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" ' "- ... i. ! . '. . i & '. , ; '"I T ; ; . 7 . ' TT7n i- T Tl ' . " ; ; ' - - -
BY S. R ROW:
; rOLEARFlELD, PAViAyEDNESDAY; EEBItUAllY lO, 18-58.
VOL. MO. 25. .'
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J'1 LOSS OTT THE DEATH 0? J. S. P.
' And art thou 50110, my darling toy,'
. And left nic weeping here ? .. - -:.
. 2fo 010219 in mine par is sweet,
5 Sinco no more thy voioo I hoar.
Here so moro LI1 kus thy rosy chock,
' . a Nor see thy soft brown eyes, :'
" Eat stilt I hopo Iyetmny meet
'oT; ' XI y iorcd one in the skies. ' ' ' '
: Look up, my soul, with eye of faith,
And sec thy little ono,. .'
With Him, who once so sweetly said,
'" Znf little children come. "' ' ' '
'"Oh! thoso precious words are never felt, '
Fraught with so rich a worth, ; ' ' '
Cnttt some parent's cilled to lay '
' ' A loved form in the earth. 1
CltarJUld,3na. 20,13i3. 1
- A TALE OF THE REVOLUTIOX.
i . - . (Concluded from latl week.) . .
r -'-t, ,- CUAPIERIV. . : ... '
For some tirao the British Captain rode on
ia silence, while the guide strode before on
foot, taking up the river route. - About two
miles Horn the house ot Steel, the road ran
between a high bluff and the Santee, skirting
the foot of the hill, and leaving but a few feet
between it and Ike stream. This pass exten
ded lor neariy a mile, when the blinl abruptly
ceused. and a lovely valley, nearly half a mile
wide, spiead out from the river.
. It was a bright moonlight night, and the
able hiils glittered in the silvery rays, ahd the
measured tread of the horses lioois sounded
out plainly upon the midnight air as the band
swept down the hill and entered the black
pass. Here all became dark, ihe tall trees
which sreff on the side of the blulf eiiectually
crecmug the road aud shutting out the moon
light, save wheri; hero ud t. ere a straggling
ray tell athwart the atU and lit tip for au in
stant the dreary road.
- Just half .through the pass there i.i a narrower
epot than elsewhere, and a ravine comes down
from the highlands and cinpti .-s intoihe Sjntee.
Ac.ot.s this a rude war had been dug by ex
cavating the b.ink, and the road, alter gaming
the bcttoui turned down it s though going di
rectly into the river. The bottom of this ra
vine was as dark as pitch, and ns Laiig.sl'oid
and his men followed the pedier down into its
depths they lost sight of hint altogether.
Ordering a halt, the Captain In lied in a low
Toice, calling lor the guide, but no answer
came. Again and again did he summon the
guide, each time in a louder key, ImLi.i vain ;
aud, with a muttered curse upon the stupidity
of thff" guide, l.acgsford -tmlered his men to
advance. . . ...
Scarcely had the body once more began to
move, than a loud crash was heard in the ra
vine above them ; something came tearing its
way through the brush which lined the steep
bill side, and a largo stone bounded into the
ranks, crushing a horse and rider as it fell.
A moment of confusion ensued, amid which
Ihe groans of the wounded trooper cold be
heard, when a loud voice, which thrilled like
molten lead upon the hearts of the British,
was heard exclaiming ;
"Right, lads givo them the others !"'
Aud like the rush of a destructive tornado
a large quantity of rocks cune thuudt-ring
down tho hill, lauding with fearful accuracy
among the excited troopers, and creating sad
havoc among the horsemen.
'Sold!" shouted T.angsford, in a voice which
rose far above the din and tumult around them,
"sold by a pedier! Uetreat in the rear there,
and let all lollow as last as possible."
"A3'e, sold," thundered a voice in reply, as
the Captain ceased, "and the blood of those
you have foully murdered during our absence
calls loudly for vengeances . Upon them, com
rades, ar.d spare not a man !"
" "Darned tew darnation if I give quarters
tew a darned one," squeaked cut the well
kr.cwn tones of the pedier. illurra tor Yan
kee Doodle Dandy, aud won't we dew 'cm up
ao handy. Shute, bovs and' be darned tew
'em!" ' '
- A volley of rifles followed the last order
and a blaze ran along the hill side, while the
messengers of death speed without mercy into
the troopers, ranks, killing many and creating
a terrible tumult and dismay.
