Weekly North Carolina standard., 1858-01-06
from the Washington Union.
. from the Chief Justice of Kan


From the Washington Union
Letter from the Chief Justice of Kansas.
We call the attention of our readers to the start
ling narrative contained in the following letter. 1t
is no story manufactured for effect like most of the
Kansas accounts for whose transmission the black.
republicans prostitute the telegraph but plan un'
yarshed statement Of ascertaned facts from the
learned and estimable chief justice Of the Territory
where the events occurred 1t is sickening to read
such q record of lawlessness and rebellion 1t Is
painful to reflect that there are respectable citizens
outside of Kansas whose conduct tends directly to
the reproduction of these and to the continu-
ance of this dsgracefu anarchy. The remedy for
them aT-the complete and adequate remedy-we
bad almost said the only sufficient remedy-is to be
found as every one comedies, in the admission OF
Kansas to the Union Then, beyond all peradven-
ture or dispute, the people Of Kansas would have
absolute control of their own domestic affairs Then
their institutions would be committed to their own
hands. Then, they would be in the free exercise OF
popular sovereignty. Then, the vocation Of Jim
Lane and his banditt crew would be forever ended,
and they could no longer commit robberies and
murder in the sacred name Of the Majority
Then Kansas would cease 10 be a word Of threat
enng 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 bene6cent result? What was the origin of
that convention? There has been some misappre-
henson on this point. The convention was not
merely the creature of a legislature but it had the
higher authority of the people The first territorial
legislature elected in March, 1885, and one OF its
laws provided that the question of constitutional
convention should be submitted to the people at the
next election in October, 1856. At that time, when
the delegate and the legislature were chosen, there
was distinct vote whether a convention should be
called to frame State constitution for the Territory.
The vote in favor of the convention. 1t was in
pursuance Of this vote that the act passed which
ok.1 thnI he
had spoken, and the legislature obeyed. The
vention therefore, had not only the legal insignia of
legislative authority but the unquestionable creden
tials of the sovereign people themselves. The dele
gates chosen afterwards at popular election,
which was fairly conducted, and then, at the ap-
pointed time, they met in council. No respectable
person, outside of party prejudice, ever doubted
their authority. Mr. Stanton recognized it, Cover.
nor Walker recognized it; and in the democratic
party at least, there were voices raised against
it. After anxions deiberation, and some close dvi-
sions of opinion, the convention made its cOnstitu
ton and adjourned. 1t is admitted that, on the
WHOLE the constitution is good one; and the qnes-
ton of slavery was submitted to the people. There
is preence 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 in
the Territory could not be decided according to the
will of the majority. Was there not good reason to
hope, then, for auspicous adjustment of the Kan
troubles? Was not the President righ: in antci
pating this settlement? Was he not right in doing
everything within his official power to produce it
Was he not right, in such critical period, to use
renewed efforts to keep the peace in Kansas? Was
he not right to caution the acting governor to pre-
serve the freedom of the electionY Was he not
right by circulating part of his message prior even
to its delivery in inviting the reest suffrage on the i'm
portant question submitted? Was he not right, fin
ally in believing that he might soon congratulate
the country upon the final settlement of the Kansas
question, and its fortunate admission State into
the Union by general consent and without
test? If he was (and under these circumstances
we think that nearly all his countrymen will agree
that he was) why is it that the very threshold of
peace we have been met by the sounds of war? p
Why is it that at this moment, when the opportun-
ty offered of closing the Kansas question forev-
er, should have had the governor of Kansas
turning home breathing hostility to the convention
and presses in Philadelphia and elsewhere denounc-
ing it, and an eminent senator standing up in his
place in the Senate House and seZing the first pos
sble occasion to echo this denuncatoD, and to join
issue with the message the subject of Kansas p
In the world of politics. in the other departments
of life, however, there supposed to be adequate
motives for every human action, and hence it is that
we confess utter and complete astonishment at
the course which has been taken in opposition to the
Lecompton convention by some of those on whose
support Of it the democratic party had right to
rely. What their motives for this strange and
unexpected course We do not now inquire. We con-
tent ourselves at present with pointing out to our
readers its most unhappy consequences
The following letter, written by Chief Justice
Williams, of Kansas, was received in this city yes
terday:
..'.. LEcoMPToN, December l6, 1857
DEAR SIR Having understood that a report OF
the recent disturbances which have taken place in
Bourbon county, in the vicinity of Fort Scott, is cir
culated, and assumed as true by persons wbo per.
haps are interested to give such complexion to them
as may best suit their purposes in order to justify
the violators of law and disturbers of the public
peace, have deemed it proper that impart to you
and others who should be correctly informed through
you my knowledge of the facts as they truthfully
exist, in relation to the cause of these doings.
In reference to the rumor that {" the disturbance
arose in consequence of an attempt made by Gen.
George W. Clarke to enforce, by legal process, the
collection of taxes in Bourbon county," can conf
IDENTITY assert that it is positively untrue There ha
been no difficulty on that subject whatever. Be
sides, Gen Clarke has never had anything to do witt
that matter. Since his arrival at Fort Scott, ant
residence there he has been quietly and assiduousl,
attentive to his official duties, as assistant in tn
registers department of the land Office without in
terfering with any other business except such a.
might appertain 10 his domestic concerns-bimse
undisturbed, and disturbing nobody. This know
having lived but two doors from him in Fort Scott
and having seen him every day during the last sum-
mer and fall up to last week, when left home L.
come to this place TO be in attendance upon the bus
mess Of the Supreme Court.
lne matter wncn IS sezed upon by some lawes:
persons for political purposes is as follows: Las
summer party of men, from the neighborhood q:
Lawrence or Leavenworth, appeared in the vcinit:
Of Fort Scott; some on the valley Of the Marmato'
river, and others Of them on the Usage; and pre-
vious to the fall election others arrived and depc
of ready made clothing established at a con
venient point for their benefit and use. The CLOTH
ing was dealt out by person who acted as agenti
the matter. These persons all seemed to act in cor
cert The first move made by them of violent kin
was by force and arms, with threats to drive fror
his cabin and claim an aged man Of the name