, 1862-05-23

The Sturg1s Despotfsm In Kansa$--
secret Detectives to ssSpot' Loyal
@ hob theIn--The Traitor Chief
Enllung.
From the Leavenworth Conservative, sothl
Facts are daily coming to light which show
conc!ustyely that Gen. 6turgf5 had laid the
foundation for 3 complete pro-slayery despot-
lsm in this military district. He acted des-
poticsliy aud used all the secret appliances Of
tyranr.. His purpose seems to hare been not
to aid the Government or extend protection
to the loyal citizens in his own district, but
rather to be the ready instrument Of men in
Missouri who were belligerent pro slaTer5ites,
and, at best, neutral 1oyaEists. Kansas Repub-
licans arc snubbed, Missouri Ednappers vera
sent On their Wsy rejoicing.
Stureis employed as secret detective force
men who have es little loyalty rs JET Davis,
and as little honor as Floyd. These detectives
were not used to arrest traitors, and did not
noy, arrest and punish undouotcd Union
mtn. These detectives went through our
State and marked such and such property as
contraband and as belonging to Missourians
they informed Missouri soldiers of their dis
coyeries, and the soldiers came over here and
took the sspottcd'' property.
:. 4 few days ago the town OF Prairie City was
thrown into tnmuIt By the advance Of q
party Of these soldiers, who pounced upon
psopeftE-horses, wagons, &c.-legitjmately
owned by the citizens, took it and sfarEed back
to Missouri. Before reaching their destinar
cd by detachment Of the Kansas Sixth. The
oTners OF the property proved their title and
were allowed to take It. The officer in tile
Sixth learned that the Nissourians were not
Jayhawhers, but regularly enlisted soldiers,
and that they were acting under ordsrs hom
sud commander Of the post at Kansas City
Their arms were given back and they we're per
mitted to return to that post.
Gen. Blunt found, upon an examination Of
the case. that Capt. Sterling had been author
lied By sturgis to pursue this peculiar policy
Capt. Sterling came here and received writ
ten approval OF his past course from General
Sturgis and an order to act above stated;
this order is not signed by. Capt Moonlight,
the Adjntaut OF Sturg1s, aud there is no record
Of In this Department, Therc yon haye it
Secret orders, secret detectives and Missouri
ans appointed to prowl through kansas. And
this when We are under Martial Law, with q
Provost Marshal General and his assistants,
with 4 sufficient military force, and with full
authority to put down any disturbance what
ever: i was thus that kidnapping was fos-
tered, Martial Law made 8 nulIi1y, aud the
iron rod OF slavery held over Slate which
had wasted its best blood to become free.
We have seen IN order given BIZ Capt. Ster-
ling to private soldier, giving hi1u the fullest
power to travel through this State aud cou-
denim property. It Is dated April Is, aud we
snppose the detective has been operating ever
Eince.
We arc not blaming Capt. Sterling, or his
regiment: they are not censurable for oheying
orders. We arc simply showing the peo p1t
OF Kansas how they were bound hand aud foot
By military despot. Parties Of soldiers have
been coming here constantly on errands like
the above, and JaIhawkers have had to take
the responsibility of crimes they never COM
m1tted
:. But Stnrgis Is 10 longer in command. Gen.
Blunt will aepose this secret police force as
rapidly as their NAMES become known. Our
Ssate will no longer be hunting ground All
who know bin are aware that the fullest re-
dress will be given to all aggrieved parties,
come from what locality they may. Il will DO
done openly and above board where: al can be
heard. Honest aud loyal men can do justice
without becoming sneaks aud tyrante.
In conclusion VIC would respectfully request
that Gen. Sturgis be sent to South Carolina 10
take command ota negro brigade.
ERArrN.-As we go to press we learn that
the solciers who went to Pralrse City not only
took property, but shot one man and took two
Union men prisoners, and thus returned to
Kansas City The soldiers who ~erc disar,ned
had been down to the Pottawa ttomie and
taken condemned'' property there,