'. Some few ot those farthest in the rear made
a hasty retreat, among whom was jangsford. he
having pushed his way back, n lieu ho liit
volley ot stones was rolled down upon his men,
an I fled as fist as horses speed would carry
him back to Steel's accompanied by about a
dor.en men. ' , '
Upon reaching the house lie dismounted
from his steed and rushed to the door, which
bo found was fastened but-a few . knocks
bronght apcrson to it who threw it wide opsn,
displaying one of his own troopers. The Cap
tain entered, followed by the men who esca
ped with him, and the door was again secured.
This done, Langsford hastened up stairs and
. knocked upon the door of Mary Sieel's ro.oni.
No answer came, and he knocked more ruddy
than before, but in vain; all within was as si
lent as tho grave. He shook tho -door, but it
was . firmly fastened upon the inside, and lie
ordered a man to bring him an as which stood
at the stairs. -; With" this lie soon forced an
entrance, by splitting the pannels into pieces,
"and sprang like a famished tiger into the room.
But it was empty the prey had escaped j and
cursing like a fiend. Langsford sprang to the
pen window, out of which he thrust his bead.
As lie did bo, the sharp crack of a rifle was
heard, and 6taggering back, the Captain fell
VTon the floor, with the blood slowly oozing
from a bullet hole ia the centre of bis lore
head. '
CHAPTER V.
"Te most now retnrn to th rebel lover of
.H-ry whom we left bound to the sapling, with
t:ie pen-knifa given him by the pedier secured
n his mouth.
After the departure of Langsford, the three
EU:n who had been left to gnard him took their
talions not many feet from him, and for a
fw moments attentively watched every move
rjfnt be made. But the troopers had ridden
fcard and far that day, and it was soon proposed
Iat two of the party lay down and rest, while
the third kept watch for on hour, . when he
.ftuould rouse one of the sleepers to take his
j.laco. Lots were drawn and the first guard
foil upon oneot the three called Lazy John,
from a well known propensity be bad of going
t sleep without being aware of so doing. -
Take care, John, or you will be asleep be
far w are," aaid on of tba man aa ha stretch
ed himself at lull - length :npon the ground. 1
'Keep your eyes wide open,'' cried the
other; as he followed bis companion's examp'e.
"Don't see the use of watching a man who's
tied fast to a tree, at any rate," muttered
John, as he sank upon a log near tho fire.
Twenty minutes went by, and the two men J
who had stretched themselves upon theground
gave undoubted ; signs of being fast asleep.
John however, still remained seated opon the
log, with his head "nkt. nid. noddiri," and his j
body occasionally lurching tj and fro, in a
state of drowsiness which was fhe next thing
to sleep, but which a slight noise would have
thrown o2 and awakene.d him fully. '
It was at this state of affairs that ITarry Bod
man, the prisoner, bgan his preparations to
escspe. The knife was taken from his month,
and the keen blade soon severed the cords
whiel fastened him to ; the tree, lie then
stAffj5d,down, and drawing oil his boots, tak
iitf jle-' in each baud, and noiselessly made
iiis way to the" door of tho house.' It was part
ly ajar, and on entering ho quickly ascended
the stairs,' wnen he paused and drew on his
boots, then advanced to the entrance of Mary's
apartment .and knocked upon the door. : ..;
"Who's there," demrnded the well known
voice of Steel. . ; - : 1 ! 1
"Walter, let me in," be answered.
The key-turned instantly in tho lock, the
door opened, and he glided into the room; .-
"How did .you escape V murmured Mary,
as he hastened tohersido.
"Vou saw the pedier ?" .
' "General Marion he was in this room," she
answered.
"He furnished me with a knife to cut the
cords that bound me, and while all the men
left to watch me slept, I took advantago of the
opportunity to come into the house. But
hark!" .
They listened in breathless silence, and could
plainly hear the Found of heavy firing up the
Sautee, which told the foeraen were engaged.
"May go 1 defend tho right" fervently ejac
ulated Mary.
"Amen !" responded a deep voice out side
the window, and three distinct taps were
heard upon the pnne. -
"Who's there?" demanded Harry Bodman,
as hf strode to the spot.
"Brady," replied the same voice. "Hoist
the window,' Bodman ; you've no time to
loose.'' ' '
Harry threw up the sash, and the man out
side sprang info the apartment. He was full
six feet high, dressed in a hunting shirt of
di-ep blue, and carried a long rifle in his hand.
For an i:ita:t be gazed around him, and then
exclaimed :
"You must all leave the house at once."
"Has Marion been defeated, then 1" asked
Mary in breathless alarm.
