New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-07
KANSAS.

LAWRENCE, K. T., Dec. q, 1856.
The weather which has been severely cold for
week or two, has modified slightly, and from being
intensely cold it has become mildly muddy. Last
night and this morning i. has drizzed, and the ice
on the Kaw exhibits symptoms Of rOttenness and
DISRUPTION. Christmas was celebrated in Law
renee. believe. with proper respect and sufficient
burniup of gunpOwder. Beside the meeting TO ln-
sttute a University there was display of the
volunteer military fOrce-that is, the military com
pspy in Lawrence; for the Free. State volunteer
force at the present writing, Is in about as "unor-
panized condition" as Gov. Shannon reported the
Territorial militia to be about year agO. Should
we have more wars and rumOrs of wars, there
would require to be fresh organization and ne"
coinage of military dignitles.
But the most interesting event OF the CHRIST
mas holidays was a party given to the convicted
FIee-State prisoners at LecOmptOn. These TWEEN
y.One Sufferers in the Kansas cause are beginning
to have better time of it now that they are con-
vic.ed As an instance of this, we have the rather
Unprecedented occurrence OF cOnvlcts invited to
and attending parties. This opens up a new fea-
ture in criminal juri, prudence, and certainly was
never contemplated by the bogus Legislature. II
this is to be regarded precedent, aud there IL To
be any guaranty of its continuance, there VII De
fun in felony in Kansas. From being treated with
almost unheard.of brutality TO being permitted thus
to enjoy themselves on parole of honor, il certainly
a very striking change: and they who suffered even
while there was no writ nor Indictment against
them, and who realize the benefits OF Ii Mud aud
considerable policy, after having been declared guilty
of the most heinOus crimes, can speculate on the
changing disposition Of the powers that be- and the
funny Inconsistencies of Kansas Justice. MI Hamp-
ton keeper Of the cOnyicts, accompanied them 10
Lawrence but that of course, was merely form.
The cOnvicts were generally in good spirits. lhey
had hopes in prOmites made 10 them through Mr..
Hampton (whO il strong Geary man) that they
would soon be released This person has told them
to have implicit confidence ia the Governor aud all
would soon be right.
While we cannot hut rejoice at the cons;derate
ard humane treatment now received by these Free
State men, neither can we blind ourselves IL the
Inconsistent policy of which they have been the
victims II they were really the cOnvcts the Ia"
of the Territory at present recognizes them a. De
ing. the interference OF the Executive IN ihef Ia
yor would be repreheDsble as u Is an Irregular
exercise of power not legtimateIy delegated to hlm
He would, indeed, appear to be really monarch
one sustained in the exercise of most unhrard-0l
poyers in a Republican Government. lie has
thus quietly absorbed the functions OF the judiciary
and made it play thing, and has even proposed 10
swa the Legislature to policy directly hostile 10
that from which they derived their u.urpcd au-
thority. Gov. GeaIy will learn, / am inclined to
think in some two weeks, that neither his author
ity nor that of the Executive even if it was to
back him in the effort could have the slightest Ell
feet Cd the bogus Legislature.
Tpuckilv sll of the Free state prisoners are not
az LecumptOn and those who are not do not fare 80
well. Ii would be in bad taste 10 be spIenetc AZ
the Governors good treatment of these prisoners.
think il is the first sincere indication OF change
of policy 1t will not do TO regard 1t as the con-
tiuuation of fixed policy. Gov. Geary h,d these
men arrested by the Dragons at his own instance
Under his own authority be held them untll wrlts
and indictments could be fabricated against them.
he turned them over To the tender mercies OF Ii,
tus's militia, and permitted them 70 De dragg1d
through all tie violent Irregularities OF LecOmptes
Court and at none Of these Judicial eecentrcltles
| did he interfere The First District Court of the
| United States for Kansas hiss been made 10 cut
very sorrv figure First TO be set u work on
prisoners provided by the Executive, permitted 70
convict them with all the solemnty OF judicial
firms and then 10 have al It's abOrs set a. naught
BY Executive interference.
Tie prisoners in question are worthy oil the Eo'-
| erpor's interference in their behvOt. Should he,
| according 10 promise, get them set az hoert!, IL
would be an act more of justice than OF m,gha
nmity, for they were as worthy OF his cohsidert-
ton the day he caused them to be arrested as they
can be to-day.
Asa striking offset TO this have TO record new
and stariln feature in Kansas affairs. In my last
mentioned the conviction Of PrO-Slayery man
named Gushing, for numbering another fro-SiaVery
man. He has been sentenced for twenty years IN
the Pententary, OF in lieu Of It, the cham gang
In Pursuance Of his sentence be actually wears "a
- chain and ball" which has been affixed 10 MS
| person. Thus, under the present dlspensation' De
gins his exercise Of gnOmlny, and It's VICTIM oeins
| Pro-Slavery man is prophetic
The Pro-Slayery men of the Territory can nave
lit lie ,yrlpahy in the case Of Cushing, but Affairs
are reaching significant point which they are zoo
| ,brevd not 10 observe. Gov. Geary has almost
| committed the objectionable sin with them; IL IS
| clearly evident that something must De done or
thew Will lose ground. The mu:terings OF The FRO
| Slavery thunder aIe not loud, bu! deep ana VIII
| break with more noise at the Pro-Siavery ConSen-
| ton 10 be holden on the l0tu OF next month
Several fellows have been proving about over IN
the DELAYS are Re.erye, opposite to ths on Tue pre-
tense of bunting runaway negroes. l net one Cf
these worthless last night under odd clrcun. tances
| | had been belated by tOllsome walk along the
| bank of the StraD,e seeking ford Rams ao"'e
had swelled the stream and burst up the ice, men
was hiring down on its swolleu surface, and a.
ter vaiuy searching for canoe, had 10 strip and
cross at a rocky ford where the water wa OFra'I
| high, bearing my clothes overhead falgued, |
VAS still some SIX miles from Lawrence "ben ue
twilight came on. was pursu ng an 10 ian 'rAi
| through the Reeerve, when | Observed Morse
n an riding toward me. There Vas something
in his manner, as be approached, th''
J adr NE uncertain whether be was hlshwayman
| or a Border Rufian; did not suspect that be- WA
| merely negro kIduapper When about twenty