The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-12

Sheriff Clarke says that MY free STATE voted Tor
slavery clause in that place On the 2ls end gave the
Numerous reports have probably reached you regard
toAhe difficulty difficulties At Fort Sect have heard,
1t different times and places, that Gen. Lane, the u g.
number Of the {. S. troops were killed there
.vs ns aimee p ha great bse SsS bean
fought between the United States troops and some Of the
residents Of the county in the vicinity OF Fort Scott in
both sides. am able 10 state what the difficulties
upon the authority Of Kennedy Williams, son of Judge
Williams Of the Third Judicial district who arrived here
few days since from Fort Scott bearing official des
patches from the authorities there TO Gen. Denver
and Gen. Harvey. During the difficulties in the Territory
from his claim in Bourbon county subsequently, the free
State returned and drove Mr.. Southwood the then
occupant Of the contested claim from it. in doing this they
constituted party Of more than two armed men, which
brought them under de rebellion law They were
rested tried for rebellion in the September Court of 1857
and an indictment found against them Last fall these
men and their friends assembled on the Usage river and
tried ia squatters court Mr. South WOOD Jr tho prnc
pal witness in the rebellion trial; sentence found
against him, and he fined $3.50. Failing to pay that
amount his horses oxen crop and property Of all kinds
were seized upon, and he was given a limited tine in
which 10 leave the Territory. He left within the aot-
ted time Two three other witnesses who appeared
the rebellion trial were also tried by the squaer court
fined and ordered to leave the Territory. While this
squatter court thus administering squatter law Of
The men tried by it escaped and went 10 Fort Scott,
made an affidavit againft the men who were holding the
squatters court, naming among said men the following
Rane, Denton and Plum. Writs issued upon this
affidavit and the Sheriff directed 10 them The
Deputy United States Marshal also had wr TO arrest the
ogeth without any other force to the squatters
court the Usage 10 make the arrests The free State
men refused to be arrested and repulsed the ocers who
returned Immediately TO Fort Scott and ordered pse
oomitds With the force thus obtained they proceeded
to the Usage again halted their within 200 yards Of
the court the Deputy Marshal and the Sheriff advanced
with white flag TO the. free State men who met them
half way. consultation followed; the Deputy Marshal
and Sheriff informed the squaer court that they had
fors 90
therein specified The free state party said they woud
no. deliver up the who sought but had formed
them into line to defend themselves The Deputy ASr-
shall and Sheriff returned to the posse comdus and after
consultation, concluded to return 70 Fort Scott They
did but again went back to the Usage with stronger
force al Barnesvlle their way up, they joined
by rs making in all force Of some As men, They
then proceeded TO within 200 yards Of the cabin in which
the squstter court was being held there the Marshal
and Sheriff ordered the posse cOmtdtus to remain while
they again advanced with white flag when within fifty
yards of the cabin three free State men came
out; another consultation followed; the Deputy Mar
shat and Sheriff were more pressing in their de-
mands for the surrender Of the prtes against whom
writs had been issued, and halt al hour was given
the squater court to consider upon it, The officers de-
parted but before they got entirely back to the conf
tdtus the free State men fired upon them Both parties
Immediately stood 10 their arms hundred shots
were fred One Of the posse c0ntdtbs had his horse
shot, and he received flesh wound in his arm from
Sharps re but OF the free State men said 10 have
keen killed and three badly wounded The deputy MAJ
shall Ittles, the Sheriff. and the posse ootatus retired
10 Bar 1sab took supper there expecting to return a,d
n
deemed advisable to go back to Fort Scott increase
their force and return next morning to the attack Mkt
morning posse comitdus numbering one hundred and
twenty men, were marshaed for the Usage, but on ar
irving at the squacrs court they found the free Safe
men had fed. They retired during the night TO Sugar
Mound ten miles above their former place and twenty
five miles from Fort Scott On returning to the fort the
deputy marshal and his posse arrested three free S.e
men, who taken into Fort Scott and secured thre
for trial These men were said TO be members OF the
squatter court. One Of them was Plum himself ney
were taken the farm of man named Piner, WON
supposed they had gone TO arrest and take 10 Su
gar Mound for trial. OF his having bought
cattle belonging 10 free State man. who forfeited his
bail, having been indicted for manslaugher and whose
property sold at auction TO secure the bail Ppers
found the bodies OF the parties arrested d to
show that design also their connection with the sqat,er
court Two companies Of cavalry were during thstme,
Fort Scott More troops were for during tn. diff
Guilty The free State mon on the Usage heard TINT the
three men who had been arrested were going to hung
in the tort, which created intense excitement smong
them. Gen. Lane, with two hundred and dity f the
Territorial militia soon after arrived at Sugar Mould he
immediately sent messenger to the authorities the
fort to what crime the three prisoners there were
charged with and 10 ascertain the truth of the report
about hapgng them NO diilsuy was anticipated after
have that he would rescue the prisoners and
obtain the papers found upon them whatever OF
LIE. understand that Lane has returned and at pre-
zen, IN Lawrence.