"No, Miss, but a portion of the flogged Brit
ish will maKc this house place of defence,
and in a case of that kind von are better out
of it." ,
' "But we can fasieu them out," said Steele,
resolutely.
"Xay. betfcrlet them trap themselves in it,"'
replied Brady, calmly. "There is a ladJer at
I tie window by which yon can go down, and in
my opinion tno sooner the better. I hear the
British coming already."
As he finished speaking, the distant tread of
horses feet was heard coming down the road
toward the house.
"Be it so," replied Steel, passing throngh
the window on the ladder. "Let Mary come
down first."
Tho maiden followed her father, and tho two
soon reached the ground.
Stand close to the house in the dark shade
there," said Brady, speaking to those who
were with-him, and at the same time pointing
his rifla towards the house.
This had scarcely been done before the
troopers reached the house, sprang from their
horses, and in a few moments the scouts saw
the head of Langsford thrust from the window.
To level and fire with the elleet already noted,
was but the work ot an instant: and as the
Captain fell heavily back upon the floor, the
tramp of more borxes was heard, and the rebel
baud ot Marion galloped to the spot.
CHAPTER VI.
1 The noise of barring doors a id securing the
first story windows of the dwelling was heard
for a few moments after the arrival of the A
mericans in front of the house, ant then a!! re
lapsed into silence. . Tho men of Marion had
dismounted and surrounded the house, but the
slude of the night was So gloomy where Bod
man, Steel an;l .Mary stood, that they remain
ed undiscovered by either friend or foe.
Ben Brady, the scout, .still crouched behind
the log, with the muzzle of the gun directed
toward the window out of which--he had es
caped, within the room of which the light was
still burning. .....
Suddenly the moon was covered bj'a cloud,
and darkness rested, like a pall Uliou every
thing around. Then the. voice' of Brady rose
gradually on tho air as he exclaimed :
"Hist, Bodman come this wiy, and bring
the girb and her father with you. Quick, as
tr.e moon will soon be out again.'' -':
- Bodman grasped Mary by the arm, and gli
ded from the shade ol tho house, but had
scarcely . proceeded twenty steps when the
muzzles of two carbines were thrust out of the
window and jrointed toward their fleeing cap
tives, whom thev could hear but not see in the
gloom, whilo the dusky figures of the troopers
who held the guns- were plainly discornable
withift the apartment. '.' '
The rilie of Brady was raised in the twink
ling of an eye, and three pieces belched forth
their contents together. A wild shriek instant
ly rang upon the air, and the voice of agony
was recognized by every rebel soldier as be
longing to Mary Steel.
There was an instant of death-like silence,
asain broken bv the Wails of the wounded girl,
but this time they were drowned by the yells
of vengeance which burst from the lips of Ma
rlon's men, as like so many blood-hounds,
thev rushed to the assault. .
"Spare not a man !" shcutcd a well-known
musical voice, rising lilgli aoove tne am auu
tumult of the conflict. "Death to our p-
nressors !'.-- - -
"Down with the British on !" and the
sound of the heavy blows falling upon every
door, was minaled with the sharp craci; ot ri
flos and the curses of tho combatants, as the
assault progressed. .
In the midst of the conflict, and ere an en
trance had been gained, Harry Bodman, fol
lowed by Ben Brady, suddenly appeared be
fore Marion.
"A dozen of men !" said the youth hoarsely
"For what 7" ., : ' .1
"There is an unguarded way into the cells
by tbe spring-house." ; ;
, A shout . from Marion brought the requisite
number of men around him ; and thev follow.
cd Bodmin and Brady to the place of entrance.
A. narrow passage led. from tuc spring-house
to the cellar, and in a lew minutes the party
stood within the building. It was tho work of
but an instant for Bodman to find the stairs,
up which they carefully ascended to the door ;
it was not fastened, and passing through it.
they stood in tbe ball which led to tlie-outer
door of the building, It was as dark as pitch,
and they could not. discover a man, but coulii
bear the steps of several besido themselves
near the end of tbe ball, where crash after
crash came against tbe door, fairly making ev
erything creak as tho heavy blows descended
ou the panneU. , ... ..... - ; --
"ipllow me up stairs," muttered Bodman in
a low tone ; and silently they - groped their
way to the second story. ... ... .-
As they reached the top of the stairs, the
light shouc out from tho room where the' car
bines had ' been discharged, and they hurried
to the door, . Five troopers stood prepared for
conflict within the apartment, while two dead
bodies lay stiff upon the floor.. ... - ;
To discharge, a volley into, the room which
killed every trooper, was the work of a mo
ment and, then rushinz forward, Brady thrust
a candle itito the window, and uttered a loud
well-known shout. It was answered by twen
ty men, and in a few moments several of
Marion's men had mounted the ladder into
the room.
