The New York Herald Newspaper, January 9, 1856, Page 2

NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1856. INTERESTING NEWS FROM KANSAS. @pecial Despatches to the New York Herald. Executive Orvice, Shawnee Mission, K. T., Dec, 22, 1855. Description of the Gubernatorial Palace of Kansas Terri- tory—Our Correspondent Journeys from his House on the Prairie (o the Executive Office at Shawnee Mission— Pencillings by the Way—Origin of the Westernisms, Lych Law and Bowie Knife—How a Governor and his Muite Look when Travelling in Kansas—Governor Wilson Bhannon’s Statement of the Rise, Progress and Presen Condition of the Troubles in Kansas—His Explanation Eq the Treaty with the Citizens of Lawrence—Ezplanation of @ Letter Signed by the Governor. Tam writing in the Executive office, and for that mat- ter, the private bedroom, public parlor, library and ge- seral sanctum of his Excellency Wilson Shannon, Go- vernor of Kansas Territory. Now, as some of your readers may suppose that to be Governor of Kansas is a very high, very mighty and very easy office—a sorto sineeure, in fact, where the favored incumbent wears the “ purple and fine linen,” and ‘ fares sumptuous!y every dsy’—I will take the liberty to dispel the illusion, and convince the boldest visionary that the Governorship of Bansae is a reality of the sternest kind, by a pen and i:k sketeh of our present surroundings; and remem er, too, ‘What this is the most responsible looking building which we have as yet seen in the Territory, built of brick and of eensideradle dimensiens. y Weil, to locate the Gubernatorial apartment—it ‘is seme twenty feet square, has a deor opening out upon (that Americanism) « “piazza”; also a window, with a ‘wit-d-vis of two windows, which look out upon » picket feneed back yard, a hillside and some trees, The win- @oqe are shaded by faded chintz curtains, waich, even in ‘their original freshness, never cost a fertun double curled maple, four poster, which assists the sleeping of ‘the Governor and his private secretary, occupies one corner ef the room; washstend that even a ‘‘fashiona- Ble Biddy” would Icok askance at, stands opposite; be tween the two, a little table, a crooked looking giass and a huge pile of law books, fill up “the aching vold”; a rusty stove, with its rustier pipe, warms one-halt of the apartment, which is, however, kept even more than comfortably cool by the ill-bung door, that lets in more air than a regime.t of patent ventilators; in medias res stands a larger table, littered with piles of public doeu- ments, newspapers and writing materials, with a blue Mackanaw bianket by way of covering, on wich your “special cv.respondent’’ is at this moment driving « pen; the corners and sides of the room are piled witu boeks—law predominating. Everything, in fact, be- speaks the residence of one who cultivates the braia yather than the body. The Territorial seal, which, with @ half gelion of Marquand’s ink, and an old pair of Breeches, occupies a box at the foot of the bed, is ai t tells of the power vested in its occupant. Add \ this, ‘that the fioor is uncarpeted and the walls more than slightly dilapidated, and I think that you will concur with me in pronouncing Wilson Shannon the mest hteral- dy democratic Governor in these United States. For my- self I am willing to go even a step farther, and declare that if the ‘sovereign people,” after such convincing pout his stern repubdiicanism, don’t make him vext ent, they will do themselses and everybody con- e@oneerned rank injustice. I bade farewell vo our hospitable friends at home on irie, near Lecompton, trom whence our last letter was iguwarded early yesterday morning, and we regret to add that we departed with a sad torebouing that ere we met again their pleasant home (which, as we stated in eur last, had been threatened with violence;) might be made the scene of strife and bloodshed, for suspicious persons were heard moving about the place during the ‘and we, ourtelf, at about two o’clock in the morn- img, heard distinctly the trampling of aherse, and the yimglirg accoutrements of ite ricer, as he twice rode reund the howe. ‘he day, even for December, was imtensely eold (the mercury sianding at zero); the land- seape looked cheerless in the extreme, and the sky gray and wintry. But our team, with ‘a loug ambulance sattached (the whole belonging to General Woitfield, now am Wachingion), proved « good one; and tue vel: whieh, ike most ambulanzes, or ‘ prairie wagons,” as they call them here, proved rather airy, was made com- fertable by wrapping ourselves in buffalo roves and mc- cassins. So with the Governor’s private secretary (Mr. Shannon), for « driver, we rolled out upon tne road, with the Gcvernor occupying a seat beside his son, while the Searetary of State, his little boy, a bright looking youngster ‘of mine, and your correspondent, crowded the inside of the conveyance. If we excep? halt at Behan’s, where we ate @ primitive cinner of waxy cold biscnits, that eternal ‘hog meat,” waich, if possiole, was colderthan the bread, and some few gettings out to wak at bad piaces, tor “7 pataral i or Ie eve Terr are equal, if not superior, to any in the werld. “Shere was little to interrupt the shivering, wea- yisome monotony of our ride; for though men mey be companionable in staging it at the start, their conversa- tional intercourse generally termuaves, unless you do wome ‘big stretcving,”” with tbe first twenty’ males, when the travellers, iu most cases, subside into a gloomy, misanthropic, hail dreamy state, which lasts until a piace thaws them out. But as our friend Woud- sem, the Secretary of State, did talk to us during a por- tion of the trip and as Woodson life by stitking type in “old Virginny,” and ended his adventures in t section of country by becoming the editor and pro- prietor of a journal in Lynchourg; and as Woodson i clever fellow, who knows how to tell « good story we know thst you will be pleased to get the deriva:ion ef those much quoted ‘Westernisms”—Lynch law and bowie knife—as we heard them from his lips. Lynch law owes its title to a certain Squire Lynch—a stern and uncompromising old patriot, who lived auriag “the times that tried men’s souls,” on his planta:ion, distant some tnree miles frow the present site of Lyxe! burg, Va. It was the custom in those stir- ring days of the Revolution for his neighbors, when they caught a tory, to bring the unlucky culyci: Refere Squire Lynch, who at onee organized a court of bis own selection, in which he aur- yiedly was judge, jury and counsel for the prisoner. If the erime were proved, be would proceed to pass sen- tence, by awarding from fifty w one hundred stripes, to be weil iaid on ; or, it may be, even # geaver penaity, in proportion to the ‘maguitude of the offence. And it i¢ poteworthy. that as this was a court from whence there ‘was no appeal few thought of preaching “higher law,’ or taking exceptions to bis Honor’s findings. Our io- formant adds that the old man’s memory is still greatly yevered in that section of the “Old Dominion,” while hie descendants are justly reckoned among those higher respectable people, * the first families of Virginia” A grandson ot the Jnége, Charles H. Lynch, Exq., still re- sides upon the paternal extate ; and a venerable oak, one of the real old settlers, is even Dow pointed out to the curious a# the canopy under which Judge Lynch held his rough and ready cvuit; those have seen it, say that the notches are «till visible upon tts moss grown teupk, which, in ‘‘cld lang syne,’ kept the corde trom slipping while the tory got his dose. The town of Lynchburg takes irs nate f’om the Judge, and rumor says tbat the grancson would sooner lose un arm than part with the old homestead ant its tory haunted tree, ‘The bowie knife yarn is simoly this:—Mr. Sam Bowie, who patronised Arkansas in those good old times, when Askansas was what it used to be, being carious in his style of fighting, wanted toois to sult himself. He there fore invented a singular knife, which he wore ioside hi- coat back, and as this peculiar instrument gaine! a wider and bloodier popularity, it took the name of its origi- nater, until the bowie knife has outlived the recolle:tion of s man who knew bow to use his pointed weapon as wo as any citizen of the once far tamed Territory of Armansas. Our next paragraph should be headed ‘‘ How @ Gover- por and his Suit Look while Travelling in Kansas.’’ Aud how they do look! You suould have seen his Excellency Governor Shannon yestercay as ke footed it up a ste. hill at Wakansa Creek. The Governor was ahead; he aperted, what a NewYork ‘b’noy” would have termed a “most rhockicg bad bat,” while his great coat and con tinuations looked almost as rusty as the country duilt Doots, which bad evicently known no blacking fora week. Add to these habiliments « red worsted comforter, with the ends tucked in at the breast, anda pair of buckskia riding gloves. and you will haves very precise inventory of the Governor’s outer man upon that memorable occasion. ‘As for the Secretary of State, he was ‘‘deil bit deter off for clothes”’ than his chief; in tact, he himself aifirmes that he looked more like a ‘border ruffian’ than any of us, The private secretary was an unprovement on either, and we flatter ourself that your hamole servant, the writer, was the mosv fashionable ‘got up’ individaal io “the crowd,”’ and even be didn’t cut a very insinuating figure with a eoashed up cap and a pair ofgray breeches turned up over our boote—to sey nothing of the best end of that six shooter and the nozzle of that whiskey flask whieh peered out suspiciously from either side pocket. To complete the picture add forms doubled up with the cold, watering eyes, blue noses, frost pincbed cheeks and ueh like ‘compliments of the season,” and we will pes ter you no more on that head. ‘ ‘And now it is high time to be serious. We must revlly «quit poking fan”? at Kansas, at least for this letter. Governor Shannon has been kind enough to state the facts (as they have oume to his knowledge) in relation to the rise, pr , and temporary termina ion (tor we are but too fearful that the prevent calm is but « lull in the wild conflict of contending factions) of the unhappy Giffieulties in this Territory. We believe that we are in possession of the main chain of evidence; for the de tails, we must refer the reader to the accompanying atli davile, letters, and official despstches, which, with sta fnents taken down by your correspondent, seems to pla the “ pro-slavery party” in a generally favorable posi- tion. The genuineness of the documents appended may be lisitly relied upom, #8 they have bsen carefully €0j iby ourself from toe files at the Territorial Execa- tive office. In giving the Governor's narrative of events, which we have taken down from his own lips, we dis- claim any responsibility for the subject matter, beyond the mere style of its composition. Iask an impartial bearing for Governor Shannon’s statement of facta in re- lavica co the late troubles in Kansas Territory. as he has derived them from his own personal observation, or the deporitories, corr lence, and verbal statements of reliable wen of both parties in and about the Territory He fays:—On or about the 24th of November, 1850, a difficulty occurred between @ pro-slavery man of the ame of Coleman, anda free State man named Dow, tn rejation to ‘a claim,” this resulted ins reacontre, in which Coleman killed Dow. This gave rise to considera- ble excitement among the free State people in that neig) porhood, whieh is known as the Hickory Point nettle- ment. in this place there are about ome handred free ‘and fifteen or sixteen pro-slavery, families. fne ran high, and the tree State'men threatenod Coleman, try and hang him, without apy legal pvesiiga ion, by a court and jary of their own. were also ainong the settlers at Bichory Point wo wen, named Buckiey and Hargis. They were pro- slavery men, friends of Col amd witnesses to the y between Sieectt ana Dow. Some two days after the killing of Dew 0 mae of seventy-five men (a of whom resided about Lawrence,) went to Nikos Point, to the residence of Bargie, ood de- mand friends of ny They repeated the circum- they intended to relate them. To this these free State men, sho were all armed with Sharpe's rifles, replied (at the same time their 4 and 4 ing them at the breasts of y and Hacaia), “what you say is false; the eircumstances ow until Mon ts. If do not do it we will kill you.” Before the 7 pired, the free State men burned down the houses of Backley, Hargis and Coleman. In so doing they turned the tamily of ley out of doors. This ily saved nothing of their wardrobe or furniture but the clothes in which they fied. ‘Terrified by these lawleas |, the sixteen pro- slavery families residing at Hickory Point fled with taeir worea and children inio Missouri, where their accounts of the treatment to which their friends had been sub- jected excited the most intense ag morgen among the tlaveholders of that state. From we stories, exag- raved as they spread, and it may be tov hignly colored yy their original narrators, the impression became cur- rent throughout Missouri ‘that the free State party of Kansas, armed with Sharpe’s rifies and revolvers, in- tended to expel the pro-slavery men trom that Territory It is all that such threats were made by inai- viduals of the free State party; but ay they ao not appear to bave come {rom responstble persons, it would be untair to infer that this is the -avowed purpose of their party. In the meantime, Buck- ley, Hargis and Coleman, (who had fled so #000 as they could escape from the band who were threatening their execution,) made their way to the execative office at Shawnee “fission, K.T., to have an interview witn my- self. I was absent at the time. When I returned, Cole- man hed surrencered himseif te the Sheriff of Douglas county, (Jones,) who bappened to be at the Mission. Buckley and Hargis stated their grievances to me, and informed me that a man named Branson, of the’ free State party, and one of the residents.at Hickory Point, ‘with whom Dow (the person killed) hei resiced, was the leader of the band who had threatened and endeavored w extort false evidence trom them. Upon these represen- tations ] aavised Buckley to go before & magistrate, or any jucieial offieer of the Territory, make affidavit to the facte as regarded the arrest of Branson, obtain a peace warrant against him, and thus have him bound over to keep the peace. As Sheriff Jones was about starting with Coleman in custody, and Buckley and Hargis ia company, on their way to obtain a peace warrant agaiast Brauson, an express arrived from Hickory Point, which had ridden all nigh:, advising Coleman aud his two friends not to return to that settlement, as they would certaialy be killed by the free State party. Sherif Jones, with much dificulty, and by guaranteeing their safety, at length pica! th persuading them to accompany him to Lecempton, the coanty seat of Douglas county, 19 which ali these difficulties had occurred, and from whence it was of course necessary that the peace war- rant should be issued. On his arrival there, Buckley, in ursuance with my advice, went before a Justice of the ’eace—Mr. Cameron—made affidavit sgainst Branson, and obtained a peace warrant, which tue Justise placed in the hands of Sheriff Jones for execution, wae imaedi- ately summoned a posse of tea men, (citizens of Douglas county.) to serve the writ. I copy from my note book an account of Branson’s rescue from the Sheriff. as related to me by E G. Leak, Esq. , of Kentucky, who formed ene of Sheriff Jones’ posse ft the time. Gov. Shaanon, to whom | have read it, be lieves Leaa’s statement to be substantially correct. Mr. L. is a pro-slavery man, and an intimate friend of Cole- man’s. Iam cirposed, from his dispassionate maaner of relating the circumstances, to credit the narration. Mr. Leak described Coleman as being a rather hand- some man, ot very “genteel appearance,” with dark hair and beard; be stands about 5 feet 11 inches in height and weighs 185 pounds—is amiabte in his disposition, aud bas © wie and two children at present residing some tour miles from West Port, Mo., on the Santa Fe trail, whither they had fled for fear ofthe free State party a: Hickory — Gov. Shanuon informs us that had commissioned ‘oleman as a Justice of the Peace, just previoas to the killing of Dow, his commission, however, although made eut and signed, had not yet been forwarded when the rencontre occurred. Coleman has declined to receive this commission, in accorcanee with the suggestion of Governor Shannon, until his conduct in kalling Dow has been jadicially investigated and decided upon. The Governor continued—This rescue took place on Tuecday m rping, about the 26th ot November, at 2 A. M. Tae rescuing party ‘hen returned to Lawrence, where they had a meeung, at § o’clock A. M., on the same day. Branson, the prisoner, presided, dressed, as it is said, in a military uniform, while S$. M. Wood, the leader and spokesman ot the lescuing party, made speeches of an incendiery character, glorying in the triumph ot the tree State men ever the laws of the Territory. {t should be stated, also, that from this day forth the free State party in Lawrence openly commeaced their military organization, by drilling, sencing out their runpers—as is proved from the fact that they collected ts even as far distant as eighty miles—and otheraise putting their town ia a position so resist, by force of arms, the legally constizuted authorities of Kan- sas Territory. Upon the same night, about e’ght o'clock, I received a éespatch, by express, f-om the Sheriff of Douglas county, (Jones,) informing me that bis prisoner, Branson, been ‘rescued by an armed mob. This despatch was brongut by tir. Hargis, who stated verbally at the sume time, that the free State party had thet day threatened to take Coleman. (then in the custody of she: itl Jones.) from the Sheriff, hang him, and also kill Jones. The Sheriff's letier asked for three thousand troops to protect him in the execution of the law; it was evidently written under a state of cousiderable excite- ment and apprehension. As these facts had reached me in an official manner, from sources of uncoubted reliability, and were, more- over. corroborated by much verbal testimony as well as written evicence; and as these latter acts of outrage (up on the part of the free State party of Lawrence) seemed bu: the carrying out of their previously declared inten- ns, as expressed in the