Gen. Harney has received official letter from Fort
Scott dated ugstmas, in which the following language is
held "1he election the 2lst passed oil with the ut
que, and order. The citizens KEEP, In quite
state Of alarm by the presence OF number OF armed
IA,
who have been about this vicinity with the avowed
intention Of rescuing some prisoners confined here
by due process Of Law TO await Their trial. and also
by reports which appeared 10 be well founded, OF the
advance upon this place Of James II Lane, with
large force Of men Whether this Lane will advance 10
This r. ut or If he should what his purpose may be-
cannot ay but that he Is now rear Sugar Mound some
iweniy miles distant appears TO be beyond doubt"
officer who has just arrived from Fort Soon repre-
ali quiet there and that the troops are returning
On Monday, the sth OF January 1855, the LeCompton
constitution will be submitted 10 direct vote Of the peo
pie for its adoption or rejection inder law passed by the
late Legislature; the people VII also vote for State OH
under this constitution. Whether the free State
party should vote for state officers under the Lccompton
constitution not, very difficult question for that
party decide. For time divided them into two Bit
Terry hostile factions but al length the division has been
healed by all coming to the determination 70 vote for State
officers under this constitution. This decision, you will
IL OF the very highest Importance. II Is, notw,b
standing what may be said 70 the contrary full and open
declaration that should Congaess ADOPT the Lecompton
constitution the free State party will submit 10 IT, and not
rebel take up arms TO defend their so called rights
resist the execution Of laws and authority having their
IN that constitution or Withstand the executive
orces Of either the sat- or the federal government
should they aitcmpt enforce said axE said constitution
Tots step a general In, cry fof,quarter by the
FREQ state party, should things come 70 the worst
with q m They have rcpudiaed the Lec0mpton cons.i.
tuiona movement from the frs 10 TIE last they refused
10 participate 10 the election of delegates in June, also 10
vote upon the avery clause o. te consultation the
21st ut they have tc;ermned 10 vote down the oonsi
aon on III eth init sna nov 70 decide at The sane cleo
10 vote Tor sat, officers under a. phoes them certainly In
rather ridiculous position All tier mass meetings, all
their resoutous all their convictions donOunCfg this
constitution and the election ~ the dcles who framed
H. 20 for uolhng For the sprls they are willing 70
live uncer ant accept Offices under The constitution whose
fraudulent birth recently 50 ncrcey and patrocally
denounced.
The free State Delegate Convention set TIE 23d and
Oath ultmo. after org and exciting discuss uYcn the
proprey q voting for state officers under the Lecompion
constitution decided by asrall majority not 20 do
co. Tho minority Dimedatcy boitcd, met together,
called themselves "convcn,ion," decided that a free
state ticket should be voted for under the lc,ompon
constitution the 4h inst, whether or no, and nomi
mated such a ticket Mutual determinations followed be
tween the factions The tolters" stuck 70 tir ticket
the majority at length cavcd in and all decided ~
for State officers the 4h under the Constitution then 10
be submitted 10 the people 50 the free sac party Ia
again unit and will In all probability cary be election.
The Territorial Gree Sste) Legislature nett the 4th
inst at Ieoompton as they get qufrm present
they will adjourn 10 lawrence there they Sal probably
remain session thirty days The snireI egislaton in
regard 10 the Territory, from the meeting Nenrst lie
gslaiure M 10 the present time, will be reviewed tsome
OF the ordinances which have been ropoahd will be re-
adopted others equivalent 10 them framed nd passed.
and some that now exist will be repealed.
In liz