Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-01-01
From the Washington Union.
Letter f,o,a tl,c Chief Justice of Kansas.

accounts for whose Transmission the back-republcans
prostitute the telegraph but plain unvarnshed state
ment Of asceraine facts from fee learned and esmabe
chief justice OF the Territory where the events occurred
It is siekening to read such record of awessnes and
rebellion It painful to reflect that there respect
able citizens outside of Kansas whose conduct tends di
recy to the reproduction OF these scenes, and to the
continuance of this disgracefu anarchy The remedy
for them al-the complete and adequate remedy-we
had almost said the only sufficient remedy-is to be
found as every Comedies in the admission of ansas
to the Union. Then beyond all peradventure dis
pute the people of Kansas would have absolute control
of their domestic affairs. Then, their institutions
would be committed to their own hands. Then, they
would be in the free exercise Ut popular sovereignty
Then the vocation of Jim Lane and his handltt
would he forever ended, anu they could longer
NIT rObbcres and murder in the sacred name OF the
majority Then, Kansas would cease to be word OF
threatening augury to the Union and its residents would
live in peace in their homes under the dominion OF their
own laws When the Lecompton convention adjourned
was there not good reason to hope for this bcnecent
result? What was the origin of that convention There
has been some misapprehelsiOn this point The
venton was not merely creature of the legislature butt
had the higher authority of the people The first territorial
legislature was elected in March, 1855 and one of its
laws provided that the question of constitutional
ventOn shall be submitted to the people at the next ecc
ton in October 1856 At that time, when the delegates
and the legislature chosen there distinct vote
whether convention should be called to frame State
constitution for the Territory The vote in favor
of the convention 1t i'll pursuance of this vote
that the act was passed which auguratcd the Lccomp
ton convention The people had spoken, and the lcgs
lature obeyed The convention therefore, had not only
the legal insignia of legislative authority, but the
questionable credentials of the sovereign people them
selves The delegates chosen afterwards ut pop
uar election which fairly conducted, and thcn at
the appointed Time they met in council No respectable
person. outside of party prejudice ever doubted their
authority Mr.. Stanton recognised it, Governor Wal
ker recognised it and in the democratic party at least
there voices raised against it. After anxious de-
liberation and some close divisions of opinion the
vention made its constitution and adjourned. 1t
is admitted that, the whole, the constitution
is q good one; and the question of slavery
was submitted to the people. There is no pre-
tence that the election of the 2lst instant was not
likely to be fair one and that thus the great subject
which had made the first difficulty i'll the Territory could
not be decided according to the will of the majority
Was there not good reason to hope then for an aSp
cous adjustment of the Kansas troubles? Was not the
President right ill anticipating this settlement! Was
he not right in doing everything within his official power
to produce it? Was he not right, in such critical pc
Rod to use renewed efforts to keep the peace in Kansas
Was he not right caution the acting governor to pre-
serve the freedom of the election? Was he not right by
circulating part Of his message prior even to It's dellv
ery even in inviting the reeSt suffrage the important
question submitted? Was he not right, finally, i'll be-
ievig that he might congratulate the country upon
the final settlement Of the Kansas question: and its fortu
nate admission State into the Union by general
consent and without contest? 1t he was land under
these circumstances think that nearly all his country
men will agree that he was) why is it that the very
threshold of peace have been met by the sounds OF
war? Why is it that at this moment, when the oppor
unity was offered of closing the Kansas question torev
ever we should have had the governor of kasaS return
ing home. breathing hostility to the convention, and
presses in Philadelphia and elsewhere denOunCin" it. and
an eminent Senator standing up in his place III the Sch
ate House and Selling the first possible occasion to ccho
this denunClaon and to JOIN issue with the message on
the subject of Kansas III the world OF politics, as III
the other departments OF life, however, there are supposed
to he adequate motives for every human action, and
hence is that confess utter and complete aston
sment at the course which has been taken in opposition
to the Lecompon convention by some of those whose
support of it the democratic party had 9ht to rely
What their motives for this strange and unexpected
course VIC do not now inquire. We content ourselves
at present with pointing out to our readers its most un-
happy consequences
The following letter, written Ivy Chlcl Justice Will
ians of Kansas received i'll this city yesterday
IEcoMproN December l6, 1857.
DEAR SIR: Having understood that report of the
recent disturbances which have taken place i'll Bourbon
county in the vicinity of Fort Scott is circulated, and
assumed true by persons who perhaps arc interested
to give such complexion to them may best suit their
purpose in order to justify the voators of law and dis
turbcrs of the public peace have deemed it proper that
mlmrt to yOu and others who should be correctly i'll
formed through YOU my knowledge of the facts as they
truthfuly exist in relation to the cause of these don9s
In reference 10 lunOl JlaI INC arose
in consequence Of an attempt made by Gen. George W
Clarke to enforce, by legal process, the collection Of
taxes in Bourbon county,, confidently assert that
it is positively untrue There has been difficulty on
that subject whatever Besides, Gen Clarke has never
had anything to do with that matter Since his arrival
at Fort Scott and residence there he has been quietly
and assiduously attentive to his official duties,
assistant in the registers department of the land office
without interfering with any other business except such
as might appertan to his domestic concerns--himse
undisturbed, and disturbing nobody. This l know
having lived but two doors from him i'll Fort Scott and
having him every day during the last summer and
fall up to last week, when left home to come to this
place to bc in attendance upon the business of the Su
| prcmC Court.
The matter which is seized upon by some lawcss per
sons for political purposes is follows Last summer
party of men, from the ncg hborhood of Lawrence OF
LeavcnwOrth appeared in the vicinity Of Fort Scott
some on the valley of the MarnatOn river and others
them on the Usage and previous to the fall election
others arrived and depot of read ymadc clothing
established at convenient point for their benefit
usc The clothing dealt out 10y person who actet
as agent i'll the matter These persons all seemed to
in concert. The first move made by them of violent
kind was by force and arms with threats to drive iron
his cabin and claim aged man of the of South
wood, with his family. This they did, warning him t.
cav. the Territory and at the time appropranc
his claim. house, crops, &c. to their At thu
fall term of the court for the Sd judicial district this mat
ter was presented to the grand jury and indctmen
found and presented by the grand jury to the court
whereupon the proper process of law was issued,
some six of the accused arrested and before
: the court Four of them gave bail to to TIN
indictment at the next term of the court the other
IS were committed to the custody of the law. Thes
being merely guarded and kept i'll ordinary dwelling
house There being prison there made their es
cape Since that time threats Of violence to witnesses
: &C. were made, but not needed These men are all
upon their representation advocates Of the suprema