The following article regarding Kansas appeared in the Charleston Daily Courier, 30 May 1856, p. 2, c. 4, 5:
"The news from this Territory indicates that it is again the scene of intense excitement. We make up form different sources a detail of what appears to be the most reliable account of the condition of affaris at the latest dates by mail. We have already published the proclamation of Marshal Donaldson to the people of Kansas, alleging the obstruction of the law in the execution of certain judicial writs, and calling upon the citizens to aid him as a posse. A meeting of the citizens of the town of Lawrence was held on the 13th of May, for the purpose of answering the allegations of the Marshal. We copy their resolutions:
'Whereas by a "Proclamation to the People of Kansas Territory," by J. B. Donaldson, United States Marshal for said Territory, issued the 11th day of May, 1856, it si alleged that certain judicial writs of arrest have been directed to him by the first District Court of the United States, &c, to be executed within the county of Douglas, and that an attempt to execute them by the United States deputy marshal was violently resisted by a large number of the citizens of Lawrence, and there is every reason to believe that any attempt to execute these writs will be resisted by a large body of armed men: Therefore it is
RESOLVED by this public meeting of the citizens of Lawrence, held the 13th day of May, 1856, Thjat the allegations and charges against us contained in the aforesaid proclamation are wholly untrue in fact, and the conclusion entirely false which is drawn form them; that the aforesaid deputy marshal was resisted in no manner whaever, nor by any person whosoever, in the execution of said writs, except by him whose arrest the said deputy marshal was seeking to make; and that we now, as we have done, heretofore, declare our willingness and determination, without resistance, to acquiesce in the serving upon us of any judicial writs against us by the United States Marshal for Kansas Territory, and will furnish him a posse for that purpose if so requested; but that we are ready to resist, if need be unto death, the ravages and desolation of an invading mob.'
No reply to this was given, but a guard was palced around the town, which stopped all passengers on the road. Upon the receipt of more threatening news the Town Council was called together, after which a town meeting was convened, and the following letter addressed to Marshal Donaldson:
'J. B. Donaldson, U. S. Marshal for Kansas Territory:
Dear Sir: We have seen a proclamation, issued by yourself, dated 11th of May, and also have reliable information this morning, that large bodies of armed men, in pursuance with your proclamation, have assembled in the vicinity of Lawrence.
That there may be no misunderstanding, we beg leave to ask respectfully that we may be reliably informed what are the demands against us.
We desire to state most truthfully and earnestly that no opposition whatever will now or at any furture time be offered to the execution of any legal process by yourself or any person acting for you. We also pledge ourselves to assist you, if called upon, in the execution of any legal process. We declare ourselves to be order-loving and law-abiding citizens, and only await an opportunity to testify our fidelity to the laws of the country, the Constitution and the Union.
We are informed also that these men collecting about Lawrence openly declare that their intention is to destroy the town and drive off the citizens. Of course we do not believe that you give any countenance to such threats; but in view of the excited state of the public mind , we ask protection of the constituted authority of the Government, declaring ourselves in readiness to co-operate with them for the maintenance of the peace, order, and quiet of the community in which we live.'
The messenger who carried the above letter received no answer, but heard the intimation that the demand would be made upon the citizens to give up their arms and munitions of war to Gov. Shannon. This they declared their intention to refuse, throwing themselves upon the Constitution of the United States for their right to retain them. The constitutional provision on this subject is contained in the second article [amendment], and is in the following words:
"A well-regulated militai being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Letters from the seat of the troubles state that the "Free State" men only have arms for about one in four of them; that they have not one-third as many men in Lawrence as they had in December, and that most of their leaders are absent.
Despatches [sic] from St. Louis state that there had already been an encounter, and some lives lost on both sides, but we have no reliable information on that point.
A letter dated at Lawrence on the 12th of May states, with some particularity, the results of appeals for protection which ahd been made to Col. Sumner and Gov. Shannon.
A committee of the Board of Public Safety waited upon Col. Sumner on the evening of the 11th instant to acquaint him with the threatened condition of the town of Lawrence, and ask his protection. His reply is given as follows:
"Col. Sumner states that nothing would give him greater pleasure than to set us right and set Missouri right, had he the power, but he was subservient to higher powers, and could only act by request of Gov. Shannon; but that when once requested, he had discretionary power to act as long and in just such a manner as he saw fit. He therefore wished us to address a communication to Gov. Shannon similar to the one he had received, and he hoped to be able to preserve peace."
A ketter was at once despatched [sic] to Gov. Shannon, asking his protection against the threatened danger. As given to the newspapers, the letter is as follows:
LAWRENCE CITY, KANSAS. May 11, 1856
To His Excellency Wilson Shannon, Governor of Kansas:
Dear Sir: The undersigned are charged with the city of communicating to your Excellency the floowing preamble and resolution, adopted by the citizens of Lawrence at a public meeting holden at this place at 7 o'clock trhis evening, viz:
Whereas we have the most reliable information from various parts of the Terrtory and the adjoining State of Missouriof the organization of guerilla bands who threaten the destruction of our town and its inhabitants; therefore
RESOLVED, that Messrs. Topliff, Hutchinson and Roberts constitute a committee to inform his Excellency Governor Shannon these facts, and to call upon him in the name of the people of Lawrence for protection against such bands by the United States troops at his disposal.
All of which is most respectfully submitted by order of the people of Lawrence. Very truly, &c.
C. W. TOPLIFF
JOHN HUTCHINSON
W. Y. ROBERTS"
N. B. The balance of this fairly lengthy article, which includes Governor Shannon's response,wiill be psoted later.