country, a solitary monument of revolutionary violence and incipient treason. So soon as the overt act now threatened is consummated, this rebellion will be suppressed by the lawful use, if necessary, of all the troops under my control, acting in aid of the civil authorities designated by Congress. It is hoped, however, especially as, I trust, we shall have a fair and peaceful election, when, whichever party shall prevail, all semblance of excuse for this insurgent movement will have ceased, that the majority of the people of Lawrence will abandon their reckless leaders, suppress this insurrection themselves, and relieve our Territory and country from the disgrace of an insurrectionary government, based now only on undisguised revolution, and an open overthrow not merely of the territorial laws, but of the laws, also, of the United States. The honor and character of the country, and my sworn duty as chief magistrate of Kansas, require that this first actual example of organized rebellion, as a government, against the authority of Congress, should be suppressed, as it must be, and the sooner it is done by the people of Lawrence themselves the better, for the sake of their own true interests and reputation. Dangerous and unjustifiable as was the Topeka State movement, it differed widely from the Lawrence insurrection-in this, that the latter not only passed laws, but required, by seizure and sale of property, their compulsory execution, under the requisition of an oath; whereas, the so-called Topeka State government proposed, on the face of their late proceedings, to wait until they received, as they profess to hope, the recognition of Congress. As the troops of the United States now subject to my orders are sufficient to protect the polls and preserve the peace of Kansas, it is hoped that the forces raised professedly for that purpose, without authority of law, will be at once disbanded. From authentic information communicated to me from many quarters of this Territory, and from many citizens of both parties, that the presence of the troops is essential to preserve the peace of the Territory, to prevent the forcible seizure of the polls, and to suppress insurrection, I feel constrained, although most reluctantly, by a solemn sense of duty, and by a most serious apprehension of the consequences which otherwise would follow, to place the troops at proper points, not for war, but for peace, in accordance with the views and purposes before stated. In conclusion, permit me to say, with all the seriousness and sincerity demanded by the solemnity of the occasion, that it now is, and always has been, my most ardent desire, as the chief magistrate of this Territory, by all lawful and constitutional means, to secure and protect the just rights of every citizen, and especially in performing my sworn duty of supporting the Constitution of the United States, and taking care that the laws be faithfully executed, to see that the great fundamental principle which lies at the basis of our American institutions, secured by the federal compact, and guarantied by our organic act of Congress, should be maintained, viz: that the people of Kansas, in the true meaning of that act, free from all violence, injustice, or foreign interference, should make their own laws, and control their own government. This has been the great principle, the just and faithful execution of our organic law, which has controlled all my acts in Kansas, and to which I shall adhere, regardless of menace, calumny, or assailment, either from within or beyond our limits. am made by law the chief executive officer in Kansas, for the protection, to the extent of my legal authority, of the whole people of Kansas, and not of a part-of every county and district, and not of a portion of them only. And, however solicitous I may be about the result of the present most important election-however most anxious that those views of public policy which I have entertained and expressed at all times from my youth upwards to the present period, and especially as regards the equilibrium of our government and the constitutional rights and equality of the States, should now triumph here in October-yet I cannot and will not do any act, or countenance or sustain any act, the effect of which would be to deprive the people of Kansas of any rights secured to them by the federal compact, by our organic act, or by the laws of this Territory. A victory thus secured by violence or injustice would be worse than a defeat, and could only in the end destroy all hope of the ultimate success of conservative principles and constitutional liberty in Kansas. Inasmuch as our ensuing election on the first Monday in October next is of momentous consequence to this Territory and to our whole country; as the two parties of Kansas, it is hoped, will first measure their strength now, not as in former elections at different times and places, or upon the field of battle, but at the same times and places, in giving in their votes, as in other States and Territories; and as it is of the utmost importance that this election should be free from everything which would lead to excitement or commotion, I most earnestly request the chief officers of our different towns, cities, and municipalities to resort to those means which have so often, in similar cases, proved efficacious, by removing for that day all causes which would interfere with a calm and dispassionate election. And now, may that overruling Providence who has crowned our beloved country with so many blessings and benefits, including the inestimable privilege of self-government, and without whose aid we cannot look for success in any enterprise, enable us so to conduct this contest as to insure his sanction and the approval of our own conscience, is the fervent hope of your fellow-citizen, R. J. WALKER, Governor of Kansas Territory. HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, SIR I have the honor to enclose for your information copies of certain requisitions from his excellency the governor of this Territory for troops to aid the civil authorities in the preservation of the public peace at the different election precincts where violence was to be ap prehended. Also, copies of my replies, with the instructions to the officers in command of the various detachments. