Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-10
CH1cAao. March 80, 1857.


failing tho substance Of, and, as far as am
able. the language used in a conversation
with Gov. Geary, in Washington, on last
Wednesday. was introduced to the Gov
ernor by an old and valuable friend Of his,
and was very cordially received. | found
him TO be gentleman of about 40 years of
age, tall, we'll proportioned, evidently athlet-
ic, and with n very honest and agreeable
face. OF course, our conversation turned
at once upon what is uppermost in every
mind-the affairs Of Kansas. | have, all
my life, been what is called National Dem
ocrat and though my territorial residence
forbade me taking any part in the last Pres
idential election, my sympathies and hopes
were earnestly for Mr.. Buchanan. was
not, then, as you imagine, exactly prepared
to hear the tale that Gov. Geary told. |
had looked upon the reports which were cir
culated in opposition newspapers, as grossly
exaggerated statements of occurrences in
the Territory; and, though willing to admit
that the pro-slavery men had been guilty of
some excess, Iconsoled myself with the nat
ural supposition that the other side was
equally TO blame. Even the report of the
conversation of the Governor in the office
of the Missouri Democrat, looked upon as
a partizau statement, greatly distorted for
political purposes. Judge then Of my sur
prise, to hear, from his lips, confirmation
of all that had looked upon as false, be-
fore; and to hear the remarks attributed to
him by the Democrat, not only reaffirmed,
but repeated with minute details which
greatly heightened the effect of what he
had to say.
do not propose to give at length the con-
versation that filled almost an hour; but
cannot refrain from calling your attention
and that of your readers, to the fcw points
which have not appeared in the many re-
ports given by the public press. Passing
over his confirmation of the charges of afro
cities, which have filled the Republican pa
pers-a confirmation, direct, positive, and
unequivocal-I will mention what he said
in relation to the withdrawal Of the troops:
."Every Pro-Slavery man of influence, as
well as many of the saloon-keepers, COM
mon loafers and the like, knew of the pro-
posed withdrawal; and was taunted by
them--some of them the vilest of the vile
with the fact that | was to be unsupport-
ed, long before / had any official notification
of what was intended. l did not pay any
attention to these things, inasmuch that |,
though then suspicious, yet depended upon
the positive assurance of the Administra-
ton that should be sustained. The dis
covery that the people Of the Territory were
TO be left at the mercy of the assassins by
whom they were threatened, was the Sc
verest trial TO which which was subjected"
repeat his language as literally as posi-
BILE; and am sure that | do not color or
exagerate the facts. In relation to the char
acter of the mon who have been laboring
to destroy his power and influence, he OBJ
served:
There are men here in Washington now,
seeking for office, and with the probability
that they will get what they ask, ohose
hands and arms up to their elbows are red
aeith blood! Iknow them TO be murder
ersf Yet they are graciously received by
Mr.. Buchanan and the Cabinet, and their
statements are taken as truth wherever
they conflict with mine. They are treated
with more cordiality and favor than l, who
have tried to discharge my duty faithfully
and honestly can ever hope to be-"
In relation to the coming election and
the probable complexion of the Constitu-
tional Convention, he said:
~ believe that at least two-thirds of the
people of the Territory are in favor of max
ing Kansas free; but under the operation of
the plans which their opponents have de-
vised, there is no doubt that Pro-Slayery
Constitution will DO framed"
The difference between the two parties,
he stated as follows:
"Among the Pro-Slavery men, there is
no freedom of speech or the press-hardly
of opinion. The first inquiry made by them
Of every new conner, is, "Where are you
from :" and if the answer is from the North
that man is marked, and neither his person
nor property is safe. They have establish
ed reign of Terror. Among the Free
State men, found nothing of this; every
man who has an opinion is at liberty to ex-
press it without molestation. l had no
trouble with them after the first difficulties
were oyer--none whatever"
The Governor was very direct aud ex-
plicit in his charges against the late Adj
ministration, and by no means disposed to
spare that now in power. He seems to
speak as an honest injured man. Going to
Kansas with the intention of dealing alike
with all parties, and enforcing the laws rs he
found them, without inquiry as to how or
by whom they werc made, he soon learned
that that policy was not what his party there,
or his superiors in Office desired. "They,"
l .use his words, dreaded nothing so much"
As soon as they ascertaine5 that he was not
TO be used for their purposes, his troubles
and prosecutions commenced. He complain
cd that his dispatches sent to tho Depart
ment Of State were grossly gsrbled in pub
location, when they were permitted to sec
the light at all. The parts which were
supposed to be offensive to the Pro-Slayery
party were stricken out; and the country"
said he, shas never yet learned the whole
truth" He thought that no objection was
eyer made to any structures upon Free State
men; but when the truth was told of their
opponents, it was 'goring our OK"
3 In this conversation OF which have Civ
on but a brief outline, the Governor, though
there were others in the room, a part of
the time at least, spoke principally to me,
as ! had requested statement Of facts as
they had come under his observation. He
did not speak under excitement but dis
cseetly and with apparent care to tell the