Abraham Lincoln: a History -- Volume 2 | Page 6

August 1, 1856.
Such was the state of affairs when the third Governor of Kansas, newly
appointed by President Pierce, arrived in the Territory. The Kansas
pro-slavery cabal had upon the dismissal of Shannon fondly hoped that
one of their own clique, either Secretary Woodson or Surveyor-General
John Calhoun, would be made executive, and had set on foot active
efforts in that direction. In principle and purpose they enjoyed the
abundant sympathy of the Pierce Administration; but as the presidential
election of 1856 was at hand, the success of the Democratic party could
not at the moment be endangered by so open and defiant an act of
partisanship. It was still essential to placate the wounded anti-slavery
sensibilities of the Northern States, and to this end John W. Geary, of
Pennsylvania, was nominated by the President and unanimously
confirmed by the Senate. He was a man of character and decision, had
gone to the Mexican war as a volunteer captain, and had been made a
colonel and intrusted with an important command for merit. Afterwards
he had served as postmaster, as alcalde, and as mayor of the city of San
Francisco in the turbulent gold excitements of 1848-9, and was made a
funding commissioner by the California Legislature. Both by nature
and experience, therefore, he seemed well fitted to subdue the civil
commotions of Kansas.
[Sidenote] Gihon, p. 131.

But the pro-slavery leaders of the Territory were very far from relishing
or desiring qualifications of this character. In one of their appeals
calling upon the Missourians for "assistance in men, provisions, and
munitions, that we may drive out the 'Army of the North,'" they had
given the President and the public a piece of their mind about this
appointment. "We have asked the appointment of a successor," said
they, "who was acquainted with our condition," with "the capacity to
appreciate and the boldness and integrity requisite faithfully to
discharge his duty regardless of the possible effect it might have upon
the election of some petty politician in a distant State. In his stead we
have one appointed who is ignorant of our condition, a stranger to our
people; who, we have too much cause to fear, will, if no worse, prove
no more efficient to protect us than his predecessors.... We cannot await
the convenience in coming of our newly appointed Governor. We
cannot hazard a second edition of imbecility or corruption!"
Animated by such a spirit, they now bent all their energies upon
concentrating a sufficient force in Kansas to crush the free-State men
before the new Governor could interfere. Acting Governor Woodson
had by proclamation declared the Territory in a state of "open
insurrection and rebellion,"[9] and the officers of the skeleton militia
were hurriedly enrolling the Missourians, giving them arms, and
planting them in convenient camps for a final and decisive campaign.
[Sidenote] Gihon, p. 104.
[Sidenote] Gihon, pp. 104-6.
It was on September 9, 1856, that Governor Geary and his party landed
at Leavenworth. Even on his approach he had already been compelled
to note and verify the evidences of civil war. He had met Governor
Shannon fleeing from the Territory, who drew for him a direful picture
of the official inheritance to which he had come. While this interview
took place, during the landing of the boat at Glasgow, a company of
sixty Missouri Border Ruffians was embarking, with wagons, arms, and
cannon, and with the open declaration that they were bound for Kansas
to hunt and kill "abolitionists." Similar belligerent preparations were in
progress at all the river towns they touched. At Kansas City the

vigilance committee of the blockade boarded and searched the boat for
concealed "abolitionists." Finally arrived at Leavenworth, the Governor
saw a repetition of the same scenes--parades and military control in the
streets, fugitives within the inclosure of the fort, and minor evidences
of lawlessness and terror.
[Sidenote] Geary to Marcy, Sept. 9, 1856. Senate Ex. Doc., 3d Sess.
34th Cong. Vol. II., p. 88.
Governor Geary went at once to the fort, where he spent the day in
consultation with General Smith. That same evening he wrote to W.L.
Marcy, Secretary of State, a report of the day's impressions which was
anything but reassuring--Leavenworth in the hands of armed men
committing outrages under the shadow of authority; theft and murder in
the streets and on the highways; farms plundered and deserted;
agitation, excitement, and utter insecurity everywhere, and the number
of troops insufficient to compel peace and order. All this was not the
worst, however. Deep in the background stood the sinister apparition of
the Atchison cabal. "I find," wrote he, "that I have not simply to
contend against bands of armed ruffians and brigands whose sole aim
and end is assassination and robbery--infatuated adherents and
advocates of conflicting political sentiments