Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-03-12
Latest From Kansas.

AAAESADE, 11ASIAN0S, 0uoASh ASco.
Latest From Kansas.
Especial Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Times.]
4 Hpsck Of Wsr on tie Bordsr-Ltes1y z5nsss IN
Lasorsacs-A Aorshaps Posss Of Aissosyj, s0itA
Fourteen Free State Frisoners, Enter 7oaon-7At
k'ris0msrs are liberated, and tie P0sse Dis6drdsd
Gov. Ntdory makes q Speech, but tho Loa0re"cl
Bays rsuss to 0ivs up their G.s~s-Itesns Of Rescs
SUMNER, K. T., Feb. IS, 1859.
FRESH EXCITEMENT IN LAWRENCE.
Dear Tsmes:-A day or two since, the in
flammable and mercurial city of Lawrence was
made the scene of the most lively excitement
that has occurred there this winter. The le-
gislators and the lobbyers had gone home, and
every thing was unusually quiet, until intel
ligence was received that a Missouri posse of
twenty-five headed by the notorious Captain
Hamilton, the leader of the Marais des Cygnes
murders, in June last, was now acting as a
U. S. Deputy Marshal, and was approaching
the city, with IA Free State prisoners, from
Bourbon county, who were handcuffed and
heavily ironed. A scout who was sent out to
investigate the matter, returned with the
statement that the report was true. As this
WAS SCvCI61 udyS o1ICI llAO PoS0oS3C "a tA1O
Amnesty bill, and all the prisoners were there
fore held Illegally, great excitement followed.
HOW THE POSSE CANE IN.
Just before reaching Lawrence, the Marshal
recollecting that . similar posse had been dis
armed in that Yankee city few days previous,
gave special orders to his men to blow any
mans brains out vino should attempt to take
their arms. He also proposed to remove the
letters from the prisoners, but they replied
that as they had been brought 80 miles with
them on, they would enter Lawrence in the
same manner. The Marshal at this time had
copy of the Amnesty law in his pocket, and
knew that he was acting illegally in restraining
the prisoners another hour. But the posse
surrounded the prisoners, and, with their
arms displayed, and manifesting good deal
of bravado, came riding into town at the top
Of their speed.
HOW THEY WERE RECEIVED.
They were met by quite crowd of Law
renee "boys," who had gathered without con-
cert and under no particular leader. But .
part of them rescued the prisoners in less
time than it takes to write it, and procured q
cold chisel and cut off their letters. The re-
mainder fell upon the posse-and the posse
instead of blowing anybody's brains out, alb
solutely and ingloriously ran! The crowd,
some on horseback, and some afoot, gave
chase and, as man after man was caught,
one would seize his horse by the bride, sec
ond would drag him from the saddle by his
coatsskirts,, and then the bystanders would
take his revolver and gun, and leave him to
sneak out Of sight as rapidly as possible
Every member of the posse was disarmed.
THE DANGER OF HAVING BAD NAME.
what had become Of Hamilton, and as man
rode out of the crowd, numerous voices ex
claimed "there he goes" "that's Hamilton"
Instantly several revolvers and rifles were
raised, and seven or eight shots fired at him
in as quick succession as the ticking of
clock. He was not more than two yards from
the first revolver which was fired !; but he put
spurs to his horse and rode away little
quicker than ever saw man leave before
In spite of his proximity to those who were
firing, not a single shot struck him. This was
probably owing to the excitement of his assail-
ants; but it was almost miraculous. 1t was
very fortunate, however, for it proved to be
neither the leader of the posse, nor Captain
Hamilton, but peaceable citizen of the same
name, who nearly lost his life by being in bad
company, and bearing the name of scoun-
drel!
THE GOVERNOR MAKES A SPEECH.
Everything in Kansas ends with public
speaking. All the posse being disarmed-
and by the wav they were most rough, shay
~, whisky-soaked, God -forsaken looking set
Of fellows-the excitement of "the boys had
found vent, and they collected in crowd in
front of the Eldridge House, where it was an
nounced that Governor Medary would favor
them with "a talk" His Excellency accord
ingly appeared, and in speech of forty or
fifty minutes, condemned very severely the
proceedings of the day. He reprehended
sharply (and JUSTLY the insane haste which
had so nearly sacrificed the life of an innocent
man. Hhe stated that the guns taken Gall
the revolvers and other private property had
been restored) were territorial arms-that he
was responsible for them, and they must be
given up. This elected good deal of deri-
sive shouting and laughter, from the boys who
had taken the guns, and were marching about
in the crowd, still bearing them on their Shout
ders! The Governor, becoming somewhat
nettled, declared that the arms shouI be CIV
en- up-that he would have them if it took
him q year! This only drew forth fresh
laughter, and after moderating his tone some
what, and making one or two humorous allu-
sions, closed.
LANE RESPONDS.
There are now loud cries for "Lane,"
"Lane p and General Lane responded, by
mounting lumber wagon, in the midst Of the
crowd, and making one of his characteristic
speeches. Lane is in his element on such &C.
casions, and always does better during an
excitement than in an elaborate discourse
He has been aching for an opportunity to
''get after" Governor Medary ever since that
curt letter, in which his Excellency, some
weeks ago, declined his offer to check the dis
turbances in the South, and now that one
occurred, he embraced it gladly, and gave
him terrible excoriation. Abiding to his
imperative demand for the guns, he remarked
that we in Kansas had heard Governors make
similar threats before, and asked with his in
imitably comic look: "But who ever knew a
Kansas Governor carry one out, and take a
gun from anybody ?" He spoke of Governor
Medary as. one, of the most sagacous polite
ians in the. country man who might be
honest in his political sentiments, but had so
debauched and corrupted the government in
Minnesotatas to secure full Democratic rep
RESERVATION In both branches of Congress-
though the sentiment of the State was clearly
Republican. He had been sent to Kansas to
do the same work. After venting all the bit
terness Of his nature on the Governor, de-
Tending the action Of the people, and express
ing the opinion that, under proper pledges,
the arms ought to be given up, he retired.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Judge Conway, 7. d. Thatcher, w. A.
Phillips and Q. II. Branscomb, were success
lively called out, and made short speeches. -
Colonel Phillips, in the course of his remarks,
said that the guns which had been taken were
Missouri arms-sent to the frontier by Gov
ernor Stewart during the recent troubles
This was enough to induce the crowd to keep
them, if they had not designed to before
Abiding to some praise which had been
awarded to Governor Medary, he remarked