The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-02-19
III. Ezci..m.n, Of the Las, Week.

ASSs AOoiH VI 40 oOcoiOhi PoooSo 6SuCtal
amnesty bill, which was to extend to all
political difficulties in the southern part
Of the Territory. We copy the act
"AN ACT TO ESTABLISH PEACE IN KAN
SAs."
Be IL enacted by the Governor and Legisla-
tive Assembly of the Territory of Kansas:
SECTION 1. That no criminal offence
heretofore committed in the counties Of
Lykins, Linn, Bourbon, MCGEE, Allen,
SAd Anderson, growing out of any politi-
cal differences of opinion, or arising in any
way from such political differences Of
opinion, shall be subject to any prosecu-
ton on any complaint or Indictment in
say court whatsoever in this Territory.
SEC. 2. That all criminal actions now
commenced, growing out of political diff
fsFonces of opinion, shall be dismissed.
Eco. g. This act to take effect and be
in force from and after its passage.
Approved February II. $50.
S. MEDARY, Governor.
Prior to the passage of this law pre-
viouS one had been enacted extending the
jurisdiction Of the District Court of Doug
les county over the counties of Lykins,
Linn and Bourbon, for criminal purposes;
and when it became law, the Grand
Jury was in session in Lawrence in
curing into the difficulties in the south
ern part of the Territory. A large num-
Der Of subpenas had been issued to
the citizens of those counties, with orders
to appear before them and testify and
the Marshals Of the respective countie:
were instructed by the court to bring all
criminals, held or arrested for any infrac.
ton Of the laws, before it for trial. The
officers Of the law exerted themselves tc
the fullest extent to arrest the most noted
offenders, with the view of bringing them
to speedy justice.
Last week Marshal RUSSELL, of Linr
Co., (who never was resident of Missouri
- has been alleged brought four prison
erS to Lawrence, under the escort Of small
posse of Free State men. This posse Wa.
taken to the johnson House, and feeling
that they were entirely safe, having reached
the great Free State town of Lawrence
they deposited their guns in some conve
nient place, but soon after found they
had been stolen. OF course this created
some feeling, but it was so soon followed
by the general amnesty law, that the mat.
ter was almost forgotten.
Late on Monday evening last, Deputy
Marshal CAMPBELL, of Bourbon county
arrived in town, stating that under the
general directions to bring all prisoners
and witnesses to Lawrence, he had col.
lected sixteen of the former, and some
thirty-five of the latter, and had sci
out with them for this place. Arriving
at the Wakarusa he was met few miles
from town by an express from Marshal
Colby, informing him of the passage oil
the general amnesty law, with copy Of
the same, but no specific instructions in
regard to the prisoners in his charge. He
halted his posse at once, and rode on to
Lawrence to consult his principal; but
finding he had left town, he advised
with Governor MEDARY, and others
and in the morning returned with all
possible dispatch to his party, where he
ordered the chains from the prisoners, and
discharged his posse and witnesses. Part
of the prisoners refused to allow the
chains to be removed until they arrived
in Lawrence, saying that they were SO
near the town they chose to wait till
they arrived there before the chains were
cut of.
While this was being enacted, the arch
demagogue of Kansas, better known as
jim Lane, moved among the boys, and
dilated upon the shame of bringing Free
State men to Lawrence in chains. The
representation was made that Marshal
CAMPBELL was a Missourian; that his posse
WIS made up Of Missourians, and that his
company was commanded by Hamilton,
the notorious murder, who headed the
party that shot the eleven men at Chot-
teau's Trading Post It was enough! The
falshoods passed from mouth to mouth,
and the populscc, under the shameful
delusion, were all on fire. A portion Of
them sailed forth, and meeting the pris-
oners still in irons, tOhO had refused to be
liberated, felt their patriotism all in q
glow. Returning to town they spread
the oontagion, until men, who rarely allow
themselves to be thrown off their guard,
were found making expressions and
thrsatc only common TO the "boys."
A portion of Marshal cAxPBEIL's poss.
returned south, but Others, who had never
seen Lawrence, felt a desire to do so, and
they determined to come into town in a
body. Having no baggage wagon, and no
place to store their arms, and having
prsvieusly heard of the fate of the mus
kes Of Marshal RussELgs posse, they re-
solved to bring their arms with them.
As they rode up Massachusetts, street,
headed by Capt. JOHN HAMILTON, and
were passing the Commercial, a party Of
"boys" made descent upon them with
bricks, stones and mud. The leader Of
the Posss started OF on gallop, and the
balance followed. As they went flying
through the streets, the orderly citizens
who knew nothing of the matter, looked
put, and = they saw some twenty men,
-