The remainder of the contest was of short
duration. The British fell to a man, whilo
scarcely an American suffered in the strife.
The wound received by Mary Steel, turned
out not to be mortal ; and shortly after her re
covery which happened subsequent to the at-
tacii, she became the wife of Harry Bodman;
and for many years afterwards, two old tin
panniers, surmounted by a black cap, could be
seen upon the mantel-piece of their front room
being the same carried on that memorable
evening by the HebeiPedler.
ADDRESS OF IlOX, F, P. STANTON,
LAT.5 SECRETARY OF KANSAS TEBUITOET.
To the People of the United Stale : '
Having been recently removed from the of
fice of Secretary of Kansas Territory, under
circumstances which imply severe censure on
the pnrt of the President, and having had no
official information of my removal, nor any op
portunity for explanation or defence, I have
deemed it necessary to present to the People
of the United States a brief statement of facts
in vindication of my motives, and in explana
tion of the results ot the act for which I have
been condemned.
The office in question was not given at my
solicitation. My ' acceptance of it under all
the circumstances, was a proof of strong friend
ship for the President, "fl of unbounded con
fidence in the firmness and faithfulness ' with
which ho would adhere to the line of policy
deliberately agreed upon between him, his
whole Cabinet, and Gov. Walker.
On my arrival in the Territory in April last.
in advance of- Gov. Walker, I confess that 1
had an imperfect knowledge of the real condi
tion ofaflairs. I snpposed the question of sla
very to be the only cause of dissension and
difficulty among the people ; and in my brief
inaugural address of the 17th April, I treated
this as the chief suT-ject of difference upon
which a submission to tho people would be
likelv to Ik; demanded. I soon found, howev
er, that this view was altogether too limited.
and did r.ot reach the true ground ot contro
versy. . The great mass of the inh ibitants of
the Territory were dissatisfied with the local
government, and earnestly denied the validity
of the existing laws. Asserting that the pre
vious Legislature had been forced upon them
by the fraud and violence of a neighboring
people, they proclaimed their determination
never to submit to tin? enactments of legisla
tive bodies thus believed to be illegitimate,
and not ei. titled to obedience.
This was the condition of things when Gov.
Walker came to the Territory in the latter part
of M.iVi- 'It was evident that the just policy of
permitting the people to regulate theirown af
fairs could not be successfully carried out un
less they could be inspired with confidence in
the agents of Government through whom this
result was to be effected. If a mere minority
of the people had been thus 'dissatisfied and
contumacious, they might possibly have been
pronounced factious and treated as disturbers
of the peace ; but when the dissatisfaction was
general, comprising almost the whole people,
a more respectful consideration was indispen
sable to a peaceable adjustment. It was evi
dent that the policy of repression a rigid at
tempt to enforce submission without an effort
at conciliation would inevitably result in a
renewal nf the civil war. : With commendable
anxiety to avoid this contingency, Gov. Walk
er resolved to go among the people, to listen
to their complaints,1 to give them assurance of
a fair and just administration ot the Territorial
Government, and to induce them, if possible,
to abandon their hostility, and to enter upon
the peaceful but decisive struggle of tho bal
lot box. I was often with tho Governor when
he addressed the people, and gave my best ef
forts in aid of tho great purpose of conciliation.
' It was too late to induce the people to go in
tathe June election lor delegates to the Con
vention. The registration ' required by law
had been imperfect in all tbe counties, aud had
been wholly omitted in one-half of them r nor
could the people in these disfranchised coun
ties vote in any adjacent count -, as has been
falsely suggested. - in such of them as subse
quently took a census or registry of their own,
the delegates were not admitted to seats in the
Convention. . Nevertheless, it is not to be de
nied that the great central fact which controll
ed the whole case, was the utter want of confl
dence by the ' people in the .whole machinery
of the Territorial Government. ' They alleged
that) the local officers, in all iustances, were
unscrupulous partisans, who had previously
defrauded them in the elections, and who were
ready to repeat the same Outrages again ; that,
even if intruders from abroad should not be
permitted to overpower tbem, they would be
cheated by false returns, which it would not
be possible lor the Governor and Secretary to
defeat. Althongh at that time these appre
hensions seemed to me to be preposterous and
unfounded, it was impossible to deny the ear
nestness and sincerity with which they were
urged, or to doubt that they were the result of
deep convictions, having their origin ia some
previous experience of that nature. ""
.- The worst portion of the small minority in
Kaaaa, who,! bi possession of tb territorial
organization, loudly and bitterly complained I
nf rim.- I l.-t , .,.i; r.c .nn:i;..;.,- ,? f
demanded, the" opposite policy of repression.
