The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-02-05
The Excitement of the Pas, Week.

been the scene of one of those excitements
for which it has long enjoyed a most
shameful notoriety. The Legislature is
in session here the. Supreme Court is in
session here; the Special Term of the
District Court for the trial of "jay- hawk
erS," is in session here, and the Grand
Jury for said Term is in session here
As matter Of course the city is crowded
with people from all parts of the Terrific
ry. Honest farmers, scheming specula-
tors, windy politicians and the unfortu-
nate or dishonest dupes of designing men
mingle together, and, according to their
respective motives and interests, seek to
form and direct public opinion for the
Territory. Members of the Legislature,
now that the session is approaching close,
are pressing forward the measures in
which they are respectively most inter
ested personally or politically politicians
are turning to account every rumor that
they can set aaoat calculated to produce
impressions elsewhere such as they desire,
and the elements of disorder and revenge
concentrate their energies in windy meet
ings, windy resolutions and windy speech
es about Dr. boy and his SON." Old
Brown"-"Captain Montgomery and his
noble band of freemen, unjustly denounc-
ed as jay -hawkerS'."
To one who can remain cool, and dis
passionately look upon the scene as it
changes from day to day, attach only such
importance to rumorS as the evidence pre-
sented may warrant. The righteousness
of the fuss attempted to be created is so
evident that his sides shake with laughter
rather than fear, the truth is, few ag-
itators in our midst seek to throw abroad
an impression in accordance with their
threats made some months since, that the
scenes of sc should be renewed 80 in and
continued till the Presidential election.
General James H. Lane has been duly in
stalled the head and front, brains and
galvanic battery of the movement, and
hoping to recover, by speechmaking and
other means of notoriety, the position and
influence that he held before the Jenkins
affair, works day and night to accomplish
his object. Meetings are held ostensibly
"to take measures for the release of DR..
boy and his son;"-appeals are made to
the "0ld Guard of sc" to reorganize -
and every means used to arouse and ex-
cite the passions and prejudices Of the
people under prctence of waging war
against Missouri, but in reality to make
Lane the President of the Wyandott
Constitutional Convention and advance
the views of ambitious leaders. Whether
true or false, we are not the tribunal to
determine, but the action of the Grand
Jury now in session will soon enlighten
the people of Kansas as to the motives of
the men who have so long kept up dis
turbance in some portions of the Terrific
ry;-whether they are governed by wor-
thy, patriotic or even natural motives, or
whether plumber and self-aggrandizement
are resorted to at the instigation of non-
acting individuals for the purpose of sup
porting body of retainers in the field.
We confess that we feel ashamed to
acknowledge the possibility of the truth Of
the latter supposition, but when we take
into consideration the history of the past
and reflect upon the probable future, the
conviction of its verify is forced upon US.
But what are the facts upon which these
agitators are seeking to get up an excite
ment and sending infammatory letters
and papers throughout the Territory 1t
is well known that disputed land claims
and the presence Of obnoxious individuals
in the southeastern part of the Terrt DRY,
who had committed crimes or taken too
active part in the troubles of '56, and the
murders of '58, melted aggression and re-
veuge. The "ler talionis" was applied
assistance was interposed, and outside as
sistance volunteered. The obnoxious
persons were driven off; new causes of
difficulty thus arose the active partici-
pants in few counties carried revenge
and retaliation to excess, and, finally. indi-
viduals, with the valor peculiar to covet-
business awaited themselves of the excite
ment to commit excuses Of all kinds ION
their own hook" and "bravely' carried
the war into africa" Lives were lost,
property destroyed and stolen and politi-
clans elevated thereby. Slaves were kid
mapped by invaders on Missouri soil and
brought to Kansas. Murders were COM
mitted during the foray. "Old Brown"
and Montgomery joined hands to avenge
their own wrongs and sacrificed innocent
persons as substitutes for the guilty
Rumors and excitements followed each
other in rapid succession, and knavish edi-
tors ayailed themselves of the circum-
stances for partisan purposes. The dis
turbance which was and should have
been confined to few miles square has
been magni6ed and exaggerated to cor
respond with the wishes of those who set
the ball in motion aud hope to obtain DO
litical offices and emoluments thereby.
We do not propose to go into detailed
history of the troubles mentioned. Our
columns from week to week, for months
past, have contained all the information
that We could gather and rely upon
The immediate causes of the present ex-
element are briefly these "A few weeks