The Indianapolis journal., 1889-12-01

entered Lawrence. as it might be attended
with bad results But we had drums and
flags, and the men felt that they had achieved
a success. so we went into the town
with drums beating and flags. Tying:
As for Governor Geary. he dld
not stay long. He. was too much
of man to do the bidding OF the siavePro-
der ruffian capital. Lecompfon, between
two days. to escape violence. The power OF
the federal governinent. always at the COM
mand of the border ruffians. was never In
voked to protect men sent to Kansas with
the broad seal of the United Stateson their
commissions.
1T was said that the men sent to
Kansas by the Free-State associations ear
ried a Sharpe's rifle in one hand and brDle
in the other am sure they had the mus.
kets and would use them. The accession
of about 500 men with guns had mar
velous effect upon the situa.
ton. Border ruffians gave them
wide berth, and thereafter did not
med9le with the affairs of Lawrence and
vicinity, The number OF these men was
always overestimated by the slavery men.
remember that on one occasion Oovcrn0r
Shannon. attended by Major Sedgw1ck. L:
5. A.. afterwards the valued or-general
commanding the Sixth Corps came TO
Lawrence TO confer with c0mmlttee con-
ssting of Colonies Walker. Blood and my.
self, regarding the surrender of a batch OF
border ruffian prisoners which Walker had
captured. The Governor was very angry
aud made a demand. We were equally
ready for the contest and also made de-
mands--prisouers and cannon taken from
us. While the conference was going on
about 800 men with arms marched ana
counter-marched in a manner to give the
appearance of much larger force than
there was. The Governor noticed this and
was evidently much disturbed. At length,
turning TO me. he said
'Eldridge. how many armed men have
you in Lawrencef
About 3.40O,' was my reply.
- have come to the conclusion that you
must have about that number was the re-
sponse OF the Governor
Thereafter compromise took the place OF
demand in the conference. These men had
healthy and restraining influence over
Governors, of whom we had large num-
ber in the course of eighteen months
After the whole OF this force arrived, an
election was held. in which the visiting
border rufiians did not vote; indeed. they
did not visit on the occasion. Consequent
ly the election was a fair one and was car
ried by the Free-State men. Had not those
men who came through with me been In
the country, the border ruffians would
have stuffed the ballot-bOxes as before.
"AbOut this time we concluded to make
a fresh demand for the muskets which the
United States troops had taken from US
and which Governor Geary had promised
to restore. They were in the basement of
/ told the boys that / was
a hundred to 60 with me. If you mean to
get the guns said they, we will go.' 1
told them we would get them; we pro-
ceeded to Lecompton. Leaving my friends
In ravine outside the town, i went in and
fOund the GOvernOr-Denver. i told him
had come after our guns. He replied that
L could not have them. j responded that
had come for them; that they were ours.
and was going to get them. A few of the
hangers-On came in and rendered their
services to the Governor, who was very de-
liant. Soon my men began to come in. 1t
was a small place, and their presence could
be felt. They were not nice-looking men.
Some had but one sleeve TO their coats,
more had no coats Some wore
a boot and a shoe, and all makes
of old hats were represented. IN clothing,
IT was Falstaffs army. But every man
had musket and well-illed cartridge
box. Some of these men came into the
Governors office. They did not remove
their dilapidated hats, and they had an air
of business. One by one those who had
proffered their services tn the Governor
skunk out. Governor i said, we can't
wait much longer Seeing that somebody
would be hurt. he finally directed his secre-
tary to count out the guns. We loaded
them into our teams and left. We did not
want them where the border ruffians could
get them. in case they saw ht to come over
and carry our election.
THE Governor would not convene the
Free-State Legislature that had been
elected. rs the Free-State leaders desired.
After the leading politicians had labOred In
vain with the Governor, the committee of
safety asked me to make an effort as q bus-
ness man. We desired to have militia
created by law and under our control. 1t
occurred to me To resort to strategy. L had
been told of conspiracy OH the part of
several free-State men to seize and Kill
quite number OF the border ruffian lead
n.In inn fho II 20 hs,,,
III evident perturba tion and excitement,
and revealed the alleged plot.
How can it be ayertedg he asked with
evident fear.
called. we can prevent anything of the
kind He issued the proclamation that
night before left.
''As look back | can scarcely conceive
that a third OF century ago such cOndi-
tion of violence and lawlessness existed. 1t
seems impossible that the federal govern
ment used its power and the army to sup
press Free-State men in Kansas, yet such
was the case. How greattbe change! Slav-
cry is dead, and no man, not even Missouri
Senator. will rise TO defend it. John
Browns soul has been marching on. With
every thing against us, l wonder we did not
fail. But truth and right are invincible.o
Such is the condensed story of man who
nine hundred picked men from the
North into Kansas at the most
critical period in the grapple between free
dom and slavery. Who will say that the
timely appearance of these men did not
turn the scale in favor of free soil and FREQ
men. and thus win for nationality and for
universal freedom the initial battle in that
momentQus war which followed in 1861. and
which ended in making the United States
nation and a free people, instead of col
lection of independent sovereignties, with
but one national right-that of owning
| human beings.