The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-04-29

the Chicago Tribune, Is now travelling
in Kansas, and sends home to his paper
the following graphic and stirring ac-
count of the reception in that State of the
tidings of the defeat of Lecompton in the
House:
Special Cor. of the Chicago Tribune.
WYANDoT, X. T., April Z, 1858.
The glorious news of the defeat of the
Lecompton swindle was received in Law
renee few minutes before | took passage
for this place, on Tuesday morning, the
9th instant. The gladsome intelligence
was brought up the river from St. Louis
on the Platte Valley steamer, and was
first communicated to the people of Kan
sas at this point, about 4 p. m., on Mon
day. An express started for Lawrence
during the night, and reached there
about Z a. m. The announcement came
upon the people like clap of thunder
from clear sky, as they had generally
despaired Of its defeat. A crowd came
rushing to the Morrow House to learn
the particulars, as the news quickly spread
through the place. Five hundred excit-
ed men were soon collected; cheer upon
cheer went up to the vault of Heaven
! Soon Col. Eldridge and squad of
Hboys" started for the Armory and
brought out the 12-pounder, called the
"Kickapoo baby" which the Leaven-
worth boys rescued last Fall from the
rufians Of that den. The stars and stripes
next foated from the flagstaff on the
Commercial House, and as the stage left
the great Abolition headquarters of Kan
sas, the l2-pound Kickapoo baby was
proclaiming to the people of Douglas and
adjoining counties that Lecompton was
dead! The 'baby's" voice first announc-
ed it to Gov. Denver, at Lecompton,
twelve miles up the Kansas River. About
noon we met the Wyandot stage going to
Lawrence. The drivers cheered, then
the passengers exchanged shouts and con-
gratulations. When reached Wyandot
al dark, the people had not yet got over
the excitement of the afternoon and night
before. The Platte Valley fred gun as
the boat nearcd the landing. The people
were on the alert, and rushed down the
hill to the river. As she approached, a
passenger shouted out from the hurricane
deck at the top of his voice, "The Le-
compton bill is killed." Huzza! huzza
rang out loud, clear and spontaneous in
response, As the news went over the
town, every Free-State man took up the
shout and yelled till he could yell no more
from sheer exhaustion! After the peo-
pie had exchanged congratulations, the
brass 6-pounder was brough out and sent
the echoes over the surrounding hills and
far into the Missouri, and along the val
ley Of the river. At nightfall the people
assembled in mass meeting. Large bon
fires were built; speeches of patriotic
character were made by Messrs Roberts,
Chestnut and others; the crowd sang the
"Star Spangled Banner" and the band
played "Hail Columbia" There was al
so deep sepulchral groans for old Buck,
and his "Daked" Lecompton deformity,
which he pledged himself to put through
in ninety days. Next followed torch
light procession, in which cleaning fam
beaux were swung and brandished by ev-
cry Free-State male over six years of age
IN Wyandot. Fire balls and rockets
were thrown blazing through the air, and
it was not until midnight that the jubi-
lations ceased and the people retired to
rest. [ forgot to say that ''lager" suffer-
ed some, considering the staid, temperate
character of the people.
| have seen a gentleman from Leaven-
worth City, who describes to me the
scene when the news reached there, about
9 p. N. on Monday night. Similar out
bursts were manifested there as here, but
on scale Of greater magnitude, as it is a
place of 5000 inhabitants The people
shouted themselves hoarse; speeches were
delivered by John G. Vaughn, formerly
of the Chicago Tribune, by Mayor Ad-
ans, Thos. Ewing jr., and others. The
band played, cannon were fired, bonfres
built, freballs thrown, and, when the
crowd adjourned, it was resolved to have
the greatest and longest torch-light pro-
ceSSlon the next hlgnt ever seen IN han-
sas. One hundred and twenty guns were
to be fred in honor of the 120 members
who killed Lecompton, and three extra
one for Crittenden, one for Douglas, and
one for Seward, the three great leaders of
the Coalition against the doughfaces and
A magnificent supper
was to be given at the Planters House,
at which champagne and toasts, lager and
patriotism, would mingle and effervesce.
The German element is strong at Leav-
enworth.) A good time generally was
anticipated
Couriers were dispatched from Wyan-
dot, Leavenworth and Lawrence to spread
the glad tidings over the whole inhabited
portions nsofthe Territory. Norman who has
not been In Kansas and mixed freely with
IL Il