The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-01-23

I
could employ soldiers and promise pay to
them except such employment and pay
should be sanctioned By the Legislature.
Besides, similar services, rendered under
ike circumstances, had not been recogniz-
ed or paid by it. 1t was impossible, there
fore, to obtain men to defend the borfe->f>~
when willing to do so, who were able elmer
to do so without regular wages, or to await
the action of the Legislature.
No alternative was left ne; had either
to see that border dessolated and lis people
driven away or slaughtered, or else to en-
ploy soldiers to defend il aud them. 1 did
not hesitate. I determined at once to give
the needed protection. borrowed for this
purpose SO, 500, at ten per cent. interest
per annum, and gave my note therefor. en-
dorged By Hon. Asa Hairgrove and Hon.
w. W. II Lawrence, Auditor and Secretary
Of State, and I respectfully ask that al i'm
mediate appropriation be made to meet this
outlay, as well as every expense incurred
by other citizens in rendering Ike service 10
the State, for which they have not been paid.
I authorized the raising of one hundred
and fifty mounted men, at one dollar per
day for man and horse. These were organ
ICED into companies, and distributed In the
counties Of johnson. Miami, Linn, Wood
son and Douglas, with orders to cooperate
with and obey the commander sf the Fed
eraI forces, and 10 ill up the gaps which
had been left exposed. They did It; and
while in service there we're no raids into the
State.
I must confess, however. Notwithstanding
the service of this home guard battalion
organized by me, that felt uneasy and anx-
ious about the border. Every report which
came to me showed daring and reckless
ness on the part of the marauders which
BODIED no good to our people. determin-
ed, therefore, if possible, to check them,
and to check them in such way as to make
the invasion of Kansas an impossibility.
For the purpose of accomplishing this OBJ
ject, and of avoiding all expense to the
State, accompanied By Hon. Asa HairgroYe,
Auditor of State, and Senator Fishback,
one of the representatives of the exposed
border counties. visited st. Louis, and
laid before the General commanding the
Department the facts L have detailed to YOU
That officer gave me authority to raise
regiment Of mounted home guards, subject
10 the approval of the War Department.
Unwilling to take any risk, land knowing the
necessity of the measure, and how emersed
in business tie War Department vas 1 de-
termined to visit Washington and present
the case in person. did so. My plea for
the home guard regiment failed.
On my return from Washington l found,
although matters we're comparatively quiet
on the border. that those best acquainted
with il and with the acts of laWless rebels
7
Dated in those fears, and made immediate
efforts to raise a new regiment, whose sin
gle duty should be, to protect the border.
But the War Department would not permit
it to be thus exclusively employed, and,
therefore the commander Of the demarlment
could only consent thai 1t should remain in
the State until the Federal authorities need
ed its services elsewhere. It's recruitment,
therefore, was not nearly as rapid as ii
would have been if this positive assurance
had been given. Meanwhile it was sup
posed by the military authorities that there
were troops enough in Kansas to protect il
fully. Indeed, the commander of the dis
trict, relying upon the information which he
hal, and the well-tried vaior Of the troops
under him, felt so secure that he said to me:
Il can now protect the border without the
aid of your State troops, (referring to the
one hundred and fifty mounted men had
raised and organized into companiss,) and
save you and the State the expense 1
therefore ordered them mustered out a
week thereafter Lawrence was in ashes
Immediately after that massacre wrote
to the President, wrote and telegraphed TO
the Secretary of War, and to the General
commanding this department, reiteraiing
my general views, and demanding arms and
men for the protection of Kansas. l annex
my telegram to the Secretary of War to
show you the spirit of my communica-
tons:
"LEAvESwoRTH, August 9th, 1868.
.'H9n E. II. Stanton, Secretary Of War:
Just returned from Lawrence. City in ashes.
One hundred and twenty-eight peacea6le citizens
now known to have been murdered. Want more
troops. Either the Kansas regiments should be
returned 10 defend the State, or authority gwen
me to raise two new regiments for home p-Otec-
ton. No arms here. Will you at once order
enough to meat our wants ? write II detail to-
day"
An answer to these requests came quick
Is as the wires could bring It; arms were
sent and troops ordered to Kansas. Thus,
at last, the policy had so earnestly urged,
(saYe as regards home guards was adopted
By the Government. do not mention the
fact either for self-praise, or to censure 9TH
ers but this must be clear 10 all who will
reflect upon the subject that had this pol
lev been carried out when 1 recommended
il first. nc desolation would have swept over
our cities and towns, and no lawless bands
laid waste any portion OF our fair State.
All writers agree, and all history con
firms the correctness of the opinion, th2t
love of hone is the foundation of patriot
ism and of virtue. After that comes love
of State. Where these exist, and have 10
them fervor and strength. the Central Gov
eminent will be shielded By a power which