The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-06-06
A New cAatrs.

- -
A New Charge.
The Chinaosedn, replying to our posi-
ton that We iesire " efficient action I"
from this forth By the Free State party,
arsigns us before the country with anoth
e grave charge, to which il affords Us
plsasuss to reply Speaking OF Us, i
ays &
Last Fourth Of July, when the Free
State legislature assembled, there we're
many, very many, who desired . efiicient
action" : His fellow prisoners. who With
him were so cruelty and unjustiy confined
in the L. s. lamp, under false charges OF
treason; bravely shared that desire for effi-
cient action They sent letter to the
people there assembled, in mass conven-
! ton, at Topeka, urging and praying them
| to 90 on and complete the State organiza-
ton. That letter demanded immediate
and efficient action. 1t called upon the
members OF. the Legislature in sentiments
worthy of cause so Just, to stand UP
| like men in that hour of trial. The name
of G. w. Brown is not attached to that
letter. He had an opportunity to sign it.
Perhaps he was not in favor of efficient
action then. Tie is in favor of efficient
action Now
We were prisoners in camp together
Difficulties seemed gathering thick and
fast around Kansas. The whole horizon
4
was covered with gloom. The Fourth of
July, 1856, was near at hand when the
Topeka Legislature was about to re-as-
semble. The United States forces at
Forts Leavenworth and Riley were order
ed TO Topeka, Col. SUMNER in command.
The word had gone forth that the federal
authorities had resolved that the Legisla-
ture should not convene; that, on the
contrary, active measures would be taken
by the United States authorities to dis
perse them. More stringent rules were
adopted in regard to the treason prisoners,
and the very little comparative liberty we
had erjoyed was cut off. Visitors were
prohibited from seeing us, and letters were
forbidden to be taken in or out of
camp. We had no intercourse with the
outer world. Even strategy failed TO aid
us for the time. 1t was just as this period
was opening upon us, the following docu-
ment was sent out of camp, directed to
the Free State Legislature 1t was drawn
] up by C9sas. Robinson himself, considera-
bly, modified by the other prisoners before
they were willing to sign it, and then
it was sent out to do its work of evil
OF good
CAMP NEAR LEcoMPToN,)
Kansas, July l, 1856. {
10 the Friends IF LIAR and Order,H con-
re'aed al Topeka: The undersigned desire
to say word to their friends in regard to
the present aspect of affairs in Kansas.
1t is highly important at this time that
the oppressed people of Kansas should
occupy tenabie position, one which the
country and the world will sustain. There
| is, it seems to us, a position which we can
oHo DC OkcI~
come by numbers or not; while there is
another position which, if taken, would
prejudice our cause and might lead to de-
feat, and weaken the confidence and sup
port of our friends in the country.
The first and true position is, defence of
the State organization. You have a cen
stitutional right to meet as Legislature,
complete the State organization, and pass
all laws necessary to the successful adj
ministration of justice, and the Federal
Government has no authority to interfere
with you in the exercise of this right;
should it do so, it becomes justifable self
defence. 81
The second and untenable position is,
resistance to Federal officer in the SER
vice of a legal process, when the defence
of the State organization is not involved.
Should collision occur under such cir
cumstances, it would be most unfortunate
and should be avoided if possible. If an
attempt, h0tUeUer. IS made to arrest the aaen.-
bers Of the State organization, merely be-
cause they are such, irih Uietc to disable it,
then resistance becomes defence Of the State
organization, and IS manifestiy .J,tstifable.
Accordingly, all persons against whom
indictments are known to be pending, for
any other charge than that of being a
member of the State organization, should
not be found at the Capital, as that might
involve the people in his case. We feel
that our hope of success in this important
crisis depends, first, upon right position,
and second, upon calm and mRinchiag
fIpaness.
You have met for the purpose of doing
what other new States have done, and
what you have a constitutional right to
do, and no man or class of men have a
right to interfere, not excepting even the
President of the United States.
Our desire to be with You in this CROWN
| ing emergency is almost irresistible, and
nothing but the fear that your position
might be changed from defence of the
State organization to resistance to our
re-arrest, can reconcile US 10 this absence.
As it is, You have our earnest solicitude
and feryent prayers that all may go on
well with you, and that you may earn, as
you will, if every step is judiciously and
firmly taken, the gratitude of millions of
your fellow-men, and the appreciation of
the God of Justice and Humanity.
GEo. ". SMITH,
CHAs ROBINSON,
GAIUs JENKINs,
g. w. DEITzLER,
HENRY H. WILLIAMS,
JOHN BRowS, JR.
The position taken in that letter. we
conceived, would bring the Legislature and
the federal government into immediate
collision. 1t would involve, not only that
body, but the entire people of Kansas in 4
general war. Spreading on, the North
and South would engage in the contest, the
sun of American liberty would go down in
blood, the Union would be dissolved, and
the last hope of Republicanism and popu-
lar sovereignty would expire. We urged
this, and protested against forwarding that
letter to Topeka Weelaimed, too, that we