incendiary resolutions passed t their public meetings, which have { time to time been bel ia different parts of this Territory, and of which the following may be yroted as a specimer * * * * * * * * Resolved, That we owe no allegiance or obedience to the tyrannical ¢nactments of this spurious Tegisiature; that their laws have no validity or binding force upon ‘he people of Kan sas, and that every jreeman amongst us iy at full Hberty, con- with ali bis ob/igations as a citizen anda man, io dety them, if he chooses so to do, : alee Resolved, That we willendure and submit to these laws no longer thon'the best interests of the Territory raqulre, asthe least of two ev and will resist them to a bloody as we ascertain that peaceable remedies shall fall and forcible resistance shall furnish any reasonable prospect of success; apd that, in the meantime, we recommend to our friends througbout tbe Territory the organization and discipline of vo- lunteer companies, and the procurement #nd preparation of arms. colin Sys gaa Mee, Mite: UM Means, at ‘These resolutions are liters] copies of the originals, as they appeared in the Herald of Freedom for September 16,855. This paper is published in Lawrence, K.T., and is one of the avowed organs of the free Stave party ia Kansas, The resolutions quoted were passed at the Free State Delegat# Convention, holden at Big Springs, K. T., on the 5th of September, 1855, which convention also no- minated Governor Reeder as a candidate for Cougress, and fixed upon a different day for the election from that preserived by law. This nomination Governor Reeder accepted. I therefore deemed it incumbent upon me, as the chief executive of Kansas Territory, to enforce the laws and protect the Sher 16 prisoner Coleman, from the vi- olence and rescue which bad been threatened and in part carried out by this mob, for I firmly believed (being in pos- session of the tacts,) that the overt acts just commited by the free State party were but the commencement of a settled plan and deterininstion to resist and bid defiance to the Territorial laws, m accordance with the resolutions alreacy quoted. Under all these circumstances, I felt that 1 must either furnish Sheriff Jones wich a sufficient posse to carry out his instructions or be forced into the disgraceful alter- native of surrendering the Territorial government iato the hands of an armed and lawless mob. And it may here be stated that the militia of Kansay were at this time (and are still) totally unorganized. The Legislature had, it is true, elected two Major Generals in the Southern and one in the Northern diviston, as weil as some Brigadiers; but +0 far as the rank and file are con- cerned, the organization was not even commenced. With the view of farnishing the Sheriff with a safficient force to serve his writs, ax well as to protect himself and hit prisoner Coleman against the threateved violence of the tree State mob in Lawrenee, | issued orders to Major General Williamj?. sichardson,\(then residing ia Domi- phan county) K. T, to collect as'large a force as he could in his division, anc repair with his men, with all practical speed, to Lecompton. where he was desired to place his command under the orcers 0: Sheriff Jones. ‘This order resulted in the collection of trom one totwo hundred men. Within six days from the date of my order, these men were #t Lecowpton, where General Richardson placed bimswif and his command under the orders of the Sheriff. To the beat of my belief these men were ali citi- zens of Kansas, The Southern division of the miditia be- wholly unorganized, I simply requested Brigadier General Strickler, then residing at Tecumseh, distant only twelve miles from Lecompton, to gather a3 many men as porsible, end report himself and command in the same manner as General Richardson. ‘Thee instructions bore the same date as General Rich- ardson’s order, ana resuited in tae coilestion of from fifty to one hundred men. | presured as » matter of course, and intended, that all these men should drawn entirely trom the citizens subject to militia duty in Kansas Territory At that time— as ihe seat of difficulties (Lawrence), is distant some forty miles from the State line of Miseouri—it never for # moment occurred to me that the citizens of that State would cross into Kansas or volunteer their aid to carry out her Jaws. Lat first presumed that the forses col- lected onder the orders issued to Generals Richardson and Strickler would have been sufficient to have protected tne Sheriff in the performance of the duties entrasted to him. Bot upon the concentration of the forces under these offi- cers at Lecompton, which gave us a total of bn’ 250 men, the free State faction collected their people in the town of Lawrenor, until their reported strengti reached an aggre- gate of (00 men, armed, as was undoubtedly ascertained, withSharoe’s rifles and revolvers. Tole would bave given the free State faction a snperior- ity over the militia of 350 men, without reckoning that which they would derive from the immense sugeriority of the repeating arms with which they were amply fur nished: while General Jichardson’s command were prin cipally supplied with towling pieces—some having pistcls and bowie Bnives, Jcan thus account for the intense excitement which was generated among the pro-slavery men of the Missouct frontier by these events, and which finally resulted in their flocking to the aid of the upholaers of Terrivorial law in Kansas. Missouri has 60,000 slaves in the upper portion of that Siate, which borders upon the frontiers of Kansas Territo- ry. By estimating the average valne of exch of these slaves at $100 (a low rate), we bave a total f thirty millions of dollars. Now, should Kansas become a free State it would be ruinous to the slave holding interest of Missouri. Her negroes have in several instances al- ready been tampered with and ran off by abolitionis and gndh acts, with) the stern retaliation they are calc laved to call forth, rust © or later result ina deadly feud vetween the free State ard pro-elavery factions, whieb, if Kansas becomes a noa-slavebolding tate, be handed dowe from fatirer to son, and a Soleee tee and unextinguishavle facts are well known to every planter in Mis- jor is this all. The mere pecuniary consider- — ‘in this mat- te g i sE ‘had fied from homes Kansas, made desolate by the m gran ene stories were fancy or indignati yy was still caer ta, whith only i A C wrath, wl some new aot of outrage $0 fan ng flame: and this came at lergth in the reports the town of Lawrence. The men of M.ssouri heard that the Territo- rial laws were set at defiance; that the Sheriff of the and highly esteemed, county—e Virginian, well known and moreover a strong pro-slavery man—was actually threateved with death by an armed abolition mob; the; heard, too, (for when did rumor ever lose strength as it flies?)’ that these outlaws were lage grrr érill- ing by cay, were sending to distant were wmply supplied with the most deadly weapons, whieh modern skiil has devised, and even provided with ‘They knew, too, that this was no disturbance transient excitement, and nurtured by the par- sions of an hour. Un the contrary, it was understood to bea cold blcoded, long foreseen and carefully prepared for thing. And what was the most natural result? Che gathering in the camp at Wakarusa may best answer the question. Missouri sent not only ber young men, but ber gray-hexded citizens were there : the man of seventy winters stood shousder to shoulder with the youth of six- teen. There were volunteers in that camp who brought with them not oyly their sons, but their grandsons, to Join, if need be in the expected fray. Every hour addeo to the excitement, and brought new fuel io the flame What wi oe that my position was an ombarra's- pg one! se men came to the Wakarusa camp to fight; they «dd pot atk peace; it was war—war to the knife. They would come; it was impossible te p” trem. What, then, was my policy? Certainly thi mitigate dn evil which it was impossible to suppress, by bulnging uvder wilitary control these irregular andx- cited forces. This was only to be accomplished by |permit.ing the continuance of the course which had already been adopted, without my knowledge, by Generals Richarcson and Strickler—that is, to have the yolunteers incorporated as they came in in‘o the already organized ecmmand. A portion of these men. who were mostly from Jackson connty, Mu., reported ‘Themselves to, Sherif Jones (by giving ‘in a list of thel: names.) a8 willing to serve in. bis posse, and be, after taking legal advice upon ‘the question, decided to receive ‘hem, They were accordingly 60 enrolled. It was daci- ded that he had a right to employ them, from the fact that they deing present in the county, the Sheriff had a right to eall upon chem to ai2 in the preservation of law and order within said county, even theugh they might be citizens of another State, in which case, if they chose to act, their services would be legal The pro slavery forces thus collected, including the militia, amounted on the Ist or 24 of December, 1850, (as it was then stated to me at they Shawnee Mission.) to about 1,500 men, and tt was also reported that about an equal number of free State men had concentrated at Lawrence. I