And when, under the solemu assurance given
that the elections should be fairly conducted,
and no frauds, which we could reach, be coun
tenanced or tolerated, it had become apparent
that the mass of fhe people were prepared and
determined to participate in tbe October elec
tions, the minority endeavored to defeat the
result by reviving the tax qualification for c
Iectors, which had been repealed' by the pre
vious Legislature. .Opinions were, obtained
from high legal sonrces, the cflefft of which,
fd they prevailed, would' have been to ex
clude the mass of the people from voting, to
retain the control in the hands of the minority,
and, as a conseqnence, to keep up agitation
and to render civil war inevitable. ' But the
intrepid resolution of Gov. Walker, in spite
of fierce opposition and denunciation, far and
near, carried him through this dangerous cri
sis, and he bad the proud satisfaction of bav
ing achieved a peaceful triumph, by inducing
the people to submit to the arbitrament of the
ballot-box. ,
But tbe minority were determined not to
submit to defeat. : The . populous county of
Douglas had been attached to the border coun
ty of Johnson, with a large and controlling
representation in the Legislature. The cele
brated Oxford fraud was perpetrated t itb a
view to obtain majorities in both Ileuses of
the Assembly. When these returns were re
ceived at my office, in Gov. Walker's absence,
I had fully determined not to give certificates
based upon them. If they had been so formal
and correct as to have made it my duty to cer
tify them, I would have resigned my office in
order to testify my sense of the enormity of
the wrong. - Gov. Walker, at-Leavenworth,
had- formed the same resolution, as he stated
to mo and several others, and we were both
gratified that we found the papers so imperfect
as to make it our duty to reject them. Great
excitement followed in the Territory. The
minority, thus righteously defeated in the ef-r
fort to prolong their power, became fierce in
opposition and resorted to every means of in
timidation. But I am led to believe that they
found their most effectual means ot operation
by undermining us with the Administration at
Washington.
The Constitutional Convention, which had
adjourned over until after the October election,
met again in Lecompton to resume its labors.
Many of the members of that body were bit
terly hostile to the Governor and Secretary,
on acconnt of their refection of the Oxlora
and McGee frauds, in which some of tho mem
bers and officers of the Convention had a di
rect participation. In fact, this body, with
some honorable exceptions, well, represented
the minority party in the Territory, and were
fully imbued with the same spirit and designs
It was obviously not their desire to secure to
the real people of Kansas the control ol their
own affairs. In the Constitution sooit after
wards adopted, they endeavored to supercede
the Legislature which had been elected by the
people, by providing, in the second, section of
the schedme, that "all laws now of force in
the Territory shall continue to be of force un
til altered, amended, or repealed by a Legisla
ture under the provisions of thisConstitution."
They provided still moro effectually, as they
supposed, for the perpetuation of their minor
ity government, by adopting the Oxford fraud
as tho basis of their apportionment, giving a
great preponderance of representation to the
counties on the Missouri border, and affording,
at the same time, every possible facility for
the introduction of spurious votes. The Pres
ident of the Convention was clothed with un
limited power in conducting the elections and
receiving the returns, while the officers are
not required to take the usual oath to secure
fair and honest dealing. The elections were
hurried on in midwinter the 21st of Decem
ber and the 4th of January when emigrants
could only come from the immediate, borders,
under the qualification which invited to the
ballot-box every white male inhabitant ''in the
Teiriiory on thnl day." The same man who
did this had previously denounced Governor
Walker for the suggestion in his inaugural ad
dress,' and in bis Topeka speech, that the con
stitution should be submitted to all the bona
fide inhabitants, although be invariably stated,
when asked for explanation, that some reason
able length of residence ought to be required
as evidence of the bona fide character of in
habitancy. : ' ' -
. It was apparent that all the machinery had
been artfully prepared for a repetition of gross
frauds, similar to those which had been at
tempted in October, and was in view of all
these facts, after the adjournment of the Con
vention, that the people of the Territory, by
an almost unanimous demand, called upon me,
as the acting Governor, to convene an extra
session of the Legislature in order to enable
them' peaceably to protect themselves against
the wrongs evidently contemplated by the a
doption of this constitution. There was no
law to punish frauds in election returns. '1 The
peoplo were intensely excited ; and it was the
opinion of the coolest heads in the Territory,
that, without a call of - the Legislature, the e
lections under tbe constitution could not have
taken place without collision and bloodshed.
