New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-25
KANSAS.
SECRETARY DAVIS, GEN. SMITH AND GOV.
CEARY


jefferson Davis of Withdrawing from him the use Of
the United States troops at time when their ces
were most needed to protec; bis person from vio-
lence and 10 prevent threatened breach Of the peace
Of the Territory Of Kansas Whether Gov. Geary did
or did not make this statement is matter Of little i'm
portance. That the statement il strictly s in erery
particular il susceptible Of the clearest demonstration
Conclusive proof in fact il furnished in the published
letters Of Gen. Smith written 20 convey different
| iTpression.
| When Geary received his commission he also re-
ceived Instructions by which his policy was 10 be d
rected and controlled Among these instructions from
| Secretary Marcy was the following:
In instructions heretofore your prede
ce.so in February las, in the Annu Message 20 Congress of
the war Department (pnted oope. Of which are herewith
furnished YOU VIII End The polly Of The Pr.;.deSt I pre-
Of Kau and second disturbances occur therein to bring
should the force thst rso'ided s.n these Oh
e' prove n,uei'n ySu will Pro.piy nasr known mat
iset 70 the rr,arh 'ha' ne nay Ii ~ ~ ~ ~
thereto 70 him may seem to be demanded BY The esece
In order that Gov. Geary might be able to carry
these instructions the whole available force of the
United States army in Kansas placed az his
vice, in addition to which acquisitions were made by
President Pierce upon the Governors OF Illinois and
Kentucky for two regiments Of volunteers 10 aid him,
| should circumstances seem TO demand their use.
On the 9th Of February last, Gov. Geary forwarded
an official dispatch 10 Gen Smith, asking for two COM
| panies Of dragons. In that dispatch h. said
a.s,Eiatd il within he h.asa Of P,.sy 3 S1as about;
Iy.eif"
He states then the particulars Of determination of
| certain party to 0ssGssinGfe him, and adds:
This may lead to trouble 1t must be prevented and 'h.;
conpssics report with the least possible
delay think this s sb.Dst.y and trust you Will
Immediately comply with my request
When the messenger started with this dispatch for
Fort LeayeDwoth il afforded considerable merfiment
to the crowds of rifians that invariably hung about
city by direction Of certain prominent characters of
the place, they having been informed that the Gov
had no longer any control over the United States
forces. This fact duly announced to the Cover
nor who treated with the that he supposed it
meri.ed. What, then, was his astonishment when the
messenger returned with the following answer from
Gen. Smith:
as4 p.s.ssST q FL. SHs T. s
MS E1eeUe"'yL ~ Gea'y GO'e'"0' Of tI1.,: haa'a,
Goyrssor have the honor ackno~ledse the receipt
daely additional companies Of Dragons report {, you,
in eonhdsnSe emo that 'ne 4 ,p 10.
ofs previous letter requiring battalion to be cent TO you in
III YOU refer to the law. you will oberve that the Presi
authorized call the military and naval forces into
Sd to pfe.. Combination. to ob.trSet the
breaches of the do not authorize the employment OF the
Bcsde all forces here have been designated by the
Secretary Of War aud under orders M other service
distant, and the compsnc, you will have to BE- r-
and cannot them urti the weather improves
even they be employed TO aid The civil authority
to- The saisons be left in the Territory will be available
tho President directs their eInPloyment -..,.-,...
tn, under which the acting con
slider 10 have ceased Without the sro-stst on ne
shtet probability u any disturbance there aud inquiry
hear of none from various inhabitsnt.
With the highest respect your ooediert servant
PERsIsER r SMITH
Brevet Major General Commanding
Tie state of the case as presented by these official
documents is then this: Governor Geary lett Wash
ugton in August last for Kansas, instructed F!rd,
so maintain order and quiG IN the 1cTrHoTtCt Mar
"sos; and second y d'sturborees occur heLcn 10
"6ring 10 punishment the c6enders' He was told by
the President and the Secretary of State, that II the
United States forces then in the Territory were made
quate to enable him to enforce these instructions others
would be furnished upon his requisition Previous 10
this time the troops had been employed by Governor
Shannon and others, not only to prevent breaches OF
the peace but to assist Marshals and Shers 10 arrest
horse-thieves, robbers murderers, and other criminals
In February last an attempt was boldly made TO as
sassinate Governor Geary, which failing, combns-
ton was being formed avOwedy for that purpose, the
parties in which depending for success upon their
knowledge of the fact that he longer had control OF
the United States troops for his protection he, how
ever calls upon General Smith for aid, who replies
The contingency under which the troops stns con-
Insults" attempts to assnae the Governor "or prob
able breschers Of the pesce growing out Of such attempts
| do not authorize the employment Of the troop"
SBesde, been de.sn.ted By the
Secretary of War and under orders for other service more
| called"
Gov. Geary. as il is alleged, found himself az
gieved and assigned among other reasons for resign
ing that he left powerless to carry out his IN
stiuctions as the Secretary of War had ordered the
removal Of the troops. Gen. Smith immediately de-
| nes that the Secretary of War had done any such
thing and publishes in proof of this denial, his own
reply TO Gov Gearys requsition, in which he says
the forces just been desgnsed by the Seer"
.Iy ct "a and are under orders 0r Oi' service more '
Gen Smith in his letter to Davis says; Gle IGearyl
| had already Capt Ncwbys and Capt. tlints COM
"paries of troops under his control Now, al the
| yery time that Gov Geary asked for troops both
| Capt. Newbys and Capt. Flnts companies were
| under orders TO report themselves at Fort IeaNen-
worth for other and more distant service They re-
| NAMED in Winter quarters only because, a. Gen.
Smith saws. - cannot move them until the weather
improves and far from their bong under the con-
troll Gov Geary, he distinctly informed that
they were not To be employed for the purposes be
named. but only in certain Other contingencies of
which he and not Gov. Geary was TO be the Judge,
which contingencies, the General says consider to
have ceased.
Beside an this at the time the troops were needed
by Governor Geary to prevent " probable breach oi
1.-THE peace" which actually did occur, resulting in
the death Of one man and the woundng OF several
| others, Captain Newbys company of twenty-three
| men were about half mile from Lecompton, on the
north side Of the Kansas River, the ice on which had
that i, could not be ferried that for any service
| that could be rendered by Captain Newbys company
| to Governor Geary, it might just well have been
| in China o. the Sandwich Islands
| SO far as Captain Flints company of thirty men
was concerned that company, in obedience to General
Smiths orders, marched from Tecumseh TO Lawrence,
on its way TO Fort Lesvenworh, on the 10th day OF
March taking with il the ldst soldier under the control
of Governor Geary, whom he had employed TO guard
the library roo containing iron safe in which were
deposited the official records, and moneys and other
vauables belonging 10 various public officers and pri-
vate citizens. so that the afternoon of that day