The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-03-12
From Hse Fort Scott Democrat.
Maafiug al Enrf Scott.

From Ae Fort Scott Democrat.
Meeting al Fort Scott.
At public meeting of the people of
Bourbon county, Kansas, held on the 21st
day of February, A. D. 1859, at Fort
Scott, the following proceedings were had:
On motion, B. L. higgins was called to
the chair. and Alexander Mcdonald ap-
pointed Vice. President.
I. N. Williams was appointed Secre-
tary, and VIM. Harrison assistant Sec'y.
The object of the meeting was explain
ed to be an expression of the sentiment
of the people in regard to the late action
of the Legislature of this Territory, in re-
ference to the difficulties in Southern
Kansas, and other matters in connection
Herewith.
On motion, a committee of five was ap-
pointed to draft resolutions, consisting of
the following gentlemen John Hamil-
ton, J. G. Parks, Peter Harman, A. Nc
Donald and 7. NJ. Williams.
The following preamble and resolu-
tions were reported and unanimously
adopted:
WHEREAS, The late Legislature of this
Territory passed an act creating a special
court at Lawrence, Douglas Co., depriving
the counties of Lykins, Linn and Bour-
bon, of their criminal jurisdiction, and
thus causing the criminal actors in the
late disturbances in this portion of the
Territory to be taken to distant county
and foreign Jurisdiction for trial; AND
WHEREAS, our good and law abiding citi-
zens, and acting under the officers of the
law, and in compliance with that Act, did
arrest and carry said offenders before said
court; and the Legislature at the same
session. during which it passed said Act,
and before said offenders could be tried,
abolished said court, repealed our old
criminal code without a saving clause,
and passed new one yet unpublished,
thus virtually leaving us without crimi-
nal code; and moreover, passed certain
Amnesty Act" ambiguous as to its mean
ing, and setting all criminals in said coun-
ties at large, and especially, our officers of
the law and fellow citizens acting as a
legal posse in compliance with the act re-
ferred to, were set upon by mob in Law
renee, insulted, robbed of their private
property and shot at; therefore, resolved,
1st. That said transactions meet with
our warmest indignation and merit our
contempt, and that the course pursued
by the Legislature, in these matters, has,
throughout, been partial to crime, in de-
rogation of both law and justice, and un-
precedented and disgraceful in its char
acter and history.
I'd. That in reference to the Amnesty
Act" so called, we are at loss to see in
it security from lawless men who have
broken their faith on all former occasions,
and who, under the eyes of the authori-
ties, in Lawrence, Immediately after the
passage of said Act, assaulted the Mar
shals of the Territory and our fellow
citizens, acting as posse while in the
performance of their legal duty, and fred
upon them and robbed them of their prop
erty.
>3rd. That while with the good and
law abiding citizens of this county, the
s"Amnesty Act" with its Interpretation Of
fnfamy and past crimes is in full force
and effect, yet we feel called upon to urge
upon the Governor of this Territory and
the authorities thereof, that prompt and
efficient measures be taken to protect oul
lives and property in the future, from
those with whom crime and outrage is 8
pastime, and whose legal punishment
therefore, is seeming impossibility.
4th. That G. W. Brown, editor of the
"HeraM of Freedom" at Lawrence, de.
serves the greatest commendation for his
manly course in defence of the truth il
regard to the difficulties in Southern Kan.
sas, and his exposition of the crimes COM
mitted here against US and against law
order and humanity, and that the othel
citizens of Lawrence who discountenancec
and denounced the outrage perpetrateC
upon our citizens there on the 18th inst
deserve our highest regard; among thes
we mention, Hon. C. W. Babcock, DR.. S
R. Huson, Col. Eldridge, Messrs. Reynold
& Lowman, DR.. Robinson.
Capt Hamilton offered the following:
Resolved, That Jim Lane, the murdere
of jenkins, was a fit leader for the mo
in Lawrence, and the act of his frin
upon me and robbing my command, wa
a most ridiculous act of cowardice, an,
but adds one more infamous page to lif
of "treason, stratagem and spoils."
1t was moved an1 carried that thes
, proceedings be published in the "Fol
Scott Democrat" Herald of Freedom,
"Leavenworth Herald" "Lecompton Dem
ocrat' and "Western Argus" and a
. other law-abiding papers in the Territory
On motion the meeting adjourned.
B. L. HIGGINS, President.
VIM HARRISON, oe'ie'Afy'