became satistied that in all probability a deadly collision must take place, and that the only way to avoid that collision was to request the aid of the gene ralgcvernment. Iwas, moreover, in the receipt of a com- mupication trom Brigadier-General Eastin, ot the Norta- ern Brigade K. M., putting me in possession of informa- tion from Lawrence, and recommending the employment of the United States forces at Fort Leavenworth. To obtain the co-operation of the geaeral government, 1 telegraphed on the 1st of December trom Kansas City Missouri, to President Pierce,that I requested suthorizy w call upon Colonei Sumner, commanding at Fort Leaven- worth, tor such mili ary aid as should enable me to pro tect the Sheriff of Dougias county in executing the laws, and preserve peace and gooc order in the Teriitory. This despatch, with the President's answer, ia already before he pablic, as also the Governor's proclamation, (which was dated on the 20th of November, from the exe- cutive office at Shawnee Mission). Talso despatehed & messenger to Col. Sumner, 1st Ca- valry, U.S. 4., at Fort Leavenworth, notifyiog him of what'l had doze, and requesting him to hoid himself and commend in readiness, in case the orders shoold be re- ceived; to which be promptly replied that he would be ready to move with bis men at a moment’s warning, as seon as the requisite instructions should come. On the 80 of December, the telegraph lines being down between Lexington and Jefferson City, Missouri, (my des- pateh being therefore sent by special mensenger during the interval,) I received a reply, dated December 4, from the President, stating tbat the Executive would use all the Ydert at his command to preserve order in the Territory, and to enforce the execution cf the laws and as soon as the proper orders could te made out at the War Department, they would be transmitted. I immediately forwarded a copy of the President's telegraphic despatch to Col. Sumner request. ing him to march (cn the strenth of that despatch) wita his wen to the Delaware crossing of the Kansas—twelve miles above its mouth, at which post I would meet him and eccowpany his commana to the scene of difficulty. Col. Sumner replied that he would do so, as it was a case of extreme emergency. (1 had written him that time was every thing, as things were rapidly coming to # crisis. ‘About this time ® committee waited upon him from Lawrence—both free State men—clanning to represent the citizens of tha: town (Messrs, Lowry ana Babcock). They stated that the people of Lawrence were surrounded by a bocy of armed men, who were threatening to demolish their town, aud requested me to exercise my authority tv preserve peace and rave their city. They produced a let- ter rigned by the leading men of Lawrence. Fincing that affairs in Lawrence and its viciaity were fast reaching their crisis, 1 determined to repair thither immediately in person myselt. T alse addressed a communication to 0. A. Sumner, U. S. A., apologizing to him for not meeting him at the Dela- ware cros-ing, a8 1 bad prowi-ed, and adding that as I was going to push on ahead, I hoped he would ‘o!low with his command, as rapidly as possible. It was my desire to bave bad the Colonel’s men stationed in Lawrence, for I knew, if 1t could be effected, it would prevent an at- tock. On the night previous to my leaving for La rence, I sent 2 special messenger, with three separate des- patches, to Gen, Richardson, J, Strickler and Sheriff Joner, to prevent an attack or disorder of any kind. At half pas: 3 o’cleck, P. M., on the 6th ot December, I left Shawuee Mission, went into Westport, Mo., (distant sume 2}¢ miles from the Mis+ion,) and requested Col. Boone, (grandson of Col. Boone of frontier memory, and Postmaster at Westport.) to acc: mpany me to Lawvence, and, ns hia acquaintance with the leading pro-slavery men whe were then in the camp near Lawrence was exten- sive, give me the benefit of his influence in keeping cown an ¢xcitement and preventing any rach act upon t part of the troops then threatening Lawrence. Chis he instantly agreed to do, andl owe much to his valuable assistance in restraining the volunteers. We journeyed in company to the scene of action. Sbortly af er leaving Westport we met a despatch trom Colonel Sumner, First Cavalry, stating that upon reflection he had concluded not te march with his command until his orders from the War Department had been received. We then proceeded as rapidly a8 possible to the Wata- Tusa csmp, (within six miles of Lawrence), which was occupied by that portion of the pro-tlavery forces under the command of Genera! Strickler, and reached i; aboat three o’ciock A. M. on the 6th. Early on the morning of the 6th, I sent a request to Major General Richardson to meet me at the Wakarusa camp, and bring with him the /eading men orthe Lecomp- ton camp. One of the objects in cividing the pro-slavery forces to the two camps ot Lecompton and Wakarusa, distant from each other by eighteen miles, was to prevent those men in Lawrence against whom the Sheriff hac writs, from escaping: another was to take ad ot the very favorable camping ground afforded by th rusa bottom, where the facilities for o®taining fuel, water and sheltering timber, render it a desirable location for the troops. About 3 P. M., General Kicbardsen, with a number of the most prominent men from the Lecompton camp, arrived at my quarters, (which I had established at an Indian house on the east side of the Wakarusa, and about a quar- ter of a mile from the Wakarusa camp). I haa been ei uring the day, upto the very mement of Gen. Richardsoa’s arrival, in conference with the leading men of the Waka- rusa camp, with the view of arcertaizing their feelings and inventions, and if possible prevailing upon them to co operate with me in carrying out my views. For myself, Thad two leading objects, which I had determined to use every exertion o accomplish:—One, to prevent the effu- tion of blood; the ower, te vindicate the supremacy of the lawa, I found in the Wakarusa camp a strong disp>. sition, which appeared to be almost universal, to attack Lawrence, For the purpose of furthering the objects I had in view, I invited between thirty und forty of their leading wen from: the two camps to meet me on the night of the 6h, at my quarters, with the intention of explaiving to them my desires and purposes, and faviting a +finilar eoptidence on their part in revurn. They convened at my quarters, accordingly, at eight e’ciock P. M., when 1 addreaved them at length, defining the perition which I intended to oscupy and the enas which I hoped w gain, and finally begued them to ex- plain ireely their wishes and expectat’ons as to the settle- ment of the existing cifficulties. I soon discovered that 6 was but one person prevent who fully approved cf. the course which I desired to pursue, The others wisned to go further; some would hear of nothing Jess than the destructicn of Lawrence and its fortifications, the demo- lition of its printing presses, and the unconditional sur- render of the arms of the citizens; others, more moderate, expressed a willingne:s to be satistied, if the free Steve rty would give up their Sharpe’s rifles and revolvers, Tnder these untaversble circumstances the conference broke up st midnight, having aciomplished nothing beyend the interchange of opinions on either side. Before tte wdjournment, however, | informed them that I would enter Lawrence upon the ensuing day (che 7th), and as certain what arrangements the free State party were wil. ling to make, and what terms they would accede to, On the part cf the pro-tlavery men there secmed to be sou fixed a purpose vo assault the ling that I almost despaired ot preventing it, unless I coukl obtain the services of the United States troops at Fort Leavenworth. Witn the in- tention of communicating my wishes to Col. Sumner, the cotomandant of that post, I cinde arrangements with Gen. Strickler, ecrmmending in the Wakarusa camp, to furotsh me with an ¢xprees rider at éaybreak, to start imme- élately for Fort Leavenworth. 