Abraham Lincoln: a History -- Volume 2 | Page 4

Leavenworth. Known to be
pro-slavery in his opinions, great advantage was doubtless expected by
the conspiracy from this change. But General Smith was an invalid, and
incapable of active service, and so far as the official records show, the
army officers and troops in Kansas continued to maintain a just
impartiality.
[Sidenote] 1856.
The removal of Governor Shannon a few weeks after Colonel Sumner
once more made Secretary Woodson, always a willing instrument of
the conspiracy, acting Governor. It was under this individual's
promptings and proclamation, Shannon being absent from the Territory,
that Colonel Sumner, before the arrival of the orders superseding him,
forcibly dispersed the free-State Legislature on the 4th of July, as
narrated. For this act the Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis, was not
slow to send the colonel an implied censure, perhaps to justify his
removal from command; but not a word of reproof went from President
or Secretary of State to the acting Governor.
It has already been stated that for a considerable length of time after the
organization of Kansas Territory the Missouri River was its principal
highway of approach from the States. To anti-slavery men who were
unwilling to conceal their sentiments, this had from the very first been
a route of difficulty and danger. Now that political strife culminated in
civil war, the Missourians established a complete practical blockade of
the river against the Northern men and Northern goods. Recently,
however, the Northern emigration to Kansas had gradually found a new
route through Iowa and Nebraska.
It was about this time that great consternation was created in
pro-slavery circles by the report that Lane had arrived at the Iowa
border with a "Northern army," exaggerated into fabulous numbers,
intent upon fighting his way to Kansas. Parties headed by Lane and
others and aggregating some hundreds had in fact so arrived, and were
more or less provided with arms, though they had no open military
organization. While spies and patrols were on the lookout for marching

companies and regiments, they, concealing their arms, quietly slipped
down in detached parties to Lawrence. Thus reënforced and inspirited,
the free-State men took the aggressive, and by several bold movements
broke up a number of pro-slavery camps and gatherings. Greatly
exaggerated reports of these affairs were promptly sent to the
neighboring Missouri counties, and the Border Ruffians rose for a third
invasion of Kansas.
Governor Shannon, not yet notified of his removal, reported to General
Smith that Lecompton was threatened with an attack. General Smith,
becoming alarmed, called together all his available force for the
protection of the territorial capital, and reported the exigency to the
War Department. All the hesitation which had hitherto characterized
the instructions of Jefferson Davis, the Secretary of War, in the use of
troops otherwise than as an officer's posse, instantly vanished. The
whole Kansas militia was placed under the orders of General Smith,
and requisitions were issued for two regiments from Illinois and two
from Kentucky. "The position of the insurgents," wrote the Secretary,
"as shown by your letter and its inclosures, is that of open rebellion
against the laws and constitutional authorities, with such manifestation
of a purpose to spread devastation over the land as no longer justifies
further hesitation or indulgence. To you, as to every soldier, whose
habitual feeling is to protect the citizens of his own country, and only to
use his arms against a public enemy, it cannot be otherwise than deeply
painful to be brought into conflict with any portion of his
fellow-countrymen. But patriotism and humanity alike require that
rebellion should be promptly crushed, and the perpetration of the
crimes which now disturb the peace and security of the good people of
the Territory of Kansas should be effectually checked. You will
therefore energetically employ all the means within your reach to
restore the supremacy of the law, always endeavoring to carry out your
present purpose to prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood."[2]
The Secretary had probably cast his eye upon the Platte County
battle-call in the "Weston Argus Extra," which formed one of the
general's inclosures: "So sudden and unexpected has been the attack of
the abolitionists that the law-and-order party was unprepared to

effectually resist them. To-day the bogus free-State government, we
understand, is to assemble at Topeka. The issue is distinctly made up;
either the free-State or pro-slavery party is to have Kansas.... Citizens
of Platte County! the war is upon you, and at your very doors. Arouse
yourselves to speedy vengeance and rub out the bloody traitors."[3]
[Sidenote] Woodson, proclamation, Aug. 25, 1856. Senate Ex. Doc., 3d
Sess. 34th Cong. Vol. III., p. 80.
It was perhaps well that the pro-slavery zeal of General Smith was less
ardent than that of Secretary Jefferson Davis, or the American civil war
might have begun in