Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-12-19
move our actualan impending calami-
ties. JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, December ~, 1860.
The Prime Cause of the Present Troub
lie in Kansas.
/ From tn, journal cf Commerce.

officer in Kansas, he gave us history VI
the cause that led to the present distnrb'
ance, in Kansas, as he believed. Some
time las. summer, at the last term OF the
U. S. Court for the Fort Scott District,
Indictments were found against thirty
three of Montgcmerys men for horse s'ea-
ling. Itappears that citizen of South
ern Kansas, I'VE omit oil names, had been
solicited by cousin, who is member OF
the band, 10 become Gn active member,
promising to him that he should be Sec
retary, with salary and share in the
nrotts of the concern. He developed TO
him the whole plan Of organi-
atiop, and laid before him full history
of their operations. Montgomery, Jeuni>
son aod Others were the principal officers,
and three brothers by the name of For
bes, were the " experts" OF the men who
did the major part of the horse stealing.
IL was also disclosed to him where the
place OF rendezvous Was III Iowa.
Alter obtaining .henecessary intormat ion
this man went before the Grand Jury,
and upon his testimony the different par
ties, thirty three in number, were indlct.
ed, and among them the brothers Forbes.
In pursuance Of Information obtained
through his testimony, an officer was dis
Ipatched to Iowa, and succeeded in iecoyS
ering several horses and arrcsting two Of
The gang They were taken to Paola,
and upon being confronted by some U.
5. officers made full confession, in all res
poets confirming the testimony given be.
fore the Grand Jury. Writs wore at once
issued for the brot hers Forben, and an of
fcer entrusted with the arrest. BY ,ome
means. however, the parties got informa-
ton of the facts, and on the arrival OF the
officer he was met at the door with a
ShGpe's fiRe paesentel at lLis breast, and
robbed of his papers, being let off with the
warning that uf he ever attempted TO
serve another writ, he should be killed.
Writs worcCleI issued against the broth
ers Forbes for resistance 10 the United
Slate, officer and 10y good management
they we're arrested. Bonds in the sum of
$4,000 each were required which they gave.
II There was no resisting the acceptance of
the securities, for they werc ample and
came fully up to tie law. The officers
however, took good care TO have the socu-
rites in such a shape that il the prisoners
were not forthcoming the securities should
be made 10 suffer the ill penalty Of the
slhds. Here then, was u dilemma, and
{ the first in which any of the gang had
been fully overreaohed arl cntrapped.--
+, Various expedients, such as motions TO
quash the indictments, contiAM vance of the
f cases, etc, we're resertel to, but the Court
, oyerrvlcd them all, a4sl set tlIc time for
trial at the present term of tho Ccu.,
The alternative thus presented, coaytc.
iionoG the experts of the band or the
@ orleiture OF the bonds, and the certain en-
o r0rccmont Of the penalty, WAS 10 be NvloiJ
[ ed. The first step was the killing
Moore and other importaet witnesses, up
on whose testimony conviction was Ger.
e tain, and the breaking up of the Court, in
order 10 prevent an enforcement, 10y de,
cree, against tire bondsmcn.
o Both have been done, and the manner
| of doing il, has been familiar to the pub
lie for The past ten days. We have thus
given in brief, the statement furnished US
G and from its high authority, we are led tc
give it full cledence, as the main inciting
cause to the present proceedings.
Our informant Gays that the talk abou
the neutral land difficulties and all 9th ei
: excuses, together with their threat.
against Missouri, is only 10 enlist the sy,a
paU,y they supposed still exists anon!
certain parties in the territory grown on
IS OF former troubles: hut now that the,
y v are at woik, there is no telling where the,
y may stop. lie is also Of the opii ion, tha
If the troops will effect little if anythin!
J. mole than they have dcne heretofore ow
Ilng w Tue cuIHocrsOnle manner III WHICH
=, they move. and the instructions unde
which they are forced to act. 1t is his opin
r ion that nothing short of TIE establish
. mont OF martial law, and the power tc
10 pursue and cxtermirote will ever relev
!. the country from the depredations OF tn,
y sconndrels who now hold poss esion OF tl
i, portion of Kansas in question. An tn
>. formulas oflegal proceedings, are rather
: in aid of the outlaws than agoirst them
!. The South Corolina Covention asser
o led at noon yesterday in Columbus. Al
n organization was effected blythe selection
u Of a temporary chairman. The small.pc,
r. has become epidemic, ard much excite
4. ment prevails among the delegates. Gen