The New York herald., 1867-02-21
K A N S A s .
our lEAysHwuaTH CORRESPONDENCE.
Raid ON Thieves and Desperadoes-Proceed
ings Of the Legislature, &c.

20 rid the State Of thieves and murderers who have
long Qn some sections committed the most atrocious
crimes with impunity and in defiance OF law letter
dated Council Grove, Kansas, February g. ia published
An the Times this morning. giving the particulars OF the
arrest. imprisonment and execution OF the notorious
Jack Mcdowell While imprisoned Mcdowell openly
ooasted Of having murdered several persons since the
close OF the war; and that during the war he had been
<he leader OF gang Of bushwhackers He stated that
st one time he had caused the death OF fifteen Union
mon; that while in Texas he had shot many damned
Yankee Just for the fun OF seeing them jump He also
acknowledged that he with Quantrs and took part
In tho Lawrence massacre He placed under guard
~ the sheriff In strong log house there being no
jail In the town About midnight Saturday. the I'd
Anssni the door OF the room In which he confined
was suddenly forced open, aud fifteen twenty men,
with faces blackened entered and overpowerng the
Suards seized Mcdowell who was asleep at the time
ana carried HIM on. The guards Immediately notified
she Sheriff. and an immediate search made for
signs OF the party but owing to the intense darkness
was impossible to ascertain which they had gone
Nothing further known until daylight when the
neless body Of the desperate scovered banging to
the uppec mbers Of the bridge the Neosho river
Il impossible identity any the persons connected
with the affair and from the drift OF public feeling
cursed with hundreds OF hardened in crime
Mcdowell. Snch have had their day am con-
WINGED they rea,ze the necas itv OF leaving for some
more congenai cline Consequently they Will next be
The action or the Senate in the confirmation OF n r.
Heath secretary of Territory of New Mexico Is
severely commented on By the Kansas press Heath
Formerly Provost Marshal Of this department and is well
known In Kansas; he is spoken OF contempt.
able shyster very large number Of people in Kansas
endorse he sentiments OF the Press Indian matters
dull just now There has not been any frightful
sacres to speak OF lately Joseph La Framboisc Poa-
watomie Chief OF some died in Shawnee county
Sunday, sd INST, aed seventy six years; he has been
for many years leading and influential member of the
nat on large delegation Of the Kckapoos left
Achison on the 9th inst for Washington to attend the
Indian Council Resolutions have passed both branches
Of the Legislature appointing committees to invesii.
gate charges Of bribery and fraud in the recent
eenatorai election III those committees do their duty
their report will starte the country mako Kansas
blush II is asserted positively, by well informed men,
that over two hundred thousand dollars in this
way An individual vino made great fortune out OF
government contracts during the wsr, reported to
have said while on his way to the Safe Capitol al
have hundred thousand dollar. spend this cleo
tion," and 1t is asserted that among OF
members he seemed to have great influence Many
members openly accused of receiving bribes in
some cases newspapers have gone TAR state the
amount received by members for their votes II
the committees appo ned do opt the swhtewash
ing system, their report win be very interesting and
the same time very disgusting
The Weather aud the Indiaus-Reported NIu.
tiny and Desertien Of United Sfates Troops
to Join the Mexican Liberals-Indinn Troops
tor service Against Hostile Tribes-The Cat.
Gle Of karsas-The Great Western Rnil.
roads, 60.
LsAvEswoR7H, Feb II. 1857.
The weather has become Intensely cold aud the
cations are that We shall have another slice Of
?asengcrs arriving here from the plains report very
cold weather and deep SHOWS The Indians nowhere
60 be seen, but VIC entertained with all manner OF
absurd rumors concerning them from day day. It 10
probable that the continued weather compelled
them TO seek shelter and wal. for the OPEN
Eg Of spring. Is reported that forty recruits for the
Eighteenth infantry, recently ordered from Fort Riley
70 Fort Phil Karney, while on the road mutined and.
organizing under the lead Of old and experienced
colder, shaped their towards Mexico with tho
avowed purpose Of assisting in tie demolition Of Maxi.
