Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-26
TOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, PA, APRIL 26, 1866.

ifornia, this result might not have been ac-
; complished.
Private affairs of great Importance re-
quiring his presence in Pennsylvania Col
! Geary left San Francisco in February 1852
and repaired to his farm in Westmoreland
county, where he remained until again
called into active public life, through his
appointment, by President Pierce, as Gov
ernor of Kansas Territory, which appoint
ment, without the usual reference to com
mittee, was confirmed by numerous vote
of the Senate.
He received notice of this appointment
in July, 1856; and having delayed only
long enough to receive his instructions and
make the necessary arrangements, he pro-
ceeded to Kansas, reaching Fort Leven-
worth on the 9th of September following.
No pen can adequately describe the ter
ribIe condition of the territory at the time
of his orrival The scenes he had witnessed
ill California were being re-enacted with
horrors greatly intensified. Civil war was
raging with more than fendish ferocity =
and all on account of slavery Men were
focking from all parts of the South, of des-
perate character with passions inhamed to
the highest pitch, and with the express and
avowed purpose of making Kansas a slave
State by any means, however fair or foul !
And these again were resisted by actual
settlers and new corners from the free
States, equally as determined, though not
so brutal and ferocious. The fiercest pas
sions of human nature, with all their dread
full consequences, were visible on every
hand. The smoke of burning buildings
| blackened the air fields ofgrain were laid
| aStn nd n1afa nd
were driven, starving and Naked from their
homes, to perish on the desolate prairies :;
and the dead bodies of murdered men were
strewn along the wayside Chaos reigned
supreme-Pandemoni had poured forth
its demons--and crime, in all its most hid
eous forms, ran rampant through the land.
Such was the g loomy prospect that pre-
sented itself to the new Governor A man
of less nerve would have looked upon it
with amazement, and with dismay fed from
the scene, as did two of his predecessors,
and many others. But Gov Geary was
not the man to be easily intimidated He
had passed already through many fiery
ordeal He took in at a glance the entire
situation. From this dismal chaos-from
this hell of discord--from all this terrible
and confused mass of conflicting passions,
he was expected to produce order, peace
and harmony. He faltered not, however,
but buckled on his armor, and in good
earnest applied himself to the difficult task
And so earnestly and effectually did he de-
vote himself to the work, that as early as
September 30th, he was enabled to write,
truthfully, to the Secretary of State, say
ing "Peace now reigns in Kansas. Con-
fdence is gradually being restored. Set
tiers are returning to their claims. Citizens
are resuming their ordinary pursuits, and
general gladness pervades the community"
He had arrested criminals, driven brigands
from the roads, disarmed and disbanded in
vading armies, and insured protection to
all peaceable citizens
But this state of tranquility, thus effec-
| ted, was precisely the reverse of what the
pro-slavery party in Kansas and the admin
istration at Washington desired. Gov.
| Geary's course, instead of receiving their
| approval, met their decided condemnation.
1t was intended that the agitation and ex-
citement should continue until the Free
State men were either annihilated or driv
en- from the Territory, and the pro slavery
party could have everything in their own
| hands Hence the Governors report to
Washington was coldly received and, if
answered at all, as coldIy answered. There
was no mstaking the tenor and spirit of
their communications
In the meantime the leading ruffians
were becoming more and more emb oldened
| by the encouragement they received from
| the seat of the General Government. At
the Lecompton post Office, the Governors
letters and papers, both private and official,
were opened and their contents scrutinized.
| The few troops that had been left to guard
! his person and official documents were
! gradually removed by order Of Jeff Davis,
! then Secretary of War. Pro-slavery MUIR
derers, whom he had caused to be arrested,
were liberated by order of G. Justice Le-
compte, and public meetings were held in
| which he was denounced as an AbOlltlonlSt
for refusing to give his sanction and assis-
! tance to the vile plots to force the institu-
! tion of slavery upon an unwilling people
| One villain, actuated and aided by others
| less bold, was foiled in an attempt to ass
assinate him on his departure from the leg
islative hall, and almost in sight of the
members there assembled.
To crown all, the pro-slavery men of ali
parties, the great majority, however, being
old line Wings, mostly from the South, met
together in convention at Lecompton, and
organized the National Democratic Par
ty." There was much discussion in regard
to the adoption Of this name, the leading
men of the convention declared that they
could not swallow the word Democrat,
having been lifelong "Whigs" But this
objection was overruled, by the argument
that the name would not change positions,
while it would assure them the support of
"the Washington Democracy" The plat
form of the National Democratic Party"
thus adopted, is clearly expressed in the
following unanimous resolution of its Leg
islature
WHEREAS, We believe that on the sue.
cess of our party depends the perpetuity OF
the Union, therefore,
Be it resolved, By the House of Repre-
sentatives, the Council concurring therein,
that it is the duty of the pro-slavery party,
the Union-loving men of Kansas Territory
to know but one issue, slavery, and that
any party making or attempting to make
any other, is, and should be held as an ally
of abolition and disunion."
In carrying out this doctrine, all the
Free State Democrats were excluded from
membership with the National Democratic
Partv - not ono of them being received into