The meeting of the Legislature diverted the
attention of the people from the schemes of
violence opon which they were brooding, sub
stituted tho excitement of debate and investi
gation for that of fierce and warlike . hatred,
aud enabled their representatives to devise
means for, counteracting the wrongs which
they justly apprehended. ' . - . ." ,
Iteccnt events have . shown 'that their appre
hensions were well founded. - Enormous frauds
have been, perpetrated at the precincts of Ox
ford, Shawnee and Kickapoo ; and it may well
be believed that this result was actually de
signed by the artful leaders who 'devised the
plan and framework of the Lecompton Consti
tution. . I have lately been at Shawnee, and I
have seen and ' conversed with persons who
were at Oxford on the day of electron. The
frauds committed are notorious ; and though
dishonest persons may -deny them, and may
fill the channels of public information with
shameless representations to the contrary, they
can be easily established beyond all , contro
versy. It was to enable the people to shield
themselves from these frauds, and to give le
gal expression to their hatred and rejection of
the instrument which permitted them, and was
to be carried by them, that I called the Legis
lature together. , -, ". . . 1 . - .
In my judgment, the people bad a fair claim
to be heard on this subject through tbe Legis
lature. : Tbe organic act confided to . me the
discretion of convening that body in extra ses
sion. Tb President of tbe Uniwd States bad
jio rightful : authority to exercise that discre
tion for. me. He had the power 01 removal,
and such control as that power -gives him.
But I would cheerfully have submitted to re
moval and consequent loss of favor with tbe
President, rather than occupy the position of
Governor and refuse to the people an oppor
tunity to assert their most essential rights, and
to protect themselves against tbe basest frauds
and wrongs ever attempted upon an outraged
community. ' . -
Not having been informed of the grounds ot
my removal, I knoTt-ui only through the
newspaper reports, to the effect that, in calling
the Legislature, I disobeyed the instructions
Ct the President. 1 bad no instructions bear
ing on the subject, and there wad no time to
obtain them, even if I had felt bound to sub
stitute the President's will for that discretion
which the organic act'eonfided to me. The
convening of the Legislature undoubtedly pre
vented difficulty and secured peace. Were it
important, I am confident I could establish
this position by the most indubitable lacts;
but it is sufficient now to say that the ptace of
the Territory was not ia fact disturbed, and
whatever apprpaches were made towards such
a rcsuR were wholly attributable to tne poncy
of the Administration in censuring my acts
and removing me from office. - - .
The measure for which I have been unjustly
condemned has enabled the peoplq cf Kansas
to make known their real will 1n regard to the
Lecompton Constitution.- This affords the
Democratic party an opportunity to defend the
true iwinciples of constitutional liberty, and
to save itself from disastrous division and ut- i
ter overthrow.1 If Congress will heed the j
voice of the people, and not force upon them
a government which they have rejected by a
vote of four to one, the whole country will be
satisfied, and Kansas will quietly settle her
own affairs without the least difficulty, and
without any danger to the Confederacy. Tbe
Southern States, which are supposed to have
a deep interest in the matter, will be saved
from the supreme folly of standing up in de
fence of so wicked and dishonest a contrivance
as tho Lecompton Constitution, The moral
power of their position will not be weakened
by a vain and useless defence of wrong, when
it is perfectly certain they will gain nothing
even by success in the present attempt. . f- "
The extra session ' of the Legislature has
done good, also, by giving means to-expose
and punish the monstrous frauds which have
been perpetrated, and doubtless, also, by pre
venting others which would have been at
tempted. It has driven. the guilty miscreants
engaged in them to become fugitives from jus
tice, and has rendered it impossible ' lor the
peace of the Territory hereafter to bo endan
gered by similar occurrences. '
In view of these facts and results, I willing
ly accept the rebuke conveyed in my peremp
tory dismissal from office, but I appeal to the
deliberate judgment of the people to deter
mine whether I have not chosen the only hon
orable course which the circumstances allowed
me to pursue. Freo. I. Sta.ntox.
