Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-30
oONEkNOI EEEDERS ESCAPE FROM
KANSAS.

Copy Fro,s, n Diary of Governor A. II
Ree<ier; Written by Him During tn
Period When He was Escaping From
Kansas i'm Disguise, in May, 1856.
Monday, May 5. Left Lawrence wit
congressional committee for Tecumseh
Commenced examination of witnesses Their
IN the afternoon, r Rees assisting Whit
field.
Tuesday, May 6. Examined witnesses
Took tea with Judge Elmore. Returned a
9o'clock p. m. through tbs woods alone
Began TO think this was rather imIFudent
Mrs. Efmore lives in a cabin of one room
vas compelled to nurse her negroes and DE-
the homework last fall, she says she never
cooked meal before She bears the change
well, and is most excellent woman.
Wednesday, May7. Examined witnesses
until 4 p. m. Learned from the best authori.
ty Ia grand Juror and others that the Plan
we had 30 often heard Of was about being
carried out, to paralyze the free state party;
that the grand jury now in session at Le-
compton had been charged by the court, as
had the Last grand jury at Delaware, that not
only all the officers of the state government
but all the judges of election were indict-
able. number of indictments have been
found at Delaware, but for some reason had
not been pressed, and the grand jury being,
many of them drunk, several had been lost
In the street. A similar attempt, we knew,
had BEEN made at Osawakee, when John
Hutch ison had been called as a witness and
had refused to answer several questions,
and b s refusal had been passed over because
they were of matters inquirable at Lecomp-
ton, in another county. Both these courts,
as well as that at Lecompton, were presided
over by Chief Justice Lecompte, a man of
frivolous mind, little ability, less integrity,
great perversity and incidence, and limited
knowledge of the law. Having neither
property, practice, nor reputation at home,
his head became turned by the location of
the capitol at the town he had laid out and
named. By this means and the domineering
habit Of the pro-slavery men, SO well adapted
to operate on a weak man, they have made
of him most supple tool. After his charge
to the grand jury at Lecompton, they pro-
ceeded to consider the matter, and, without
taking any testimony at all, voted by q
large majority of the sixteen present 10 find
indictments against Governor Robinson
and myself for treason. James Whitlock,
Ia canting, sneaking scoundrei, who was
elected to the bogus legislature by the 900
Missourians that came over to Lawrence and
took possession of the polls, and who does
the most atrocious Things under the garb of
piety), suggested that it was important to
get out of us all the facts We knew, and
that perhaps, if they once presented US for
treason, they could not put us through an ex-
animation, and if not, the presentment
would better be suppressed, and send
subpoenas for Us first, that we could then be
examined, and afterwards arrested.
District Attorney Isacks was sent for, and
enqulrcd of whether we could be as well ex-
amined after we We're presented as before,
and he of course said ''No." All of this Whit
lock knew as well before, his main object
being TO bring us to Lecompton on a sub
poena. knowing that on a warrant for treason
we would not come. These details | had
from James +. Legate, one of the grand jury
who came up TO Tecumseh TO inform me-
Governor Robinson and Lieutenant Governor
Roberts and myself had a consultation. and
al came to the same conclusion-that the
plans of the enemy were well laid. that if we
allowed them to pick up all our leaders, in
Guiding all the state officers, members of the
legislature, etc, for an offence not bailable
and keep them shut up for six months and
until after the next election las they could,
pie in detail and break them down,
especially as they had provided for
a parade and training of the mill
tia on election day, and under cover of this
would introdue without doubt number of
men from Missouri. The prospect was dark,
the crisis an important one and involving
grave consequences, and yet We had but brief
time to consult. Resolved that we must soon
make an open, organized armed resistance
and that to make tt as effectual and justifa-
BILE as IT is already righteous and just, we
must do it under and through the forms of
the state government and thus set ND the
state against the territorial government.
For this we must call the Legislature to-
gether, pass laws, organize courts, organize
and officer our militia and supply them all
with arms, who are not already supplied
h<,< 49,
must issue wrlts of habeaS corpus and take
their prisoners away from them, and thus
make the issue of force and blood in the best
shape We can. Codifying committees are
already at work, and some of the laws VIII
soon be ready. The legislature must be
called by the - day of June, as on that day
commences the next court in the second
district, when they will all be indicted and
arrested 1t is agreed also that some one
shall 90 east to raise men and arms to pre-
pare for this emergency, and for several rea-
sons that Robinson would better go, after
issuing his proclamation for the legislature
to assemble, leaving Roberts to act III his
place. suggested that would like to have
them try one of their indictments for treason
on me, and that perhaps should better be
arrested. All agree that much capital could
be made out of it, but the only difficulty is
that is will keep me prisoner till October,
when so much is to be done. l persisted,
however, that / would submit to the arrest
and try it. We did not determine what we
would do as last resort in case the general
government took tie field against us, and
gave Us the attentive of hacking out or of
Ievying war against them. This would
which indictments are found now,
but actual treason at least in
the letter, although as holy and glorious in
spirit as the dawn of the revolution of '76.
Robinson declares that at least we will wipe
out the id territorial government abso-
lutely and efectually, and to this wo all as
scented.
Toward evening Mr.. Fain, newcomer
from Georgia, who has been in the territory
but two weeks, called and very politely in
formed me that he was acting as deputy
marshal and had subpoena for me. | re-
quested him to let me see it, and he handed
mo copy. On looking at it | discovered
that it was very irregular in form, and, as
was not yet ready to be arrested for treason,
I determined not to obey it. l accordingly
20 informed the officer, giving as the reasons,
my privilege as delegate IN congress, and
the informally of the subpoena. He left,
and soon after met Legate, asked where
Robinson was, and was told he had gone to
Topeka: asked if he could go there and SUBJ
poena him with safety. Legate mischie-
yously told him he did not know, that he
must run his own risks, which so alarmed
the Georgian that he at once turned back to
The same evening he went
back to Topeka; staid till after breakfast of
the next day.
Thursday, May s. Returned to Lawrence,
where we met Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Oliver,
who had gone to Lecompton the evening be-
fore. At 2 O'Clock, p. M, commenced to
examine witnesses. Saw my Georgia friend
of yesterday come in and go up stairs
for q consultation with Major Oliver and
some friends-had a small posse with him,
all armed. He soon came into the room and