1 at once wrote a pressing lotier to Col. Sumner. ‘At 2. P. M., 7th Desember, Gen. Strickler came to my quarters, and informed me that he had been aavised that » plan had been Jaid in the Wakarusa camp to intercept may dex os to Col, Sumner at Caw river crossing, To avoid this, IT requested the General to start the messenger diately. He did 9; #8 rider fival'y left at 2 o’elock A. M.. and was to a ford upon Caw river (not the usual crossing) by an Indian guice from the Caw bottom, who had been procare’ for the pur- pose by Boone. To thix letter I received no repiy until after my return to the executive office at Sh wure Mission, when an auswer reached me on the 11th of De- cember. The object of the pro-slavery men in attempting to in torcept the despatenes was (0 prevent, it possible, the arrival of the United States troops, who they feared would restrain them from attacking Lawrence. “By gain ing time, they expected to make the assault betore any force could be browght to mediate between the conflicting parti (Nir. J.C. Anderson’a letter, already published, giver some iden of the state of excited feeling exiting in the pro-slavery camp. ] On the morning of the 7tb 1 repaired to the town of | Lawrence, having on the evening of the 6th been invited, a committee representing the citizens of tna: town, to init their place, for the of arrangiag, if possi- bie, the difficulties which threatened taem. (mn my road to Franklin, which lies midway upen the route, | wax me: by # committee of ten citizens of Lawrence, who ‘escorted me iato their town, where I was courteously received. I was concucted to an upper chamber im the Fmigration Aid Society’s hal), and had slong interview with Generals C. yn and James H. Lane, the commanders of the free State forces, who were appointed on the part of the Lawrence comnpeny to confer with me in relation to the then existing ties. They seemed to fee! no hesitation in assuring me that the terri- torial laws should be executed, and that there should be no obstacle presented to the of any legal process; they, however, as representatives of the citizens of La rence, reserved to the right of testing the vali- dity of these laws in the Supreme Court of the Untied States. They both claimed that the majority of the citizens of Law- rence avd its vicinity had never taken any other ground. I dio not (although well aware of the incendiary nature of the resolutions which had been repeatedly passed at the various meetings of their party) coosider it necessary at the time to enter into any controversy with them in relation to their previous position as regarded the execu- tion of the Territorial laws—that if they had previously declared those laws null and of no effect, and avowed their determination to ‘resist them to a bloody issue,” Lielt it to be my duty to accept their present declaration a6 an apology for the past, and an assurance (hollow though it might be) of improvement fort the future. Whiie I was determined, by every means in my power, and even if necessary by an appeal to arms, to exact obedi- ence to the law, I felt urged by every dictate cf humanity to prevent a collision which would inevitably have result- ed mm the utter destruction of Lawrence and its inhani tants. ‘This was indeed no ume to revive past offences, for I felt fully convinced that so far as Lawrence and ita in- mates were concerned, ‘‘ moments were hours.’ I satisfied myself, however, that there was then no per- sen in the town against whom writs had been caused to issue, as the parties had lett xed sett several days be tore. I then, moved by the consideration of the feartu! davger im which their people stood, stated to them that 80 far a8 I was concerned as the chief executive of t'e Territory, the arrangements which they appeared willing to enter into in good faith would be satisiactory to me; that my sole purpose was to secure a faithtal execution of the laws; that Tasked nothing more, and that object obtained, Lshould at once disband the posse. At the same time I explained to them the difficulty of prevail ing upen the Dighiy incensed forces then surrounding Lawrence to retire Without attacking the place or de- manding the surrender of the Sharpe's rifles and revoly- ere, with which they were well known to be armed. I added, moreover, that the idea was universally prevalent, both in the Lecompton and Wakarusa camps, that taese weapons had been furnished from the East for the pur- ore of resisting the execution of the Territorial laws ot Kansas. and making hera free State. The committee de- clared that these weapons bad neither been procured nor distributed for any such end, but simply to defend the baliot box from invasion. Yet it cannvt be denied that they admi:ted to me that arms were forwarded io boxes trom the East, having been written for by General Kobineon for the purpose aforesaid. It was also claimed by General Robinson that these arms were, now the pro perty of individuals, they had been distributed to, and & certain amount of moneys had been paid for them by the persons in whose hans things then were; that is to say, each man who reeeived a Sharpe’s rifle paid some- thirg as an equivalent; but, from what has transpired, it is my belief that the amount so paid bore no proportion to the real cost or value of the arms; in fact, it is cur- rently reported thatthe aum p:id for these Sharpe’s rifles by their rezeivers did not average over three dollars per man. It is computed thet there are now in this Terri- tory 1,200 Sharpe's rifies, which have been brought into it for the purpose of arming the free State taction, The cost of these arms, calculating them at $30 each, would give @ total of $36,000. Now, supposing that this rumor be true that each of these deadly weapons brings but $3 in Kansas, or a total fur the 1,200 of but $3,600— who, let me ask, lores the difference ot $32,400? And i will be pereeived that this calculation makes no allow- ance for the expenses of transportation from the East, As I found that to inrist upon the free State troops in Lawrence giving up their arms, or to makeit a sine qua non in our arrangement, would inevitably lead to a conflict, which asl have before stated I most earnestly desired ‘to avoid, I therefore merely suggested to the com- mittee that they should surrender their arms to Major General Richardson, and I would direct that officer to receipt for the weapons so received; it being understood that in theeven* of their so doing, the arms thus receipted or should be restored when in the opinion of the chie! executive, it could be done with propriety; or, if they preferred it, they might, in the same manner, surrender them tome. Ihad hoped that this arrangement might have been effected, as it would have enabled me to induce the forces then threatening Lawrence to withdraw with- out committing any acts of violence. This proposition was posttively dec ived, ‘The committee qua-ified their refusal, however, by stating, on the part of the citizens ot Lawrence, that if at any vane Iwould makea reqnisi- tion in-wrldng, stating that those arms were required for the purpose of preserving peace and good order, they would use their influence to comply with that requisi- tion. I then closed the icterview, being satisfied that they would not deliver up their arms without a fignt. 1 returned to the Wakarusa camp, which I 1eached about half-past 10 o’clock P. M. 1 immediately sought an inter. view with the most influential men of that camp, statec to them the result of wy visit to Lawrence, and reported whut the citizens of that town would and would not do 10 the matters under consideration. To a large majority o the Wakarusa camp the concessions mace by the Law- sence people were wholly unsatisfactory, but a number of the lesding men, although dissatisfied with the terms oflered, agreed to use their influence with treir compan ions Me incuce their immediate and peaceadle with- crawal. ‘At 1A. M., Dec. 7, I learned from a reliable source that plan Was on foot to Taire the ‘ black flag,” with a view ot throwing off the authority of the Territorial executive and its officers and attacking Lawrence upon their own re- , sporribility. I renewed my endeavors for peace, and with the leading men did ailin our power to dissuade there hot headed people from so unauthorized a move ment. On the morning of the 8th of December things looked still worse. I was advised by a prominent man that uniess the citizens ot Lawrence gave up vheir arms, the place would be attacked, and I had better consult my own fafety and keep out of danger. My reply was, tha: 1 sbould consider any such attack efter the declarations which haa teen made by the people of Lawrence, as wholly unjustifiable, and that I should use every means in my power to prevent it. This] at once made prepa- raticns todo. tarly in the morning I left my quurters and repaired to the Wakarusa camp, und again sought out some prominent individuals and secured their agvist: ance. Upon consultation with these gentlemen, one of the moet distinguished proposed to select a committee of thirteen captains, to meet at Franklin a committee trom the Lawrence camp, with the view of trank!y interchang- ing opinions, and $f possibie coming to some amicable settlement of our difficulties, which were now becom‘*¢ hourly more ccmplicated Timmadiately approved i tuggestion, ard prepared myself without delay tu visit Lawrence, where I hoped to procure the ews ot a similar committee on their part, and bring them out to Franklin, which had neen selected as @ proper place for the negotiation. While on my way to Lawrence I halted at Franklin for a short time, end while there the committee of thirteen Captains arrived auéat my request promised to remain there until I could return with the representation from Lawrence. Whea I entered Lawrence I tound that the people had held a meeting the night before, and had reduced to writing the terms on which they proposed to treat. ‘There written stipulations were, so far as their promise to execute the laws was concerned, identical with those verbally agreed upon the day bef-re. But there were other matters which entered into this document di. tasteful both in thelr subject matter and pbraseolog, These I caused to be struck out. The remo Bud correction of this paper delayed us until 42. M., when Generals Robinson and Lane repaired with me, as a cow- mittee authorized to act for the Lawrence people, to Frane- lin, where we procured ® room and orgsn