The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-03-14
Special Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune
Interesting From Kansas.

Political Excitement--the Topeka Conv ention-Free
State Man Murdered--Land Conspiracy--Indian
Treaty, &c.
LECoMPToN, Feb ID, 1857.
There is more political excitement in the
Territory at present than there has been for
months past. The proceedings of the Legis-
lature plainly show that determined strug-
lie to secure Kansas as Slave State, is
about to be made, and there is great un err
tainty as to the proper course to be pursued.
Some are for uniting in the election under
the Territorial laws; others take the position
that until Congress pass the enabling act they
will not abandon the Topeka Constitution;
Legislature for taking the census, and hav-
ing Constitutional Convention, there would
be no hope of fair play from the hands of
the Pr. Slavery men who are to manage it.
A call for a Free State Territorial Conven-
ton, to consider what is to be done by the
Free State party. has been issued by the
Kansas Central Committee. The following
is copy:
FREE STATE DELEGATE CONVENTION.
There will be Delegate Convention of
the Free State citizens of Kansas held on
tuesday, March 10th, 1857, at Topeka
Each District will be entitled to as many
delegates in the Convention as it has men,
GERS in both branches of the Legislature
Citizens of the several districts are request
ed to meet in their respective stricts, and
elect their delegates. We trust the import
ance Of this Convention, at this time, will be
fully appreciated by all the friends of Free
dom in the State.
H. MILES MOORE, Secretary.
LAWRENCE, Feb. 8, 1857
Thomas Shoemaker, ESQ.,, formerly receiv-
er of the land office. wa: recently murdered
in Leavenworth city. He was beaten with
clubs and an iron poker, so that he died a
short time afterwards. Mr.. Shoemaker was
one of the few men appointed by the Nation
al Executive to post in the Territory, who
proved to be Free State man. He formerly
resided in Morgan county, Illinois. There
he was democrat and friend of Douglas
but after he came to Kansas had his eye
opened to the Nebraska bill, and Squatter
Sovereignty, and turned a Free State man.
On this account he was removed by Presi-
dent Pierce. His life has often been threat
ened by the pro-slavery DULLES of Leaven-
worth. lie was killed by some of them.
FRAUD AND LAND CONSPIRACY.
The public are deeply interested in most
extensive plot which is designed to throw
the whole of the valuable Shawnee Reser-
walton into the hands of people from the
State of Missouri. Meetings have been
held in Missouri, to secure these lands to the
Border Ruff1ans, as reward, and by having
them in the Territory for a short time in
the Spring they will then be included as vo-
tiers.
The Shawnee Indians have made their Sc
lections.
The agent of the Shawnees went with his
map and plots to Westport and Indepen-
dence. Z There all the land remaining, was
selected and divided amongst certain PARTIES
who have formerly taken interest in Kansas
affairs. 1t is said that twenty-five hundred
men have thus divided these valuable lands
out amongst them. They are to aid each
other in securing its possession. This is
worth to them from ten to twenty and even
fifty dollars per acre. By the terms of the
treaty no one should be permitted to go on