ASHiNGTOx, Jan. 23, I808. "
Jackson and . Dickinson. Jackson settled
in Nashville, between 1 he years 1700 and 1800,
and began the practice of law. Dickinson
was already there following the same profes
sion. He was a great duellist, having killed
several in duels, and almost sure to kill tbe
first fire. His mode of firing was very uncom
mon. Instead of raising bis pistol from bis
side to fire at the word, he would bring it down
from above until he got it to the pro)er level,
and then fire. All the merchants in Nashville
had Dickinson retained in their behalf, and he
being the ouly lawyer there until General
Jackson came, no' redress conld be obtained
upon the opposite side. Gen. Jackson refused
to be retained by these merchauts to the exclu
sion of all parties. The consequence was, that
he issued fifty writs to the first term of the
Court of Nashvillel He issued writs against
merchants, who until then, had gone Scott
free. This irritated them, and they being de
sirous of getting Gen. Jackson out of the way,
incited Dickinson to provoke a duel. ' He be
gan by acting on trials offensively to the Gen
eral. He remonstrated with Dickinson and
plainly informed him that be would not sub
mit to such disrespectful treatment. Dickin
son persisted and Gen. Jackson challenged
him. Tho time and the place for' the combat
were fixed upon, and the new sptcad around.
There was at least two hundred people on tte
ground, and bets weie made as if it were a
horse-race. Dickinson himself bet that he
would kill Jackson on the first fire. Dickinson
fired first and peeled Jackson's breast. He
had a callous lump until the day of bis death.
As soon as the smoke of Dickinson's pistol
cleared away, and he saw Jackson still stand
ing, he exclaimed, -"Hav'nt I killed the d d
rascal ?" Gen. Jackson told Gen. Eaton that
until then be meant to give him his life, but
on hearing these words he raised bis pistoi,
fired and killed him instantly.
The Wixter Twektt Years Aco. We have
noticed many comparisons between the years
1837-8 and 1S57-8 in financial and monetary
matter?, but more can be presented in regard
to the seasons.1 It was then, as now, feared
that tho winter would mncli increase the Jby
sical suffering among tbe poorer classes ; but
tbe evil was averted by a winter as mild and as
pleasant as the present one. Fuel and provi
sions, such as coal, wood, and flour, fell - in
price. The records inform ns that the month
of December; 1887, was very mild and open ;
no frost in theground ; Christmas pleasant and
warm, and so continuing until the end of the
year. ,,No snow for sleighing, except' on the
10th end 11th Dec;,' and then for but a short
time. - January 1838, twenty years ago, was a
remarkable winter month; the. weather, ex
cepting the last two days, was nearly as mild
as an Indian summer. No snow fell during
the month, the thermometer averaging at 2 P.
M. at forty degrees through the month ; and
the succeeding months contradicted many wise
remarks, such as we often bear, that "a warm
winter brings a cold. spring "winter never
rots in the sky," &c. - February was cold, with
but little snow, there being fourteen clear days.
March had but two snow-storms and much
mud.-C April was variable, but tho temperature
averaging a few degrees above thak of January.
Tho -Hudson river opened and .closed .three
times during the season, tbe last opening being
about the 18th of March. Other rivers opened
about the same time. Boston Transcript. :-
A little boy aix years old, was killed in
New York recently, by drinking brandy which
bis toother' bad left in ft pitehr upon ber t-W-
A aad warning to mother. .
1
. MESSAGE FR.O.U TIIE PRESIDENT.
TBE LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION BEST TO CONGRESS .
The President, on the 2d instant, communi
cated the following message to Congress, and
accompanied it with a copy of tho KansaJ
(Lecompton) Constitution : - ,: ; - t
To the Senate and House 0 Representative
the United Slates: -
I have received from J. Calhoun, EsqM pres
ident of the late Constitutional Convention of
Kansas, a copy, duly certified by himself, of
the constitution framed by that body, with tb
expression of a hopo that I would submit th
same to the consideration of Congress,' wit!i
the view of the admission of Kansas into th
Union as an independent State.": In compli
ance with this request, 1 herewith transmit to
Congress, for their action, the. constitution of
Kansas, with tho ordinance respecting tbe pub
lic lands, as well as the letter of Mr; Calhoun,
dated at Lecompton on tbe 14th ult., by which
they were accompanied. Having received but
a single copy of the constitution and ordi-
nance, I send this to the Senate. ' - -
- A great delusion seems to pervade tbe pub
lie mind in relation to tbe condition of parties
in Kansas. This arises from tbe difficulty of
inducing the American people to realize tha
fact that any portion of them should te in a
state of rebellion against tbe government na
dcr which they live. When we apeak of th
aflairs of Kansas we are apt to refer merely to
the existence of two violent political parties
in that territory, divided on the question of
slavery, just as we speak of such parties in tha
States. This presents no adequate idea of tha
true state of the case. The dividing line thera
is not between two political parties, both ac
knowledging tho lawful existence of the g ov
eminent, but between those who are loyal tot
this government and those who have endeav
ored to destroy its existence by force and usur
pation between- those who sustain and thosa
who have done all in their power to overthrow
the territorial government established by Con
gress. This government they would long since
have subverted had it not been protected lrom
their assaults by the troops ol the U. States. -T
, Such has been tbe condition ot affairs since
my inauguration. 1 Ever since that period a
large portion of the peoplo of Kansas have
been in a state of rebellion against the govern
ment, with a military leader, at their bead of
a most turbulent- and dangerous character.
