CHAPTER XXV.

Governor Geary.-His Pacific Proclamation.-Its Interpretation. Release of State Prisoners on Bail.-Capture of Ninety-eight Free-state Men.-Their Condition in Prison.— Revolting Inhumanity towards the Prisoners.-Sufferings of the Settlers.--Sickness, Cold, Hunger, and Orphanage.—— The Present and the Future of Kansas.-Action of Congress.

IN the autumn of 1856, Wilson Shannon was succeeded in the governorship of the territory by its present Governor, John W. Geary.* For the Free-state inhabitants the change could not be for the worse, such was the character of the man from whose tyranny, and at the same time, despicable weakness, they were thus relieved. Some were led to hope for peace and protection; and many in this country may have inferred from the apparently pacific tone of the new Governor's preclamation, that a brighter

*Who resigned in March, 1857, and is succeeded by Robert J. Walker.-Aм. ED.

GOVERNOR GEARY.

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day was at length dawning upon Kansas. Such anticipations have not, however, been realized. The Governor's pacific proclamation must be interpreted on the same principles with the President's pacific messages. He promised to quell insurrection; but the law defines as insurrectionary every organized action of the Free-state party. He promised to enforce laws; but law is only another name for oppression. He promised, if the people would obey, to restore peace, tranquillity, and order; but the price of that peace is a surrender to the slave power. And that he might make the people obey, he said he should feel justified in calling out the militia, employing the federal troops, and using the utmost firmness and authority in his power. And very much in accordance with his proclamation thus interpreted, the new Governor has acted

Dr. Robinson and his fellow-prisoners, who had been confined at Lecompton since the month of May, on a charge of usurpation of office and high treason, were indeed admitted to bail in the month of September, notwithstanding the strenuous attempt made to defer

the case until April, when the prisoners would have been eleven months in confinement before their charge was brought up. The Free-state Legislature, which met in July, and was dispersed by Colonel Sumner at the head of the United States dragoons, endeavoured again to meet in the spring of the present year, but were prevented by the Governor. But would we know what spectacle Kansas has presented during the rigour of the past winter and under the present governorship, let the voices from the political prisons of Lecompton answer. have before me an address to the American people, signed by ninety-eight Free-state men, who were then suffering a long and wretched imprisonment for their political offences.

I

After narrating at length the particulars of their capture, shortly after the arrival of Governor Geary, they proceed as follows:

"We come now, at last, to speak of a subject too immediate, too vital, to admit of our passing it unnoticed, yet too full of horror to dwell upon. We allude to our treatment and condition since our confinement here, any description of which must come far short of the

THE POLITICAL PRISON AT LECOMPTON. 313

terrible reality. A few of our guard will ever be remembered by us with emotions of the deepest gratitude for their kindness; but the greatest portion of them are drunken, brawling demons, too vile and wicked for portrayal. Times without number have they threatened to either shoot or stab us, and not unfrequently have they attempted to carry out their base and hellish threats. Several nights have the guard amused themselves throughout their different watches, by cursing us, throwing stones at the house, breaking in glass, sash, &c. Two large cannon stand planted but a few yards from our prison, and two nights has the match been swung several hours in the hands of the gunners, with orders to discharge both, heavily loaded with shot and slugs, upon us, in case our friends should come in sufficient force to avenge our wrongs. These, however, are only slight, compared with other insults and sufferings heaped upon us daily. Most of us are poorly clad few have any bedding. Our prison is open and airy, yet small; without, surrounded with unearthly filth; within, all is crawling with vermin, all, everything, mixed with misery. When youths, we listened with doubt to the dark stories of the Jersey prison-ships, and the Black-hole of Calcutta, never dreaming that we should at last be a sad, actual part of their

counterpart! More than once have we prophesied to one another, that all would not leave this charnel-house alive. Our assertions have been verified; several have been dangerously sick, one has died. His name was William Bowles, and formerly from St. Charles, Mo. He laboured with us nobly for our God-given rights, and it was with feelings of unutterable sorrow that we parted with him. After an illness of two days, he left his sufferings this morning, at one o'clock. Before his death, we requested the officers of the guard to have him removed to a place of quiet. We talked and became tired, yet nothing was done. Last night all the physicians in town were sent for, and each refused to come. Dr. John P. Wood, who is also judge of probate and committal justice, could not come, because he was sick;' yet he was seen that evening, as well as the following morning, doing hard labour. Others had reasons, we know not what. Dr. Brooks was sent for five times; but as he was at a cardtable playing poker, he swore he would not leave the game to save every Abolitionist

in the territory.'

"Sickness and death of the most horrid forms are in our midst; the scrapings of Pandemonium surround us; we can see nothing left us but an appeal to the last tribunal, with God as