The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-07-18

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ever held in that county. and the General
spoke for more than an hour. His remarks
gave the liveliest salts faction to the citizens
of Johnson county:
THE SPEECH
| LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: l came here to-
day on business of general interest to the
people of this district; and this large assem-
| blage from all portions of johnson county,
shows that it is of special interest to you,
residents of the troubled border. You have
all heard that a few days ago twelve or If
/ teen men, belonging to the company of mi
| litia formed here, and led by one of their
officers, made foray into Missouri, and
drove out about forty head of cattle; and
that 1 at once had the officer and men ar
rested and lodged in the guard-hou at
Kansas City, and the stock turned over to
Major Ransom at Westport. As I passed
through there this morning, the Major in
| formed me that four fifths of the stock be-
longed to loyal citizens, and was turned over
! BY him to them. l came here to-day partly
to learn of you the charac ter these men bear
at home. I am glad to find that almost all
of them were led by their officer to the
commission of this wrong. But the chief
purpose of my visit is to tell you what l
shall do, and what | shall expect you to do,
to give peace to this beautiful section
of our State, which has never yet known
peace.
In the first place, can assure you there is
| little al present to fear on this side the bor-
der from guerilla bands. The sudden and
unexpected withdrawal of Penick's regi-
meut, two days before 1 assumed command.
left the upper border almost defenseless, and
hence the recent appearance of large bands
of rebels in Johnson county. hope soon
to have troops enough on the Missouri side
not only to prevent raids into Kansas, but
also to drive out or exterminate every band
of guerillas now haunting that region. l
will keep thousand men in saddle daily in
pursuit of them, and will redden with their
blood every road and bridle-path of the
border, until they infest it no more.
l mean, moreover, to stop with a rough
hand all forays for plumber from Kansas
into Missouri. Tie militia com panies re-
Gently organized along the line, at the sug
gestion of the Governor and General Blunt,
and armed by the Government, will do good
service in repelling invasion, and 1 shall be
glad to have their aid. But they are author
lied no more than other citizens to seize
property of rebels or sympathizers on either
side of the line. I will have property seized
IN this district only by order of officers in
the service of the United States, who are re-
sponsible for abuse of discretion or violation
of orders in making such seizures, and in
disposing of property seized.
There are very many men in Kansas who
are stealing themselves rich in the name of
Liberty. These men must find some other
mode of giving effect to their patriotic zeal.
AS they want TO kill rebels, Yet them join
any old regiment. or either of the new ones
about being raised. They can find in the
service positions equal to their energy, dar-
ing and talent, and can adorn the service
and be honored in it. The Government will
welcome them; it needs and has a right to
the service Of all men of enterprise who are
at large, and it will not too closely discrin-
mate against such men because of irregu-
larities in the past.
But, whether they enter the service or
not, now notify them that they will be
compelled to quit stealing, or get out of this
district, or get me out of it. mention this
by way of an amicable understanding in the
outset. shall infict on all men who 90
into Missouri TO plumber, the severest pen
alties prescribed against robbers and marau-
ders in the lines of the armies. Those who
plumber in Kansas, will be handed over to
the civil authorities; or, where the necessi-
ties of the case require it, will be dealt
with by the Provost Marshal as though the
State were by proclamation under martial
law.
Some men in the State, who are influen-
tial by reason of boldness, position, or talent,
have been long engaged in distorting the
honest sentiment of the State. and giving
respee stability to robbery when committed
against any whom they declare disloyal.
They srrogate to Themselves and their sym
pathizers, all the radical anti -slaveryism and
genuine loyalty in Kansas. Under their
Rgis, many of the worst men that ever vexed |
a civilized community have 1ocked and been !
protected. If farmer came to Kansas or
iginally from slave State, and especially if /
be has good stock, be is in danger of being
suspected; and if suspected BY even the
most suspicious of this sect, his stock :
taken and cold, aud put in the pockets of the
vigilant patriots, Any citizen who denoun
ces this mode Of conducting he var, s re-
garded as a sympatE z6r, an1 politically
uusound. They bave sfussd % enter she
service-the Administration IL nos radical
enough; but they claim 20 be doing more
service than the soldiers who abandon their
homes and business. and, obedient to the
orders of their Government, peril their lives
in the front of battle.
Now. / propose, if these men do not en-
ter the service of the United States and sub
lect themselves to the discipline of the army,
to get along without their help; and fully
expect to be able TO punish rebels, their
aiders and abettors on both sides the line,
with as much severity as they have hereto
fore been punished by these men; and with