Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/786

 with agricultural implements; that they did not wish to enter the territory, in its present disturbed state without notifying the governor. In reply, the governor informed his visitors that he was determined no armed bodies of men, with cannon and munitions of war, should enter the territory to the terror of peaceable citizens; that there was no further occasion for such demonstrations; that he would, on the other hand, welcome all immigrants who should come for peaceful and lawful purposes; that he would furnish them a safe escort, and guarantee them protection. He then gave the deputation a letter directing all military commanders to give Colonel Eldridge's party a safe escort, should they be, as represented, a party of peaceable immigrants.

Shortly afterwards the governor received the following dispatch from Col. Cook, by the hands of deputy marshal Preston.

"Governor of Kansas Territory.

Sir: Colonel Preston, deputy marshal, has arrested, with my assistance, and disarmed, a large body of professed immigrants, being entirely provided with arms and munitions of war; amongst which, two officer's and sixty-one private's sabres, and many boxes of new saddles. Agreeably to your requisition of September 26th, I send an escort to conduct them, men, arms, and munitions of war, to appear before you at the capitol. Colonel Preston will give you the details.

Lieutenant Colonel 2d Dragoons, Comm'g in the Field."

From the letter of Governor Geary to Secretary Marcy, dated October 15th, we gather the particulars of this arrest. He says:

"Colonel Win. S. Preston, a deputy U. S. Marshal, who had accompanied Colonel Cook and his command to the northern frontier to look after a large party of professed immigrants who were reported to be about invading the territory in that quarter in warlike array and for hostile purposes, returned to Lecompton on the 12th instant.

"He informed me that he had caused to be arrested, an organized band, consisting of about two hundred and forty persons, among whom were a very few women and children, comprising some seven families.

"This party was regularly formed in military order, and were under the command of General Pomeroy, Colonels Eldridge and Perry, and others. They had with them twenty wagons, in which was a supply of new arms, mostly muskets and sabres, and a lot of saddles, &c., sufficient to equip a battalion, consisting one-fourth of cavalry and the remainder of infantry. Besides these arms, the immigrants were provided with shot-guns, rifles, pistols, knives, &c., sufficient for the ordinary uses of persons traveling in Kansas, or any other of the western territories. From the reports of the officers, I learn they had