zed the o mittees for businers. I then addressed the two comm - tees, stating to them the two great objects which I so earnestly desired to accomplish, informing them of what had been cene, avd urging upon them in the strovg+- terms the importance of acquiescing in the arrangement which I had mace, by inducing their men to retire quiet- ly. After closing my remarks, General Lane addressed the committees. He was followed by Col. Wordson, ot Independence, and by General Robinson. Alter a conference of three hours. during which opinions were freely interchanged on both sides, the committees concluded to withdraw and report to the men of both parties that they were satisfied, and would settle matters as! wiehed. We then returned to the Wakarasa camp, which we reached at 10 P. M., where I still con- tinued to press upon the leaaing men the importance of pe aie with their men, and seceding to the terms offer It was not, however, until daybreak on the 9th that J felt safe in issuing my orcers as Chief Executive of Kan- Territory to Sheriff Jones and Generals Richardson and Strickler to disband their forces. { did so; my in- atruetions were complied with, and the {:rcos assembled in camps Lecompton and Wakarusa retire! without com mitung any depredation er act of violence, so far as { have heard. Here endeth the “Governor's history’? of the so-called “Wakarusa war,’’ which will doubtiess render that shal- low creek, as well as the ‘*Yankee built city of Lawrence, farocus throughout all coming time. And now for ano- ther matter. Your readers way perchance remember a letter, (or rather @ statement of its sabject matter,) which, with a copy of the stipulations of the famous Lawrence treaty, we forwarded to you by that most uncertain con- veyance, Uncle Sam’s mail, some six days ago, from Westport, Missouri, I was then under promise not to pub- lish the document itself, but as Governor Shannon—who cesires no concealment {n this matter—preters its puvli- cation in fall, it will be found herewith. It runs as fol- lows im To ©. Ronmysow anv J, Ho Laxe, Commanpers or tie By- ROLLED CITIZENS OF LawnENCE!— -You are hereby authorized and directed to take such mea- ures av¢ use the enrol'ed forces nnder your command in such mar ner, for the preservation of the peace and the protection of the persens and property of the peosle in Lawrence and ita vicinity, a8 in your judgroent shall bes! secure that end. WILSON BHASNON, Lawrence, Dec. 19, 1855. With the view of reconciling an apparent inconristency no the official cor duvet of Governor Shannon, in first call- jog out the Jerritorial militia to auppress an armed mob, aseembied in direct violation of the law, and then legati- ing the existence of that mob by an official letter autnor- ining the reme persons to act #8 a military body, at their own éisere fom, ond for an unlimited length of tice. he, your correspondent, addressed a communication to Gov. &., to whieh the following is a reply : GOVERNOK SHANNON'S REPLY. Execvrtve Orrick, SHAWNEE Mission, K. T.,) December 25, 1 Dean f1v:~ Your favor of this day's date is befure me. In reply 1 bave to siate that ibe arrangement of the dificulties with the eftizena agsetnbled in the town of Lawrence ducing the Teoent distorbunces, was reduced fo, writing by mysel, wud in- tended to be on liberal terms, and honorable alike to'all par- tle. In my arrangement wih them my great ooject was to secure the eupremacy o! the law, and bring about. I! possible, Amore friendiy feeling between the two conflicting parties’ and thus secure # Insting peace and amicabie relations. 1 Kuvew that this object would be defeated by inaisting on any terme that would be humiliating to the parties concerned, and 1 was determined to extend tothe citizens askembled In Law rence every opportontty for placing themselves in what T deem. +4 a correct position fn reference to the execution of the laws, ibe paper which was rhown you was probably a corres! copy of the arrangement cate ¢d into on (he ib Insiant, {Aso the paper daued on the 9 addressed (o €, Kobinson 5 clared that their picket guard hai just come in and rey that there was a large irregular force renee, who w ‘ap attaok; of Lawrence c.aimed the pi ol end me himselt epel the Aseawlt, replied to Dr. Rovinson that they did not requiresny authority from me, as they would be en- repelling by force any attack upon their town; reservation was suflicient, and that any gir would add nothing to hs strength. y had been represented as haviag nat the laws and publisofficers of the erefore wished me to give him written assault, so tha! it might appear hereatter, if @ rencontre t. they were not eupprebadon acting against but with the appro! of the Territorial cutive. With this view, amid an excited throng, in a crowded apartment, and without any critical’ e: tbe paper which Dr. Robinson had just writen, 1 but it was distinctly understood that ‘it had no cny‘hing but she threatened attack on Lawrence uring my negotiations with Dr. asone of the commitiee on behalf 08 in Law- rence, repeatedly assured him that if the that pl would acknowledge the validity of the Territ Jaws uatil oherwise determined by legitimate authority, would piace hemeelves under pr , 1 would exert all the rower vested in me to protect the ci ‘of that town oth in their persons 9nd property, and fo securing them an attack, Apd I will’ here/ state that after n Lawrenes, aed after my awarances of p far werlay,1 should have upon any ‘savault upon the town of Lawrence on tne night of December the 9th as an outrage and wholly vnjustidab bound both in duty and honor to have exerted myself to the ut most to have prevented so unwarrantabie an act of violence. Tt vas under these circums'ance and with the view of carry. ith my assurances to the citizens of that gotiations) and to avoid all cause of com- ing 0 img ne Flace plaint cp the vert of the people of Lawrence, on any pretext, ior breakin from the stipulations concluded but thedav before, inson and J. H. 1g C. Robi on the town of Lawrence. It from iened 8 paper aul e on my part with the Kindest and pest of micuves, desire to restore ‘and confidence. It did not fora momen‘ occur to me that this pretended attack uj town Was but a device to obtain from me a which might tain on adventage over me. who deserved such treatment from the citizer 3 For four days and pights, and at the, cost of inany valuable friends, whore good will 1 bave forfeited by favoring too pacic a course, I had labored most tncestantly to save their town from destruction and their citizens from a bloody fight. ‘On the next morning after this transaction took place, upon the most diligent inquiry, I couid not learn that any force what ever hed ever made its’ appearance before Lawrence upon the night befcre; and on ain inquiry into the matter since, I am now eatistied that there wus no hoatile party at any p! Lawrence on the pight of the 9th ‘This paper, obtained as Lhave stated, has, I presume, been shown by Doctor Kobinson, and copies permitted to hava been taken and used, a8 @ purpose of giving an alr of legality to the acts of the citizens assembled in Lawrence previous to its date, No such purrove was contemplated by me, and I rapea! that the paper I signed was only intended to apply to the alleged threatening of the town of Lawrence by an armed force, on the night of Dec, 9, and if it was obtained, or bas been used any other purpore, itis an exhibition ‘of base ingratitude ard low trickery, which shonid render infamous the name of évery one connected with it, Yours, with great respec’, WILSON SHANNON. By way of finale, imprimis, we take credit to our- selt for being a very iraurtiious and hard working young man, for ‘“be it remembered” that within the past week we have travelled upwards of one hundred miles in Kan- sas, partly on foot and partly by ambulance and wagon. ‘We have wiiiten you how many letters your proof-read. ers alone can tell, not to mention this ‘enormity’ of a despatch which may well rival in buik (we trust, for the suke of your readers, that the resemblance ends there). that much quoted affair, ‘(fhe President’s message and its accompanying documents.” ‘The following letter bas just been handed us. We copy from the original document, a much mutilated and not over cleanly lot o’ paper, six inches by four, badly spelt, and evideniy written with a view to dieguise the hand. It was folded in a self-sealing pote envelope, with an or- namental seal pressed into the paper, of so peculiar a stamp that an expert policeman could hardly fail (ina small town like Lawrence), to discover its author. It is cirected to ‘+sheriff Jones, Lawrence, K. T.,’? by whom it was recently received, through the Lawrence Post Offise. BBlt was thus, “‘short'and sweet:”— A [No date. Basar Jonss—You are solifed that if yeu mate coe more arrest by the order of any magistrate appointed by the Kansas Bogus Legislature, that in so doing you will sign your own Death Warrant, Per'order, SECRET TWELVE. This despatch is as ‘‘ultra”’ in its tone as the most en- thusiastic abolitionist could wish. We commend it to our friend Horace and Brother Beecher as a fit model for their next pronunciamento. We have j ust learned py a gentleman this dey from Le- compton, that he was in Lawrence on the Tuesday follow- ing ihe disbanding of the militia, and then and there saw sume fifteen or twenty men engaged in digging entrench- ments. To use his own expression, “they are adding rome circular castle forte”? Our informant also states that they have a fieg still flying over the town—a tri- cvlr—red. white and blue—ihe stripes running in the same toenner a8 those of the American ensigo, but no stars. What dors this strengthening of breastworks mesn’ Is rot peace made, ratitied and concluded Have not the “border ruffians”” retired to their homes? Or is it indeed true that the ‘ens is not yet?” Can the pro- slavery men have been treated toa ‘clever Yankee trick?”’ lime will show. For the present, ‘Patience, cousin, and shofiie the carde.” But it the knave of clubs be not the next to turn up we are no prophet and the snakes have departed from “ole Virginia.” Unless all signs strangely fail, sometody will hold four aces next time. There will be a new deal prerently, and then look out for bragzing— who will “go better,” and who, alas, are now “going it blind?’ Gentlemen’ abolitionists, be warned in time. Don’t invest your cash in free soiling Kanras; for noney so expended must sooner or later be like thet deposited in those mort uncertain of banks, where ‘the more you put down the less you take up.” And now, farewell! Take care of yourselves, good people, and if you will come to Kanzas, come there as conserva- tive and law-abiding men. We feel the need of euch per- sons here just now, for let the citizens of the United states take it to heart, that this disturbance in Kansas means something. At present two thousand conserva- tive men would do more to save Kansas and the Union than you “Good easy men, who think full surely that Your greatness is a ripening,” may ever condescend to realize until it is too late. CHRISTMAS DAY. For the past four days the weather here has been cold, bitter, freezing. The like was never known in the memo- ry of ‘the olaest inhabitant,” ound is covered with enew; at Council Bluffs it is to be six feet in depth. The mercury here nas indicated about 18 degrees above zero for three days, We hear of people being frost bitten on prairie roads, “Bmothered up with snow,” and old Kansas settlers say that last winter some few froze to death. It may interest the New York little ones to know that in these diggings a child’s first Christmas morniag sala- tation is, “Qhristmas gift,” “Christmas gift.” They ca bh you always, if they can. We tried to get ahead of a biue eyed, curly headed little lady this morning, but Miss Hetty was too smart for us, and cried ‘Christmas gift’ before we couKi open our mouth, H. SHawnee Mission, K. T., Dec. 26, 1865. The Free State Constitution Klection in Lawrence—W hat the Free State Party mean to do—What they Hope from the Present Congress—W hat they will do if Congress don’t —Judge Schuyler and his Talk with Governor Shannon. At the election for ratifying the Free State Constitu- tion (styled “Bogas” by the pro-slavery men) which took place at Lawrence on the 15th inst., (as was ascer- tained from Judge Schuyler, of Council City, who left Lawrence on the 23d of Dec.) the vote polled fell far short ofthat given by the same;party at the Reeder election, held on the 9th of October last. The returns have as yet only come in from the Lawrence district (which is, how- ever, to the free State party what Paris 18 to France.) In this same district, at their election for Reeder, the free State perty claim to have cast upwards of six hundred votes, while on the present occasion the total tor the free State constitution in Lawrence district was but vhree hundred and forty-eight votes; showing a loss of some two hundred and fifty votes upon an election where the importance of the matters at issue should have called out the whole strength of the party. It is to be presumed that they polled every man. These facts would go to prove one of two things—eithar that the Reeder election was an unfair one, or that the free State party in Lawrence district has diminished by nearly fifty per cent within a period of but little more ban two months’ time, This “wofal failing off” may, tis true, in some measure be accounted for by the act that a number of the good people of Lawrence have ourneyed Eastward since the war—with what purpose they and the Emigrant Aid Societies, perchance, alone <ovld tell. Init to post. up the “rivune—make ‘Kansas crip” (of which more in onr next) as good a: bank notes in Wall street, and write of the Free State-ment of the Kaneas war? Quien sabe—time will prove. ‘The following may be relied on as a part of the present nientions and prospects of the free State party in Kaa- It comes trom one ef their most prominent men— e name has been placed upon their ticket for State officers, ‘They intend putting their free State government into operation at any cost. They have no hopes that Con- grees will admit Kansas as a State during its present sersion, but declare that they have positive assurances that to favor their views no appropriation for tue support of the Territorial government in Kansas wih ve made, even if it hould be necessary to the General Ap propriation bil in domg 40, in wht nt they hope that the Territorial government will ‘die aut,” and per mit their State administration to step into its shoes. ‘This is to be done im the Hoare of Representatives. They do not claim strength in the Senate, But whether this takes place or not, they have decided that their feoe State gevermment is to go into operation on the 41h ot Merch next, at which time they will inangurate their State cfficers-—and ‘hen. if there is not a row in Kansas, a ‘free fight” of the very broadest and longest deser ip: tion’ in which the arguments will be bowie kmves and Missouri shot guns vervus Sharpe’s rifles and revolvers, we are no prophet and Kansas a free State. Judge Sehnyler, ffree Stare eandidace for ®eeretary of State.) had # long conversation with Governor Shacnon in the excentive office yesterday. The Judge ix, as we are infowed, a New Yorker; that ie to say, trom the ia terior of that State. He is reported jto have left there ia disgust, because, to quote frem his Honor’s own words as expressed to a distinguished individual in the Terri- tery, ‘He would not live in @ State where his next door neighbor—a betcer man than himseli,”” (who had, how ever, the mistortune to be naturally dark seine: with a slight kink in his bair,) “could not his yote because he was not a freeholder.”” As may be presumed from this, the Ju ttonist, ‘‘dyed in the wool.” He is ing man of that branch of the Emigrant Aid Societies feld “for dcing good” which {s located in Counell City, where his honor makes his residence, Finally, the Judge is spoken of as man of his word, anda whose statements may be relied upon. We thereforeattach the more importanse to the admissions made in the follow- ing dialogue:— hadge—Do you really believe, Governor, that there will be pppoe! to arms made by the contending parties in this Governor—Everything tends that way at the present time, sir,’ trip that tis mist be the final result, for'l have not & of confidence in the present state of quiet, Judge—As I sm now going Kast, 1 will in such an event send out men and arms to the free State party in Kansas. Missourians talk ot “ wiping us out,’” but they ean’t do hey cn never fo: lr the free Btates can raise twenty dol to one and four men to one over the slavohoiding Bia‘es. Secretary of Stae—I reckon you are going Kast that purpose, anybow, Judge, ‘To this insinuation the Judge returned no definite reply, but Governor—Do you not, think, Judge, if your folks get to fighting in Kansas tbat the war will extend to other parts of cay country, and finally terminate in the dissolution of the Judge—Certainly it will; Ithink the Union won't last six months, or @ year ‘at th And here we came away—or our informant did, who formed one of the party. Jucge Schuyler is, we believe, a conne:tion of the dis- inguished Knickerbocker family of that name. is certain that four of the 1 feee State men have e East./ For what have they one? Start u; arpe’s rifles and artillery, lively, gentlemen, ‘ou please, or they may be ‘too late for the ball.”” Oh, we forgyt to say that the most ot these gentlemen, Judge’ Schuyler inclated, will take the White House in their way And drop in upon President Pierce. Execution of Frederick Miller, at Cambers land, Md. {From the Baltumore Sun, Jan. 7. This wretched man, who was convicted of the donble murder of Dr. J. F..U, Hvdel and Henry Graeff, in Octo- ber, near Cumberland, paid the penalty of his’ crime at that place on Fiiduy last, between 12 and 1 o'clock. ‘With a bright sun anda piercing northeast wind, the day was usbered in, and at an early hour the streeta were Iined with the citizens—those who had arrived nal the previous day and night, as well aa those con- stantly arriving there. Being about 8 o’ciock, » long precession of country sleas, each containing & whole ily, driven into town, while sleighs innumerable dashed through the already’ crowded thoroughfare. Re- ing to the jail at 9 o'clock this morning we found the prisoner wa-hing and dressing himself with a perfect- ly stoical calmness upon his features. From the officers we learned that up to 