any
territorial Offices; thst all the steps taken were
essential 10 complete the machinery Of State Gov
e11men., and eFen more were required than had
been taken; tina. everything done was according 70
Constitutional privilege and past precedent
Ju]se Caip, IN charging 'se July, overlooked az