New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-06
FROM KANSAS.
GOVERNOR RoBNsoN's TESTIMONY BEFORE THE
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE REVIEWED AT

Governor Robnson's testimony before tho Senate
CATION Committee at Washington, In which the
attempt was made 10 impeach the credbility OF the
correspond ents of Republican journals at the East and
especially that of Mr. W. A. Phillips also TO mplca
then in general conspiracy for revolution has caused
no little indignation in this community. The facts that
Phillips and other Free-State correspondents, were,
during all earlier history, the warm and steadast
friends Of Robinson the supporters and executors OF
the very policy which he bimsef marked out, and Of
which he was the recognized leader his generous and
enthusiastic defenders against the assaults Of our Pro-
Slavery enemies, indeed the very instruments which
brought lin prominently before the people Of the
county and gave him position and influence, are 30
we'll known here, that his ungenerous attack upon
them before the Committee was entirely uDloOked-for,
ard meets with the most decided dlsapprobation
The Kansas Correspondence Of TIE TRIBUsE and
other Free State journals during the bloody of 80,
and 6 has already passed from the province of news
to that of history, coroboIaed and demonstrated by
the History written by Gov. Robinsons own wife, by
his own Messages Governor nnder the Topeka Constr
tuon BY the testimony taken before the Congressional
Kansas Committee, by Gov. Geary's History OF kan-
sas by the Messages of Walker, Stanton, Denver ana
Medsry, by subsequent events and reyeisuohs, ~
short BY mass of testimony too overwhelming and
rrefraeible 10 admit of denial doubt. Gov kobn-
sons attempt at this late day either to throw doubt or
distrust upon The facts themselves or upon the noble
band of Journalists who at the constant NIX OF IRE
sought out and published these facts absuri
Robinson returned from The East few days since,
and this subject was made the occasion Tor large
meeting lest Saturday evening. 1t was called by
Messrs PHILIPPE and Lane, and Robinson was invited
TO be present At an early hour, Millers large Hall
was completely crowded. The Hon. Amasa Soule
was called to the chair; and the matter was duly
brought before the meeting by the reading OF the ele
prarhc port of Robinson testimony before the Com
mittee, and an editorial article from The Boston
Herald making of that testimony as the basis of
most vlaipous disguisition in regarf TO the whole
KsDsas question. Lane opened IN powerful speech,
defending bmsef from the charges made In the testi-
moDy and rejecting severely upon Robinson for allow
ing biz private prendces and anmcstes 10 lead him TO
such unwarrantabe declarations.
Robinson who was present, " as called to the staad
10 reply He commenced by accusing PHILIPPE Of hsv-
ing always hbeled him in hs correspondence, but went
on to say that hs entire testimony before the Commit
tee so far Phillips aud the other correspondents
we're concerned, not given from his ~n personal
kpo \ LEDGE bat merely hears ties imony, and as
told by Redyath 10 him lRobinson). The Committee
asked him wha: Redpatb had told him, and he was
obliged to tell. He had made no charges Oh his own
responsibility, but entirely az coming from Redpata
This was The substance of his defense.
Mr. Phillips was then called 20 the stand, and dely-
cred of the most terrible and ecathDg replies IT
my fortune 10 listen to. BIS said tina. 1t was
the fret time since his connection with the press az
Kansas correspondent that he had taken any notice OF
charges against HIM. lie would not do 80 now, were
it not that these charges had been made BY msn occu
pymg the exalted position OF Governor OF Kansas and
thai they affected not only himself but also the cause OF
Republican Liberty. The miDions of Slavery had
crowded round cid John Brown as he lay wounded
and prisoner upon the prison floor at Harpers Ferry
ard had sought elicit from him something that might
preiuc ice the cause of Freedom. But the old hero
bstfed them at every point. Tney had raised their
lnquistoral Committee, and had summoned old Father
GiddiDgs before it, but not word that could prejudice
the Republican party could they get from him. 1hey
bad even cent clear TO Texas for Reaf and ne came
Int he daa ppGa not
the Governor of Karsas elected by the generous votes
of her noble sons, was summoned before
them, that the Pro-Savery party found some
thing over wh,h it could gloat and with
which it could stab the Republican party But Mr..
Redpaih told these things to Gov. Robinson. What
shl had Gov. Robinson to retail hearsay testimony
and secoBd hand SANDERS against his Kansas coadutors
and compeers Snch testimony was not hit even for
common Justices Court. And why should Charles
Robinson 20 TO James Re6path, TO learn his Pnlpss
character ard actions When he (Pbillips) came 70
Kansas in 1855, he came as peace man. AID hardly
pref AIRED orcIby resist the Missouri usurpa-
lion. At Robinsons solicitation he first took up arms
for Kansas. IL the Wakausa war he seryedas Robin
sons sidde-camp. When the Border Rufians were
eDcamped at Franklin, az Robinsons suggestion he
went AZ the imminent Ilsk OF his life 81 their camp, IN
dse use and learned the condition of the ruan army,
and the plans of its leaders. For year and half
daring these troubles TWO men were more intimate
than himself and Robnson.
In the Spring Of 1857, Robinson himself, against
Pbillipss Judgment still chung to the idea of putting
the Topeka State Government in motion, withdrew mis-
resignation of the Governorsbp, and made arrange
TO have a code Of law framed 10 advance OF the
meeting of the Legislature in June. After Robinson
had thus naugurated this movement and had induced
Phillips Conway, and others TO commit themselves TO
it, and to accept offices from the people under the
pledge to put the Government into operation, he de-
sered IT, and left them in the lurch During the whole
of the Kansss troubles while he and Ro onson were
on the intimate terms, he had been fer less radi-
cal ard revolutionary in his views than Robinson; yet,
in view Of all theso facs, knowing them as he did
Robinson had gone before that Committee aud had VII
flied him by repeating accusatons against him OF con-
spiracy ana revolution. Even If Redpath had ever
made such statements to Robinson, still Robinson must
have known that they were false and knew 1t when
he was giving his testimony before the Commission.
As TO the charge in Robinsons testimony that he
Phillps) had ever boosted that, through his
ton with The Press, he could " make unmake any
man" it utterly and unquabfedly false. But, as
he was on the point, he would say that IT, IN his con-
necton with the Press he had made moro Of any
one man than God Almighty had made, the one soli-
tsry exception was Charles Robinson. He did it,
however, ignorautly, and only until Robinson had
tau sht him TO know him for what he really was.
The effect of Pnillpss speech was tremendous Rob
inson attempted reply, denying that he had madeaay
charges against Phillips and laying all the blame on
Redpaths shoulders. gentleman in the audience
asked Robinson whether he ndorsed those charges OF
Redpahs "Of course not, said Robinson.
Lane made closing speech, AMI, sc zng the subter
fupe that Robinson was compelled to repeat Redpaths
slaI ders tore il 10 shreds. You knew those state
ments Redpath were false, yet you gave dignity
and currency 90 them. II com peled TO recite them
how easy it oud have been for you 10 have told the
Committee that they false But did you object
even put the question to You, did you even OBJ
ject !" Robinson made no reply and Lane giving its
full force to the point that Robinson had without even
obleciing reailed hearsay testimony, which, from the
very of the case he could not but have known
was alse pressed il with such power that Robinson,
becoming excited and sxasperated retorted bitterly