4 o’clock the previous mght he had talked inceesanily, when, in accordance with their suggestions, he fixed bimself upon bis couch for sleep, but was very restless from that time until daylight, tleeping but little. He then rose and request that his breakfast might be prepared, and of which he par- took as usual. During the night he had called for bread and water, and upon its being furnished him read the sacramental service of the Lutheran charch, partaking of these emblems with muca apparent fervor. He also wrote a note and handed it to the jailor, which, how- / ever, was nothing more than a reiteration of his’ inno- cence: Hi. spiritual adviser, the Rev. Mr. Maler, accompanied by the . Mr. Clemm, entered his cell between 9 and 100’clock, when the former again appealed to him to confess his crimes, and prepare himseif for the awful doom awaiting him. When told by him that all believ- ed him guilty ; and attributed his denial only to stub- bornness and hardeneé feelings, he became somewhat ex- cited, and denounced the jurors and witnesses, charging them with perjury. They could not, he said, destroy his scul, and that when they were called hence the would learn the injuries they had dome hin, as he felt assured he woula be received py his Maker into Heaven, while thoy would find an impassable gult between them, as they would all be doomed to everiastiug punishment for the injustice they had done him. In is strain he continued for some ime, until his adviser discovered an end to a)l hopes of ecnfersion, when he engaged In s fer- yent prayer in behuit ot the doomed man, during which he (Miller) shcwed « at hie feel had been somewhat, wrought upon; at its ciose he delivered a lengthy and fer- pint yl to the Throne of Grase, during which he prayed earnestly for the bereaved widow and children of one of bis vicums, asserting that when thep met in the next world they would do him the justise to acquit him, as they would then jearn who was the murderer of their dearest friend. In reply to a question put by relative of Dr. H., through the Rey, Mr. Marier, as to any knowledge of the murder, he declared he possessed none; that he did rob his office, but that his hands were free from his blood, and that be bad prayed earnestly for his Mater to satisfy his family ere he was executed that he was innocent; that he hao heretofore and now prayed vo God to and support them in their affection. “At 103; o’clock the sheriff and his officers entered, and shrowded him for the gallows, he aiding them without exhibiting any unusual feeling, At 11 o’clock he was taken from the jail, which was surrounded with a dense and excited mass of people, nd placed in an express wagon belonging to A & ©., driven by Mr. Hagan, the same parry who arrested . him. The Sheriff haa called out the two military com- anies of the place—the Allegany Guards, Captain James chly, and the Cumberland Continentals, Captain J. H. Tucker—and they being formed into four divisions, took their positions with one in advance of the wagon, one in he rear and one on each side, with a full military band nadvance. These arrangements being completed, the heriff and his aids took their position on the right, and n this order they proceeded with a slow and mournful read to the place of execution, which was about one mile northwest of the town, in a valley surrounded by large now-clad hills, The gallows was what is termed the rigger gallows, the trap being opened by the severing of rope attached to the trigger. It was reached at 12 o’clock and 5 minutes, and after the military bad formed around it ana pressed baex the crowd, which was eetimated to number at least 8,000 persons, the convict was taken from the wagon, and, with a firm step, ascended the, to bim, fatal pile, where he with more calmness of feeling than was exhibited by those officiating, took a seat and entered into converse with his spiritual adviser, to whom he again asse.ted bis innocence. ‘He was then asked by the sheriff it he had anything to ay before the fatal moment arrived, when he declined to acdress the audience as he had previously intended, but requested Mr. Shultz to say for him that he felt as- sured that though they might destroy the fiesy, God would take care of his soul. The Rev. Mr. Clemm then addressed the spectators, exhorting them to reflect upon the mournful spectacie presented and take warning by the condition in which. this wretched man was placed, that they might not al- low that fell-destroyer, sin, to bring them w a similar fate. When he had concluded, the Rev. Mr. Maier engaged in preyer, at the close of which Miller also delivered a fer- vent prayer, in which he again protested his innocence, declacing that in meeting his victims in heaven he would be acquitted by them. He also prayed for the re- latives of his victims. His prayer, which was in German, represented by those who could understand it, a6 '& most eloquent and powerful appeal to his God in whose presence he said he soon expected to stand, and to whom he felt assured h was reconciled—that he, in his wisdom, had wisely appointed this the last hour of of by erty fing nineeoa Pen had Le ted been too er ive, a1 through his in:erposition his supposed guilt was made to appear in order to pre- pare him for ceath. He also torgove and prayed for witnesses and jurors, trusting that he might meet them all im heaven, that they might there repent them of tne injustice they bad done him ne: The clergy, officers and others upon the ecaffold then took leave ‘of him, he assuring Mr. Mater, in his last words, that he could meet dis God with a clear con- science. Sheriff Everett now pinioned his hands, placed the Deose about h's neck, and drawing a cap over his face, descended, and at seventeen minutes to 1 o’elock severed the cord which supported the trap. The fall was 2 feet 6 inches, and did not break his neck, and by tne slipping of the knot too far front rendered Lis death an unusually painful one. He struggled very hard, and for some seven minutes after the contortions of hi» limbs were violent, while the strangulation taking place could be distinctly heard for five paces from where he hung, and his hance becoming partly loosed he made a desperare effort to reach the rope, failing in which be with much violence beat them against his breast. After hanging twenty minutes the pody was examined by the county physician, Dr. Patrick Heally, and life pronounced ex- Unct, when he was cut down and placed in a coffin for burial upon the almshouse property. Thus ended the existence of this bold, and as all ac- quainted with the particulars believe, bad man, no doubt appearing before bis Maker with the double sin of mur- der and perjury upon his soul. Considering the vast concourse, good order was ob- served, but it war indeed a painful sight to there witness pareuts with chiloren in their arms, oli men whose heads were frosted with time, and, indeed, all ages, sizer and complexions; and we blush for the sex to say it, that at least one-third of the spectators were females—three ot whom bad, as we are credibly informed, walked fifteen miles to witless this revolting spectacle, ‘The following, # portion of yhe reputed confession, pub- thed previous to the execution, Miller admitted to be orrect. He was born Sept. 5, 1830, in Wickersdorf, Her- / wgthum, sachsen-Meiningah. His father, Henry Miller, Was a farmer, and bornin France. His mother, whose same was Ksizabeth, died when Frederick was but three ‘ears old, and his father two years later. He was then taken care of by his grendm other until he was fourteen, when Le left home and went to Bayern, (a king*om in Gere any.) and there was hired with 4 farmer, ‘vith whom he lived six years; after which he loft and jloyed by another farmer for three years and a half, uring bis stay with this man he became acquainted witha gentleman who recommended nim to @ count as a oachwan, who employed him, and in_ that capacity he travelled with his lordship through France, Austria Spain and Itwly. The Count finally dies, and a short time after Miller came to Awerica, He arrived at New York in June, 1685, where he remained a short tims, and then came to | hiladelpbia, then to Cumberland, then to Somerset county, Penn , thea to Pittsburg and finally back to Cumberland, where the double marser for whieb he was em cuted was committed. ANOTHER MURDER. ‘The citizens were thrown into an additional state of excitement aout 9 o'clock in the morning, by the repot that anotber muyder hag been committed in their midst, an execution and a murder thas occurring at almost the rame time and in the same place. It appears that two bontmen, Thomas Sypole and Thomas Fisher, had an al- tercation at an oys er ra oon, on the corner of Baltimore and Mechanic strects, wrich reenlted in the former draw- ing & knite and fafliciing several stabs in the left site and breast of the latter, which he survived bat « few hours, ypole was immediately arrested and taken t> jail, being taken in as Miller was preparing to go to the gallows, he being then shrouded, Ax Sypole entered he observed . . ~ Miller, and gazed upon him with a demonical sneer upon his fee, He then senced to whisile 8 lively xir. and ‘into bis cell in @ manner which so ved the ut: pas Tcot callous ness of feeling.