The following letter appeared in the Charleston (S.C.) Daily Courier, 23 May 1856, p. 2, c. 3:

"ATCHISON, (K. T.), May 6, 1856

My Dear Courier: Since my last [not found in 1856 issues] nothing of importance has occurred, until within a few days. The winter, an unusually long and severe one even for this climate, kept both parties tolerably quiet. It is true there were a few fights and some men killed -- but these were the results of private feuds or individual differences in politics, and had no influence upon the general condition of the Territory. The abolitionists, however, prosecuted their original plan, undeterred by their experience last December, elected members of the legislature in January, and proceeded to organize a State government in March. The Legislature met -- Robinson sent them a very puerile message, and they adjourned upon Governor Shannon's approach. This is all we know of their doings.

At Iatan in Missouri, a little village about ten miles from this place, I was shown some papers taken from a pocket book dropped by two of the members on their way to their homes in Andrew County, Mo. They consisted of the roll, a resolution that "the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Kansas, do adjourn on the 15th instnt, (March), to meet again on the 4th July next," and last, but not least, a well engraved ten dollar Treasury note of the same State properly signed. Of the genuineness of these papers there can be no doubt -- the fact that the note was engraved alone would prove that -- and judging from them it would seem that these harmless and peaceable citizens have gone systematically to work and are determined to persist in their treason, despite the President's proclamation, yielding whenever the authorities have sufficient strength to compel submission, and renewing their attempt as soon as the danger is past.

From this adjournment of the Legislature nothing transpired until the week before last, when we were startled by the news that the gallant and chivalric Jones, the Sheriff of Douglass county, had been shot. He had, with the assistance of Lieut. McIntosh and a detachment of ten men from Fort Leavenworth, whom Gov. Shannon ahd ordered out, arrested some persons at Lawrence against whom he had warrants, and placed them in a tent occupied by that officer. During the day various threats of personal violence to him had been made by the mob collected about the door, but to these he gave little heed. In the evening he went down to a spring near by to draw some water, and while stooping over was shot at but fortunately without effect. Returning to the tent, he sat down and entered into conversation with major Preston and Mr. Crowder, of Virginia, and Mr. Edmund Yates of your city [Charleston], who were there. Shortly after a man entered apparently quite intoxicated; on being bidden [to] leave, he seemed not to understand and took _____ [line and a half obliterated by fold in paper on microfilm] through the wall of the tent, directly behind Jones, which struck him in the region of the shoulder blades, shattered the spine, and then glanced inwards, though in what direction has not yet been discovered, inflicting a very serious, if not a mortal, wound. As soon as he was shot, Jones grasped his knife, and attempted to rise, but fell back on the ground. Medical aid was immediately procured, and at the last accounts the unfortunate man was still alive and doing well, but from the nature and position of the wound there is little left to to [but] hope.

This dastardly attempt to assassinate an officer while in the discharge of his duty, and one too who was so much beloved and respected as Jones, has created an intense excitement throughout the country, and thoroughly roused even the most moderate and pacific. There is but one feeling in the whole length and breadth of the Territory -- Jones must be avenged and these fanatics driven out. We cannot suffer them to remain any longer in our midst, murdering our friends one by one, conspiring against our government, and setting all law at defiance. Laswrence must be destroyed; and not only the perpetrators of these outrages, but the still more cowardly instigators, who by their incendiary speeches and declarations that there is no law in the Territory, have incited the others to their course, must be severely dealt with. The pro-slaver men are all up in arms, and only awaiting Gov. Shannon's order to march. Ere this reaches you, Lawrence will probably be numbered among the things that were.

The young emigrants whom you sent us have organized a military company, and really make a fine appearance on parade. Their uniform, though not perhaps quite so expensive as that of some of your city volunteer companies, is bery showy, and at the same time serviceable -- and I have no doubt the first time they come into action their red flannel shirts will be found whereever the fight is thickest, nobly sustaining the well-earned reputation of the Old Palmetto State. The follwoing is a lsit of their officers: -- R. DeTreville, Captain; R. D. White, 1st Lieutenant; A. Morrall, 2d Lieutenant; K. L. Palmer, 3d Lieutenant; John Swift, 1st Sergeant; Walter Brewster, 2d Sergeant; B. H. Cross, 3d Sergeant; L. Thomlinson, 4th Sergeant; J. C. Campbell, 1st Corporal; M. Lebby, 2d Corporal; W. Merritt, 3d Corporal; N. Rice, 4th Corporal.

Last Wednesday One Pardee Butler, a fellow who was put on a raft at this place last autumn for abolitionism, and threatened with hanging if he ever returned, ventured to come back here -- though, as he declared, without any intention of stopping. He was of course immediately taken before Judge Lynch, who let him off this time with a good coat of tar and cotton -- a very mild punishment if the antecedents of the prisoner and the excited state of the country be considered.

SQUATTER.