They have never acknowledged, but have con
stantly renounced and defied the government
to which they owe allegirnce, and have been
all the time in a state of resistance against its
authority. : They have all the time been en
deavoring to subvert it and to establish a rev
olutionary governmen;, under the so-called
Topeka constitution, in its stead. ' Even at
this very moment the Topeka Legislature are
in session. Whoever has read the correspon
dence of Governor Walker. and the State De
partment, recently conim.unicated to the Sen
ate, will be convinced that this-pletnre is not
overdrawn.' He always protested against the
withdrawal of any portion ol tbe military force
of tho United States from the Territory ,det-m-ing
its presence absolutely necessary . for the
preservation of the regular government and
the execution of the laws.' In his very first
dispatch to the Secretary of State, dated June
2. 18-37, he says : "The most alarming move
ment,however,proceed3 from the assembling on
the 9th of June of the so-called Topeka Le
gislature, with a view to the enactment of an
entire code of laws. Of course, it will be my
cudeavor to prevent such a result, aa it would
lead to inevitable and disastrous collision, and,
in fact, renew civil war in Kansas.".' This was
with difficulty prevented by the efforts of Gov.
Walker; bnt scon thereafter, on the 14th of
July, we finl him requesting General Harney
to lurnisb him a regiment of dragoons to pro
ceed to the city of Lawrence and this for the
reason that he had received authentic intelli
gence, vcrrified by bis own actual observation,
that a dai.gerous rebellion bad occurrad, 'in
volving au open defiance of the laws and the
establishment of an insurgent government in
thit city." ' ' : a
In the Governor's dispatch of July 15th be
informs the Secretary of State "that this
movement at Lawrence was the beginning of
a plan, originating in that city, to organize in
surrection throughout the Territory j and es
pecially in all towns, cities or counties where
the republican party have a majority. Law.
rer.ee is the hot-bed of all the abolition move
ments in this Territory. It is tbe town estalv
lished by the abolition societies of the East
and whilst there are respectable people there,
it is filled by a considerable number of mer
cenaries who are paid by abolition societies to
perpetuate and diffuse agitation throughout
Kansas, and prevent a peaceful settlement of
this question. Having failed in inducing their
own so-called Topeka State Legislature to or
ganize this insurrection, Lawrence has com
menced it herself, and, if sot arrested, the re
bellion will extend throughout the Territory.'
And again : "In order to send this commu
nication Immediately by mail; I mast ckna by
assuring you that the spirt of rebellion perva
des tho great mass of the republican party cf
this Territory, instigated,' as I entertain no
doubt they are, by eastern societies," having
in view results most diaastrious to' the govern
ment and to tho Union ; and that the coctina-'
ed presence of Gen, Jlarney here is indispen
sable, as originally stipulated by me, withe
large body ot drasroons and several batteries.'
On the 20th July,' 1857, Gen. Lane.' under
the authority of the Topeka convention, nn
dertook as Governor Walker .iaform; u"to
organize tho whola so-called free State party
into volunteers, and to take the names of all
who refuse enrollment. The professed object
is to protect the polls at the election in august
ol the newiiisurgentTopekaStateLegislature
, "Tho object ol taking tho names of all who
refuse cnrollmebt is to terrify the free State
conservatives into snbmission.-i: TlnV is pro
voked by recent atrocities committed on each
men by Topekaites. . The Fpeedy . location ol
large bodies of. regular jtroops here,' with two
batteries, is necessary. Tbe Lawrence insur
gents await the development of this new Rev
olutionary military oiganization,,iici"-to;'1'-ii
- In the Governor's dispatch, of Jbly 27, he
says that "Gen. Lane and his staff everjw here
deny the authority of tbe territorial laws, and
counsel a total disregard of these enactments."
- Without making1 further -quotations ct 1
similar character lrom tbe other dispatches of
Gov. Walker, it appears by a reference to
Stanton's communication to Gen. Cass or the
6th December last, that the "important step
of calling the Legislature together was taken
after I he had become satisfied that the f-
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