The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-01

Messrs. Gwin, Latham, and Broderick. were
the persons most talked of as having the best
chance.
FROM KANSAS.
Prison AT TECUMsEH, KANSAS,
Monday, December 10, 1856.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
Notwithstanding the change in Gov. Geary's
policy, Kansas has not yet received happy
peace. To be sure, the arrests and seizures made
of late are few, compared with the wholesale and
daily ones of a few weeks since although the
Marshal and his innumerable deputies seem to
be as indefatigable as ever. Still, nothing is
done on, or rather against, the other party. AS
an illustration of the feeling of the official party
on this subject, will name transaction which
occurred here not long since. l have already
given the Era an account of the trial of the
remaining Hickory Point boys here, and of the
discharge Of the grand and petit juries, and
adjournment of court. 1t had been supposed
that the grand jury would merely adjourn for
a few days, to meet again at the convenient
Of court last week. The cause of this not being
done, / have since reliably learned, was as FOL
tons, was rank Pro-Slavery, and, of course,
went in heavily for the indictment of every
Free State man in the district, who had even
been seen with firearms about him. This the
small minority found it impossible to resist.
They yielded, and, to try their honesty and i'm
Partially, demanded an investigation into a
robbery affair in the southern part of the Ter
ritory. They squirmed not little, but finally
consented to summon a few witnesses, for ex-
animation concerning the affair. But the first
acltneSs implicated all the grand jurymen but
four. What did that honorable body at this ?
Their action was very simple one-they i'm
mediately arose, and informed the court that
they had no farther prisoners before them.
They were discharged, of course Judge Cato
undoubtedly, being aware of the difficulty they
had got in.
The Supreme Court sat but two days. The
applications for new trials were considered and
refused, as had supposed would be the case
after Lecompte and Cato saw they could not
bring Free State men here for manfully defend
.ias-;,issai.-.i-sh =
| After the adjournment of the Supreme Court
Cato returned, and held session of two DAYS
In that time, he examined the prisoners lately
| brought up from OSsawatomie. Samuel and
William Kilbourn we're discharged. Henry
Kilbourn, lad of about fourteen years of age
was charged with robbery. He arose in court
and boldly made an explanation of the whole
| affair Two years ago he came to Kansas, In
company with his father and two brothers.
From the time they settled on the Usage
they and the other Free State settlers were
marked for targets for the rifles of the Missouri
robbers and invaders. Their homes were burn
ed, their cattle and other property all taker
away, and themselves driven to the woods anC
caves along the Usage, for safety.
| Henry, after a few days, crept from his hi
/ ding place, and, with some friends, followed
some of the party back to Missouri. They
were unable to recover their own property, blu
they knew the men who had aided to DESTROY
or drive it off. They watched the movements
of the robbers, and the first time they found
them across the State line, went quietly to them
and took enough property from them to com
pensate them foc their losses. al this the bo-
admitted, and told them to DO their worst. Tit
Judge Immediately sentenced him to twe Z
months confinen ant in the county jail
: The Pro-Slavory party had called 8 con q
az lIeavttTt oElh laBs week, emu ali th,
courts were adjourned TO allow tL5 officials e
attend. The object Of the convention was :,
ascertain whether il were better to change ID,
policy OF the party t. one nora humane, ard
at the same time more subtle. But, for som,
reason, the convention djoUsn-a over &c som,
time in January.
Mr.. G. A. Sexton and myself made applica
ton to Judge Cato for bail last Saturday the
Supreme Court having issued an order author
izng him to admit to bail such persons as
chose. Mr.. Haseltine had just been released
on bail, by proving an alibi He was charged
with murder at Titus. The principal charge
against us was the same. proved by two
undoubted witnesses that | was in Topeka al
daylight aud at noon on that day, while the
fight in which the crime is alleged to have
been committed took place, according to evi
dence before the court, between the hours OF
Sir end nine in the morning. Two other wit.
nesses strongly corroborated this evidence.
Judge Cato said he would consider the matter
until tonight, promising to hear more evidence
! to-day | will have one or two additional wit.
nesses, and could get any number, were it not
for the writs and indictments which hang over
them. They could not appear, without great
danger Of being brought into greater difficulties
/ than | am now in. Mr.. Seldom had but one
witness'pTesent3' BE will have more to-day.
The bogus Legislature will, it is rumored,
Immediately after their commencement at Lee
compton, al ourn to this place. This is prob
ably on account of the want of accommoda-
tons at Lecompton. The Free State I.egisla-
ture will meet at Topeka on the 9th of Janu-
airy, in accordance with provision of our
Constitution. Some think there must be col
lision. | think differently. After the expla.
nation demanded of Colonel Sumner by the
President, for the dispersion of that body on
\ the fourth of July last, / do not think that
either PierceGor Geary will dare to make a
move in that dirf ton, by any specified orders
and no military commander who remembers
/ that demand upon Sumner will like to perform