The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-17
The United States Amy in Kansa.

The United States Army in Kansas.
Many persons misunderstood the rea-
son why the United States army is in
Kansas at this time. They suppose it is
for the purpose of overawing the Free
State men, or compelling them to submit
to the eDactnents of the Bogus Legisla-
ture. But this is MT so. Were it the
fact, we should not say one word in its de-
fence But out of respect to the feelings
of high minded and honorable men, who
love liberty, and would peril their lives to
secure it, for themselves and their country,
we must say their presence is timely; their
conduct unexceptionable; and their pri-
vate intercourse with the citizens, gener-
ally is agreeable. The officers are Amer
leans, educated at an American institu-
ton. They are American citizens, and in
no respect are they our enemies, nor are
we theirs.
They are stationed here because Kan
sas has been invaded and overrun by
hostile forces from other States, and for
the purpose of stopping these inYasions.
They are stationed here for the pur-
pose of protecting the ballot-box from be-
ing desecrated by hordes of armed men
from other States as in times past; and
they have accomplished that purpose.
They are stationed here because their
character is National and not SECTIONAL
| The attack on Kansas and its defence,
had become sectional, and was fast divid-
ing the nation into. antagonistic and hos
tile parties. They were pouring into the
Territory from both sections, for the pur-
pose of attack and defence. As this is a
United States Territory, the Government
as in duty bound, forbid any further in
vasions of it, and placed their own troops
here for the defence of the inhabitants
and to preserve the general peace of the
country.
This was the only common sense way
of allaying the feelings of the two
sections. If the two parties had contin-
ued in strife on the plains of Kansas, the
war would soon have involved the whole
nation. In case of battle, the defeated
party would have appealed to its friends
| for more men, arms and ammunition, that
it might regain its lost position. Every
season would witness assembling armies
on our borders and in our midst to deter
mine who should govern Kansas. The
strife would never end till the means of
both parties had been exhausted.
These views present themselves to the
mind of every dispassionate man as reas-
enable and correct; in corroboration of them
look at the action of the two extreme fac
tions who desire to continue the disturb
ance. Both parties are unwilling to de-
sist. The nulliiers, by their agents "Sher;ff
Jones" & Co., claim to rule Kansas by
fraud and force as in times past. The
citizenS claim the right to resist them by
| force and arms.
The General Government steps in and
says to both parties desist. We have the
governing of this Territory till such time
as it shall pass into the hands of the peo-
pie by becominga State. For this pur-
pose we send an army there to protect the
inhabitants, that they may spend their
| time in the usual pursuits of civil life
that they may not be called upon to waste
their property and risk their lives in mill
tary defences, which it is our duty to
| furnish.
/ The Government has acted wisely in
this matter. The military officers have
acted with praiseworthy discretion and
if there is any fault to be found, it is with
the civil officers, on whose information
the military depended to regulate theil
own actions.