The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-06
Gov. Robinson, Gen. Jim Lane
and Can't. Prince.

our readers nave Already perSued the
speech of Lane made a short time SINCE
Some extracts from the letter of Gov. Rob-
inson in reply thereto have also been pub
lished in leading journals. If the speech Of
Gen. Lane was censurable, the reply of the
Governor vas even more so, for it not only
attacked Lane, but as bitterly denounced the
President, his cabinet and the appointees of
the Administration. Sitting the statements
of the rartizans of both disputants by my
own knowledge of Kansas matters,
think the true state of things to be as fol-
lows:
GEN. JIM. LANE.
1t is necessary to premise that Robinson
and Lane have been bitter enemies from the
first commencement of the struggle in Kan
sas Both of them are as ambitious as it
falls to the lot of such men to be. Lane has
subtle yet daring character; the most tire
less brain on the most tireless body of any
man ever met; an intellect sometimes
amounting to genius, but very unequal in
its flights; an Unsuitable ambition; great ex-
ecutive capacity, but very little regard for
details. When he strikes, it is like the sud-
den blow OF clenched hand to an unpre
pared man. He is full of the demagogue's
subterfuges, while at the same time he pos.
sesses much of soldierly frankness and d.
rectness, and has impulses which, with
quick sighted sagacity, enables him to see
the bearing of popular currents. He has
much of the heroic quality of persistency
which enables men to work untiringly in all
defeats unto the end. And to this, that,
though he possesses largely the magnetism
which attracts men to their natural chieftans
yet while all those about him admire, very
few will be found to say that they respect
him. Ifthis does not give you an idea Of
jim. Lanes mental personality, I cannot
put words into shape wherewith to better it.
When Lane first came 10 Kansas he was a
Democrat, had just voted in the House OF
Representatives for the repeal of the Nilsson
ri compromise, and declared at Westport
and Kansas City, Mo-, that the only ques.
with him as to slavery in Kansas was,
whether the soil would grow hemp or not
that for his part he would inst as lief own a
"nigser" as mule. He rode into power
first BY dividing the free State party on the
black law question at the Big Springs and
Topeka Conventions. AS the contest dee
pened, Lane began to feel the screws him.
SELF He was denounced as an Abolitionist
by the border ruffians. Until in the winter
of 1916, he was among the first for resis-
lance. To his zeal and energy was owing
much of the unanimity in the defense made
by the people of Lawrence. His career in
SO is part Of American history. But as the
strife went on, Lane overlapping the inter-
mediate steps. both from impulse and from
sagacious insight, became more radical, un-
til he stood in politics the acknowledged lea
der Of the fighting anti-slavery school Kan.
sas men. In convention at Topeka, in
in July, 1867, he made speech in which he
used these words. He was speaking of the
Democratic party, and in predicting its
dow mall. said-"I don't know, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that ! shall live to see the day, but be
fore God believe shall, when this black
and brutal party will be broken to pieces
and when, from the waters of the Yellow
stone on the North, to the warm waves of
the Gulf on tho South, one large line of flee