Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-06-20


/ structlons and make the necessary ar
rangements, he proceeded to Kansas.
reaching Fort Leayenworth on the
9th of September following.
NO pen can adequately describe the
terrible condition of the territory at
the time OF his arrival. The scenes he
had witnessed in California were being
re-enacted, with horrors greatly inten-
slhed. Civil war was raging with more
than tiendish ferocity; and all on ac-
count of slavery Men were fockine
from all parts of the South, Of desper-
ate character, with passions infamed
to the highest pitch, and with the ex-
/ press ard 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 cOmers from the free States,
equally as determined, though not so
| brutal and terocious. The fercest pas
slons OF human nature, with all their
dreadful consequences, were visible on
every hand. The smoke of burning
buildings blackened the air; fields Of
grain were laid waste and desolate :;
women and children were driven starv-
ing and naked from their homes to per-
lsh on the desolatc prairies; and the
dead bodies of murdered men were
strewn along the wayside Chaos
reigned supreme-pandemonium had
poured forth its demOns-and. crime.
in all it's most hideous forms, ran ram,
pant through the land.
Sucb NUoc tba 4I,o4
presented itself to the new Governor.
a man Of less nerve would have looked
upon it with amazement, and with dis
may fled from the scene, as did two of
his predecessors, and many others.
But Gov. Geary was not the man to
be to be easily intimidated. He had
passed already through many fiery
ordeal. lie took in at a glance the
entire situation. From this dismal
chaos, from this hell Of discord, from
all this terrific and confused mass of
conflicting passions, he was expected
to produce order, peace and harmony.
He faltered not, however, but bucllled
on his armor, and in good earnest APP
( piled himselfto the difficult task. And
so earnestly and effectuaIIy did he de-
vote himself to the work, that as early
as September 30th, he was enabled
truthfully to write to the Secretary of
State, saying:
"Peace now reigns in Kansas. Con
tidencc is gradually being restored -
Settlers are returning to their claims
Citizens are resuming their ordinary
+. pursuits, and a general gladness pre-
vades the community
He had arrested criminals, driven
brigands from the roads, disarmed and
disbanded invading armies, and insur.
ed protection to all peaceable citizens,
But this state Of tranquility, thus
effected, was precisely the reverse of
what the pro-slavery party in Kansas
and the administration at Washington
desired. Gov. Geary's course, instead
of receiving their approval, net their
decided condemnation. 1t was inten-
ded that the agitation and excitement
should continue until the Free State
men were either dnnihiidted or d1.iren
from the Territory, and the pro-sIavery
party could have everything in their
own hands Hence the Governors re.
ports to Washington were ccldly re-
ceived, and, if answered at all, as cold.
ly answered. There was no mistaking
the tenor and spirit of their communi-
cations. In the meantime the leading
rufians were becoming more and more
emboldeneI by the encouragement
they received from the seat of the
General Government. At the LecOmp-
ton postoffice, the Governors letters
and papers, both private and official,
were opened and their contents scru-
tinized. 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 murderers whom
he had caused to be arrested, were
/, liberated by order of Chief Justice
Lecompte, and public meetings were
held in which be was denounced as an
Aboitionist for refusing to give bis
sanction and assistance to the vile plots
to force the institution Of slavery upon
an unwilling people. One william, &C,
tuated and aided by others less bold
, was foiled in an attempt to assassinate
him on his departure from the Legis-
) lative Hall, and almost in sight of the
t members there assembled.
To crown all, the pro-slavery men o.
all parties, the great majority, how
ever, being old line Wings, mostly
g from the South, met together in con
: vention at Lecompton, and organized
/ the National Democratic Party
5 There was much discussion in regarC
. to the adoption Of this name, the lead
: ing men of the convention declaring
: that they could not swallow the wort
: "Democrat," having been lifelong
= "Whigs." But this objection wa