The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-22

HOW KANSAS RECEIVES THE NEWS OF rHH
DEFEAT OF LEc0MPT0E. ~
John Medill, ONE of the editors of the Chicago
Tribune, is now travelling in Kansas, and sends
home to his paper the following stirring and
graphic account of the reception in that STATS o.
the tidings of the defeat of Lecompton ia Che
House =
wYAsDorrE, Z. T., April Z, 1853.
The glorious news of the defeat of the LIE
compton swindle was received in Lawrence .
few minutes before took passage for this place
on Tuesday morning, the 9th instant. The
gladstone intelligence was brought MP the
river from 81 Louis on the Platte VALLEY
steamer, and was frst communicated to the
people OF Kansas at this point, about Al PM,
on Monday. An express started for Lawrepce
during the night, and reached there about "A
A. M. = =u ~ 81 =
The announcement came unop N. nau,n,s
like clap of thunder from q clear ekv. "a ,hey
had generally despsired Of its defeat. A crowd
came rushing to the Morrow House TO learn
the particulars, a. the news quickly spread
through the place. Five hundred excited men
were soon collected cheer upon cheer went I'D
to the vault of heaven.
Soon Colonel Eldridge and SQUAD of the
boys started for the Armory, and brought
out the l2-pounder called the Kickspoo babg, -
which the Leavenworth boys rescued last fall
from the rufians of that den. The stars and
stripes next Aoated from the flagstaff on the
Commercial House, and, Is the stage left the
great Abolition headquarters of Kansas, the
IL pound Kickapoo baby was proclaiming to
the people Of Douglas and adjoining counties
that Lecompton was deadi The "baby's ~
voice hrst snnouncedsit 70 Gov Denver, at lie.
compton, twelve miles up the Kansas river.
About noon, we met the Wyandotte stage
going to Lawrence. The drivers cheered, then
the passengers exchanged shouts and congrat.
ulations.
When / reached wyandQtte, at dark, the peo-
pie had not yet got over the excitement of the
bred gun as the boat neared the landing.
The people were on the alert, and rushed down
the hill to the river. As she approached. q
passenger shouted cut from the hurricane-deck.
at the top of his voice, TIE Lecompto bill is
killed "Huzza ! huzzai" rang loud, clear,
and spontaneous, in the 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 4ta. 15t4.a
After the people had exchanged congratula.
tions, the brass 6-pounder was brought out, and
sent the echoes over the surrounding hills. and
far into the Missouri, and along the valley of
the river o'd iar-
At nightfall, the people assembled in mass
meeting. Large bonfres were built; speeches
OF patriotic character were made by Messrs
Roberts, Chestnut, and others the crowd sang
the Star.SpaDgled Banner and the band
played Hail Columbia" There were also
deep, sepulchral grosns for old Buck and bis
naked Lecompton deformity, which he pledged
himself to put through in ninety daysl Next
followed torchlight procession, in which
cleaning hambeeux were swung and brandish.
ed iy every Free State male over six years of
age in Wyandotte. Fire-balls and rockets were
sent blazing through the air, land it was net
until midnight that the jubilations ceased and
the people retired to rest. forgot to gay that
lager suffered some, considering the staid,
temperate character of the people. /
have seen gentleman from Leaven0orth
city, who describes to me the scene when the
news reached there, about 9 P. M. on Monday
night. Similar outbursts were manifested
there as here, but on a scale of greater magpi.
tude, as it is q place of 5000 inhabitants.
The people shouted themselves hoarse speech.
es were delivered by John c. Vaughan, former
ly of the Chicago Tribune, by Mayor Adams,
Thomas Ewing, jr., and others. The baud
played, cannon were fred, bon6res built, FIRE
balls thrown, and, when the crowd adjourned,
it was resolved to have the greatest and long
est torch-light procession the next night ever
seen in Kansas. One hundred and twenty
guns were to be fired, in honor of the lzO
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 mig.
ger-breeders. A magnificent supper was to be
given at the Planters House, at which chata.
payne and toasts, lager and patriotism, would
mingle and efervesce. 1.-THE German element
is strong at Leavenworth.) A good time gen
orally was anticipated.
Couriers were dispatched from Wyandotte,
Lesvenworth, and Lawrence, to spread the
glad tidings over the whole inhabited portions
OF the Territory. No man who has not been
In Kansas, and mixed freely with the people,
can imagine or realize the depth and bitterness
OF feeling in the hearts of the people against
the odious and tyrannical Lecompton awindle--
bitterness and loathing which rests also upon
its supporters in the White House and the
halls OF Congress. In the present state of
feeling, it will not be healthy for John Calhoun
or the other refugees" in Buchanan's bosom
~ VIC SoPtVoi W EctuTu mere. II tncy set LOOT
on Kansas soil, they will probably be welcomed
with greeting such as was extended to the
cowboys and Tories of the Revolution, after
the close of that war.
In few weeks, the Leavenworth Constitu.
ton will be ratified by twelve to fifteen thou
sand majority, and State Government elected
under it. A special messenger will lay it be-
fore Congress, on or before the LIST June, and
ask admission into the Union under it. Gen.
Lane and Gov. Robinson will most likely be
the first o. 8. Senators, and may have their
credentials before the 4th of July-if Congress
be in session at that time. On the day the
Constitution will be submitted, vote Of the
people will be taken, I" indicating to the Leg
islature the popular choice for Senators. AID
mitted into the Union under the Leavenworth
Constitution, the peoples choice will prevail,
agitation of the Slavery question will measure,
bly, cease, peace will be restored, and prosperi
ty and happiness will bless this vast and beau
tiful Territory-then sovereign State. Why
will the Administration keep the question
longer open2 Hsve they not had enough of
Slavery agitation? Are they anxious for q
Republican succession?
FROM KANSAS.
RosEDALE, KANSAS, april 5, 1858.
To the Editor of the National Era:
LII -, L.