New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-04

Auemi ~ Recommended the election OF dele
.ates ON the 18th 10 meet ot Big Sprngs ~ prmber D.
fbr he consideration OF pubic ahaus. Al TINS Con'
y,non the bogus laws were also repudis'ed, bA-uov.
Reeder nominated az delegate 70 Congress and day
.nnssnted for the election On the 18th OF September
anp,her Convention was held at Topeka TO make ar
ranrements for electing delegates Tor free-ctate
Constitution This Convention selected an ESecuiive
Committee who were invested with the authority Oh
provisional government 10 provide for me complete
Organization Of State Government. October y nee
der wes elected Delegate 10 Congress, by vote OF
400 and Delegates at the same tiie were elected 10
the Constitutional Convention This Convention as
sembled at Topeka on the 3d. and September II sub
mted Constitution TO the people, Appearing tle am
of March, 1856 for organizing state Governnf-nt;
Decemberl5, 1866, the Topeka Constitution was voted
upon by the people, with outbreak, except q,
Lesyenworth City, where the election was prevented
and the pol-book stolen On the 18th OF January,
1856 officers elected uAder the Topeka Consti-
tuition, and Robinson chosen Governor. On the 4th
OF March the State Legislature met at Topeka, Gov.
Robinson and other officers sworn IN, the Executive
Committee discharged, and the Legislature then ad
jourped TO meet at Topeka July 4.
Although these proceedings were in violation OF no
law and demanded by the necessities OF the occasion,
and although precedent and authority could be found
for them in the history OF Michigan Arkansas aud
CALIFORNIA; the President OF the United States issued
proclamation denouncng the formation OF State Gov
eminent as an act OF rebellion, and uphoding and in
dorsng the Bogus Legislature. Acting upon this proc
lama.on, and in accordance with MS own base iu-
etincts, Judge Lecompte charged Tho Grand jury TO
find indictments for high treason against all who had
participated in organizing the State Government The
Jury succumbed found indictments against hoohson'
Lane Reeder and many Others and presented tne TWO
Lawrence newspapers and the free-state ho'ei d.
puisapces. -.
Thus affairs stood when the Congressional Invests
eating Committee arrived in the Territory Many OBJ
stacles were thrown in their way by the Pro-Savey
party and every means adopted by which falr ana
lust investigation of Kansas affairs might be prevent
a Dat a. Cnp,p itfaa
responsibility which deyolyed upon them, ana wen
performed noble duty. The result Of their iaoors
and the character Of their report are wen known IL
subsantiated the egaty OF every election aea under
rated the truth of all that the Free-sta'e men oil Nan
sas were reported TO have undergone.
Up TO this time the Pro-Slavery party had been
guilty of committing crimes at which the blood cur
dies. ]. w. b. Kelley had been beaten aud shame.
fully abused at Atchson the Kew faruee buIier nau
been lynched tared and feathered ana sent down the
Missouri on frail raft; Collins had peen cruelty muir
dered at Doniphan, and Dow at Hickory Point; Bar
Der had been shot down by Major Clarke, govern
mept official and Brown tortured 10 death near Leav,
enworh And yet the murderers ran at large, boosted
of their exploits, and openly dehed the Jaw; uov
Robinson was arrested May 8 at Lexington, Missouri
and seut hack to Kansas, where, with six others, he
was thrown into prison and kept confined Tor ioui
months.
On the 18th. Marshal Donaldson raised force OF
ruffians embracing Major Bufords chVarlc ooys,
that the citizens had aided Reeder IN resisting ms
authority. Like the swarm OF Egyptian Ioeusts, ms
force carried desolation as they went. Jones ehu
Stuart harmless and excellent citizens, were snot
down ike beasts, and upon the 10Th of May the Ruf-
fans reached the City of Lawrence. The cihzens
were almost parayzed with amszement as they looked
upon the angry and demoniac throngs by which their
homes were surrounded. But they determined on
mastering all in the days of Rome, from twelve TO
seventy and resolved to beat back the ruthless ln-
vaders Of their peace and prosperity or ia IKE earn
est men and patriots. The marauders though outnu-
bering their opponents five to one, Were yer aad 10
risk n fair engagement and sent Bogus Sherf Jones
10 secure their and cannon by promising protec-
ton to life and property. Deceived and betrayed by
these ede IN an st b WERE allowed t to
pour into their city, and then, regardless OF their
pledges and plighted faith, did they commence anew
the work Of ruin and plumber. Two presses were De,
Gov. Robhson's private house, while Atehson III
cited them TO other deeds Of violence and wrong.
Scattering from Lawrence, in foraging parties, Du'
iSrds men secured the country ke s~e1s paed o.
der party"-the +" National Democracy OF Kansas.
When the Free-state men discovered how useless,
how than useless, 1t was to appeal tor proec-
ton TO Shannon, the infamous Governor, to the Ma
tona Administration, to the legal tribunas-when in
their distant homes they found themselves forsaken,
betrayed and deserted, surrounded by relentless and
blcodthirsty foe, bent on driving them from their fire.
sides or crmsOnlDg the soil with their blood then was
it that they felt called upon TO resort to arms and phys
ical resistance Inspired by q cause pure aud holy
that for which Washington fought and Warren fell,
they rallied under common banner, and went forth
like the brave Magyars to defend those rights which
are intuve in the manly breastrights and liberties
which must be preserved by freemen at al hazards II
they would preserve their Own sef-respect They did
not grid on their aImor out OF revenge Tor their
wrongs neither out Of any mercenary motive by which
their interests might be advanced. They sought only
to drive back the oppressive hordes Of upprinciplsd
invaders, and 10 vindlcate principle which was dear
10 them as life lf5elf.
were sorey beaten. AZ Palmyra or Black Jack, Cap
tains Brown aud Shore routed a band OF plunderers
under the lead Of Pate from Missouri. The battle of
Franklin followed in which the Free-State men were
also victorious. Whitfield, the bogus Delegate to
Congress, who was advancing into the Territory WIN
a large force, unceremonlously sent PACK oy 0oi
sumner commanding the United States Dragons.
The ruffans murdered Free-StaIe man, cantIai IN
cold blood by way Of revenge, and committed other
hearess depredations. During the remainder OF tne
month of une the Territory was afflicted with all the
horrors Of bloody civil war. Osawutome was sacked
by large Pro-SlaIery company who destroyed or ear
red o everything Of value and shamefuly abused the
unarmed and dsfenseess citizens. Then followed the
Missouri river outrages The boats were stopped and
srarched--money goods and arms stolen, aud North
eIn emigrans sent back pennless. Governor Shannon
Colonel Sum- er and Judge Lecompe refused to inter
fere and the Administration openly encouraged The
depredatioDs
Upon the 18th Of July, the Free State Legislature
convened at Topeka, pursuant to adjournment. II
was day memorable IN the history OF our govern
men upon which forefathers declared their lnde'
pendence in Declaration which constitutes the no.
test paper which graces the archives OF any nation
and marked correspondence existed between the TWO
occasions, though separated by long line OF years.
The Free-State men Ut Kansas met, nike the REVOLT
tionary patriots in dark and and trying hour. They
met Is lovers OF liberty to organize against an ex-
istipg oppression. They met as men who felt the
woke OF bondage but who could not submit to the en-