milian's empire. The men were, doubtless, afraid OF
the rcdsknR
Tho authorities at Washington have at last made
In the right direction Authority has been given
80 raise Of Indian troops from friendly tribes to
operate agans, brethren Eany Of the border
tribes haze boen good terms with the whtos for
years and can be depended upon. force-say 1--WE or
six thousand strong-could easily be recruited from
among those tribes and would be, perhaps, more cf
cent the plains than three times their number Of
white troops Authority has only been given, yet to
raise battalion from tho Pawne but Is 10 be hoped
THAI the authorities viii allow TIE raising Of much
larger number Thoroughly eonversant with all tho
habits and strsiegems or their race, lad being much
better equipped, they would make short work OF those
warliks tribes and save the government an immense
tent as scouts spies &c heretofore and have always
been deemed trustworthy and efficient
stsss consi,ution regarding suffrage number Of bills
have been introduced prevent the bringing Of cattle
from Texas and the Indian country INTO Kansas ,- rno
the Spanish fever which prevails TO- sveat oxtelt
among cattle ir the country south OF here Lat year
II 10 estimated that upwards OF two hundred Thousand
dollars worth OF cattle died OF this disease in Kansas
lmmsnse drovcs OF cattle brought from Texas and
shipped 10 Chicago A drove Of three thousand may
cross the southern boundary OF the State but oy the
me they the Missouri the drove may number less
thar two thousand The cattle attacked by This fatal
fever left die by the roadside The people in the
border southern bitterly opposed TO the
in,roducton Of inf cled cattle that they often forciby
back large droges and compel drovsrs 10 enter
southwe? Missouri and nnd an ouse 70 Tue eas. VIA -,
Texas and Indian cattle party OF men eu or ntcen
wsM armed. procsed South. bay te~ cattle ard start
nothward gradually, making additions to their herd by
stealth or force until they have accumulated perhaps
several Thousand head Tney viii lose probably ope-fhird
half by fever and exhaustion before they reach
market. but chat matters liitle what they have, cost
them itlic or nothing Different Legislatures have
tried 10 vain sopt as.rc that would oaer the
stock raiser OF Kansas protection. TIs might be ex
planned by saying that sr1cua'ing la cattle tha cosl
sons ssS bring good prone. n es aSd SO
orsbs cuoagh for some OF our must prominent men 70
engage in tss notorious tso TIA. several very sub
slant al and Influential in Kansas had large con.
tracts during the war for supplying the army Win oecI
at extremely high prices After ,akps a contract, tbe
manner OF hil;ng IL nearly as foIows-A parry Of
men would 90 south the Indian country III was un
hesshy In Texas at that tmel aud under the plea Of
copfscaon account Of the In iians being rcoa IS,
seize stock and drive 1t north. Many contracts were
allied in hs way, and great fortunes we're accumulated
Almost suddenly IN est
On tie 6rL instant eies lion was held IN Douglas
county 10 4. certain IL the people 10 favor OF voting
$500 600 IN bonds CT Tins county the Leavenworih,
iawIenoe and Galveston Railroad The result was:-In
favor lilo; against 4.4 so the bonds are TO be issued
90 the road EXTENSIVE preparations being nsde 70
push the constr uctcn of ,bis road as soon as the
weather moderates and, as the en.rpr e is 70 the
nands or several well known New York and Ihicago
cspltA.isss ~ expected that the road Will soon be
rSaity This road will run through me richest and
most fertile portion of kansaA 10 is stated that
branch Of the Hannibal aud Joseph Railroad, from
Cameron to point opposite this city, will o. speedily
suiIt Tnis will greatly shorten the distance Chicago
and will give the latter city st least an equal chance
with 81 Louis In competing Tor this southwestern trnde.
corpapy has been formed for the purpose Of bridR
tny the sssoun river at point just above this city,
hli Granting the privilege having been introduced In
(oucres This bridge coinplesed the Cameron branch
and IN Leayeuworh, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad
ri,ed the pubic SPIRITED of Chicago may ccugrau
to themselves their victory over the co iogics o.
cf thor city. - .,,.,. IN, 49,