The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-04-18

give as my candid opinion, that at no
time did General Lane contemplate any
such election, or favor it.
Let me state the facts as know them.
In the summer of 1868, heard rumOrs
that an attempt would be made to elect a
United States senator to fill Lanes place,
as well as statements by his opponents
that Lane meant to do the same thing.
To me, Lane had on more than one oc-
casion denied it. The Lawrence massa-
ere occurred on the morning of Friday,
August 81, 1868. The publication day
of the Kansas Tribune then only a
weekly paper was Thursday. For that
paper of August 20, prepared as strong
an article as was capable of writing in
opposition TO the election of the United
States senator by the ensuing legislature,
took proof of it to Lanes house, show
ed il to him as my view of the question,
and he fully approved it. 1 stated, in
that article my reasons for opposing any
such movement, denounced it as fraud
which the opponents of Lane were
threatening to perpetrate. | said, sub
stantially, TO Gen. Lane: "Now, Lane,
have taken that position, and want
you to understand that l shall stand by
| 1t, regardless of consequences" He
said: THAT is right" But" said 1, "as
Carney's friends may determine TO go
into an election, have thought IT pos
sible that youtmight say: "Let us break
his head with his own club, and adopt
his tactics" NO" said Lane, with en-
phasis, 81 do not believe any man can
stand up in support of any such PROPOSE
ton. We must oppose any election"
This was about the middle of the after
noon of August 20, 1868. 1 had left the
paper ready to go to press, with direc-
| finno ~ tho IN oil
hour, and if / did not return to go to
prees, the object being to consult Lane
as to the general phraseOlogy of the ar
ticle. Only a portion of the edition of
that paper was ever issued. The main
part of it was mailed, but the pOstoffice
was rifled the next morning, set on fire,
and much of the mail matter burned,
though the building was saved. The
LeavenwOrth mail, and the mail south,
got away before Quantrell entered Law
renee, and there may be some of that is
sue extant. / never had a copy of It
after the destruction of my Office in the
massacre, but saw one at Baldwin City,
which l asked the postmaster to get for
me from the subscriber, but never re-
ceivedit. am thus exact to show why
| cannot quote from that article.
Farther, Hon. Thomas j. SternberC
was nominated for the house from Law
rence-Lane's home-but declined. The
next evening after his declination,
Lane arrived at home, and procured an
interview between Gen. Lane and Mr..
Sternberg, at the house of James Chris
tan, where Lane strenuously urged
Sternberg to consent to be a candidate.
Sternberg said he had never been regard
ed as Lanes friend. Lane replied: 81
do not want you as my friend. l believe
an effort will be made to elect Carney
this winter, and all want is some man
from my own home who will oppose such
id outrage. do not want an cleo
ton until the proper time. understand
you are opposed to any election" Stern
berg said he was, consented to run, was
elected and did oppose any election.
On this, have not spoken to Sternberg
for fifteen years, if ever, but am conf
dent he will concur in what / have stat
ed
All this 1oGS before the elections of 1868.
Of the question spoken of between
Carney, POmeroy and their friends, am
not qualified to speak. 1 presume Mr..
Miller is correct. have no doubt also
that Mr.. Carney's friends were led to be-
lieve that Lane purpOsed his own cleo
ton at the same session that Carney was
elected; but if he did, he deceived me,
and not only me, but all his intimate
friends with whom have ever convers-
ed. JOHN SPEER