Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/789

 the rights of American citizens to bear arms, and to be exempt from unlawful search and seizure.

"Trusting to your integrity and impartiality, we have confidence to believe that our property will be restored to us, and that all that has been wrong will be righted.

"We here subscribe ourselves, cordially and truly, your friends and fullowcitizens,

During the latter part of October, the governor made a tour of observation through the southern and western portions of the territory, and on his return addressed the following letter to Secretary Marcy, which will explain the state of affairs at that time:

", Secretary of State:

" I have just returned to this place, after an extended tour of observation through a large portion of this territory. I left Lecompton on the 17th nit., via Lawrence, Franklin, Wakarusa Creek, Hickory Point, Ottawa Creek, Osawattomie, Bull Creek, Paoli, Potawattomie, North and South Middle Creeks, Big and Little Sugar Creeks, and Sugar Mound, passing westward along the California and Santa Fe road to Fort Riley; thence down the Kansas river, via Pawnee, Riley City, Manhattan, Waubonsee, Baptist Mission, Topeka, Tecumseh, and other places. I also visited, at their houses, as many citizens as I conveniently could, and addressed various bodies of people, as I have reason to believe, with beneficial results.

"During this tour I have obtained much valuable information relative to affairs in Kansas, and made myself familiar with the wants and grievances of the people, which will enable me to make such representations to the next legislature and the government at Washington, as will be most conducive to the public interests. The general peace of the territory remains unimpaired; confidence is being gradually and surely restored; business is resuming its ordinary channels; citizens are preparing for winter; and there is a readiness among the good people of all parties to sustain my administration.

On the 31st December, 1856, the governor again addressed Secretary Marcy as follows, in regard to the condition of the territory at that period:

"In reviewing, on this, the last evening of the year, the events of the past four months, and contrasting the disturbed condition of affairs upon my advent with the present tranquil and happy state of things, which has held its sway