The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-04-25
Origin of Last Summers wsr.

V Origin Of Last Summers wsr.
The following article was found in
our safe, in manuscript form. on our re-
turn, last September, from our four
months imprisonment. 1t was written
Immediately after the destruction, of
Lawrence, by our associate at that
time, as faithful history of the orr
gin Of the difficulties of a year ago.
As Mr.. WATTLEs is now absent from
his post and the chapter in Kansas
History suspended until he is able
to resume his duties, We have con
eluded to publish it. Just as zee found
Il, making no corrections or altera-
tions whatever. though were ace to
write the account. we believe we
should add very considerably to the
facts, and vary other statements slight
IL. 1t will be remembered, we in
voluntarily spent several weeks in the
enemy's camp, and saw matters from
q different standpoint from what
others did. We have a narration OF
our own observations, written while a
prisoner, which we shall give. in due
time to our readers, either as a chap
ter in the Kansas History we are pub
fishing, else as an independent article.
We believe the substance of this ar
ticle has been given to the public in
the form of petition from the Free
State settlers in Kansas to the Presi-
dent, hut it will be valuable for future
reference. and is worthy place in our
journal. We copy -
The SECOND WAR III KANSAS.
4 CBsplet< Nitterg cf the lat inrasioas: fran
tie arriraL # tie C1agyessionaI Larestigat-
ing C.nsnsiseiaa, d6son to tie Saekiag u
La@rsace, On tie 2ltt # Nay, 1856.
The Herald of Freedom has hereto
fore placed every event which has
transpired in Kansas upon record, for
the benefit of the future historian
Sometimes. as in the present instance,
circumstances have prevented US from
noting down occurrences at the time
they took place; but sooner or later
We have gathered the particulars and
spread them beisre the country. The
details of the latest invasion of our
Territory have been given in almost
every journal in the States; yet we
deem ourselves in duty bound as faith
ful chroniclers of the times, to pre-
sent in this number of the paper free
and accurate account of the barbarous
proceedings which transpired in Kan
sas from tue middle of the month of
April. down to the 21st of May, on
which day the printing materials of
this ofi:e, together with hundreds of
thousands of dollars worth of other
property. in the city of Lawrence. was
ruthlesaly destroyed by pro-slavery
mob, led on and sanctioned by O Uni
ted States officer.
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION
was appointed about the 10Th OF March
and commenced its sessions in Law
renee on the 23d of April. No soon.
er had the Commission gone to work,
than the slavery propagandists used
every exertion to defeat the object for
which it had been sent. They feared
to trust the investigation of their pro-
ceedings in Kansas to an impartial
eOmmittee;-they knew very well the
result would oyerwhelm them with in-
famy-hence it was their policy to
hinder, it not prevent. a full exami-
nation.
We have before this given detailed
accounts Of their operations in this di-
rection, and it is unnecessary to le-
capi,ulate former statements. any fur
: ther than merely to refer to the move
ments OF Jones in attempting to make
arrests of unoifending citizens-of his
failure to do so-of his employment
Of U. S. troops--of the General Gov
ernment-os his getting shot, and the
incidents connected therewith. These
slight allusions to those events will
enable the reader to comprehend the
case.
After Jones was shot. the breaking
up of the Commission became only
secondary object. Revenge was the
principal incentive to all further move
ments. Gov. Reeder was subpened
to appear before the Grand Jury as a
witness in case which be knew MOTH
ing about, and he refused to heed the
summons. He was next served with
awrit of attachment for contempt of
Court. but considering himself privi:
isgsd, refused to be arrested by the
Deputy q. S. Marshal. This was on
toe 7th of My.
DEPARTURE or GOV. ROBINSON.
The Commissioners having good
reasons to apprehend that the Border
authans intended to get hold of the
papers containing the testimony al
sady given in. dispatched Gov. Rob
iasoa with the most important locn-
asnts to Washington. He left Law.
isaee. accompanied by his wife. on
fha morning Of the 9Th of May. passed
fhrough Westport, No., to Kansas