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. S. HARNEY, Col. 2d Dragoons, Brevet Brig. General Commanding. Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War, Washington city. LEAVENWORTH, K. T., September 26, 1857. SIR: Authentic intelligence has been communicated to me that the insurgent government of Lawrence, under the erroneous opinion that the regular troops had all been ordered to Utah, and would not be replaced by others, have passed a compulsory tax law, authorizing the seizure and sale of property, and exacting from their executive officers the enforcement of this ordinance under the solemnity of an oath. It was sincerely hoped that my proclamation on this subject of the 15th of July last, which has received the cordial approbation of the President of the United States, together with the movement at that date of the troops to Lawrence as a precautionary measure, would have induced the people of that city to abandon their revolutionary proceedings. They have, however, chosen otherwise, under the erroneous conviction before stated, and it becomes necessary, therefore, to station troops again at Lawrence, to meet any emergency which may occur. Under these circumstances, it becomes my duty, under my instructions from the President of the United States, to request you to direct Major Sherman's battery, supported by one company of artillery, to proceed at once to the immediate vicinity of Lawrence, to act as a posse comitatus in aid of the civil authorities in the due execution of the laws and for the preservation of the public peace. The service of the troops for this purpose will be discontinued so soon as the public exigency will permit. Respectfully, yours, R. J. WALKER, Brevet Brigadier General WILLIAM S. HARNEY, Official: HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, A. PLEASONTON, Captain 2d Dragoons, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, Fort Leavenworth, September 27, 1857. GOVERNOR I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of yesterday's date, and, in compliance with your requisition, I enclose for your information a copy of special orders No. 77 from these headquarters, directing the movement of Sherman's battery and company "F," 2d artillery, to the vicinity of the city of Lawrence. Major Sherman has been instructed to report his force to yourself, upon his arrival, to act as a posse comitatus to execute such orders as you may deem proper to give him in that capacity. I am, governor, very respectfully, your obedient servant, His Excellency R. J. WALKER, Governor of Kansas Territory, Fort Leavenworth, K. T. Official: HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, A. PLEASONTON, Captain 2d Dragoons, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. SPECIAL ORDERS No. 77. HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, Fort Leavenworth, September 26, 1857. I. Company "F," 2d artillery, and light company "E," 3d artillery, under the command of Major T. W. Sherman, 3d artillery, will proceed without delay to the vicinity of the city of Lawrence, in this Territory, in fulfilment of the requisition of the governor of Kansas Territory for their services, as a posse comitatus, to aid the civil authorities in the due execution of the law and for the preservation of the public peace. Special instructions for his guidance will be given Major Sherman. II. The quartermaster, subsistence, and ordinance departments at this post will furnish this command with the necessary transportation and supplies. Subsistence and forage for two weeks will be required. By order of General Harney: A. PLEASONTON, Captain 2d Dragoons, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, Fort Leavenworth, September 26, 1857. MAJOR: The general commanding instructs you, upon arriving in the vicinity of the city of Lawrence, in obedience to special orders No. 77 from these headquarters, to report your force to the governor of this Territory, as a "posse comitatus," to execute such orders as he may deem proper to give you in that capacity. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. PLEASONTON, Capt. 2d Dragoons, Acting Assist. Adjt. General. Brevet Major T. W. SHERMAN, Capt. 3d Artillery, Official: HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, Fort Leavenworth, October 5, 1857. A. PLEASONTON, Capt. 2d Dragoons, Acting Assist. Adjt. General. SIR: In pursuance of authority vested in me by the President of the United States, you are requested to direct Colonel Brooks' battery, supported by two foot companies of the 2d artillery, to proceed to Shawnee Mission, commonly called Gum Springs, in Johnson county, in Kansas, to act as a posse comitatus in aid of the civil authorities in the due execution of the laws, and for the preservation of the public peace. You are requested to direct the troops to be present at the place above designated throughout the day of election in this Territory, which is the first Monday of October next. It is desired that the troops should remain at the place above stated only until the day succeeding the election, unless the proper authorities hereafter referred to, in the execution of their duties, should deem it necessary longer to detain them. The United States marshal or sheriff, it is presumed, will be at or near this point, to whom the officer in command should report himself and his force for the objects above specified. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. J. WALKER, Governor of Kansas Territory. Brevet Brig. Gen. WILLIAM S. HARNEY, Official: HEADQUARTERS TROOPS SERVING IN KANSAS, Fort Leavenworth, October 5, 1857. A. PLEASONTON, Capt. 2d Dragoons, Acting Assist. Adjt. General. |