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New York Daily Tribune
New York, New York County, New York
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Governor Wilson Shannon writes to Indian Agent George W. Clark from Shawnee Mission, Kansas Territory, on January 4, 1856, discussing tensions in the territory, discouraging vigilante actions, and planning to urge President Pierce to station U.S. troops in Lecompton and Topeka to deter Free-State inauguration activities.
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LETTER FROM GOV. SHANNON TO CLARK, THE INDIAN AGENT.
Executive Office, Jan. 4. 1856,
SHAWNEE MISSION, K. T.
Mr. Dear Sir: Your two last favors are received, and I regret exceedingly to hear of your unpleasant situation. I hope things will grow better. The evidence you speak of must satisfy every one that you did not kill Barber. This difficulty out of the way, I hope you will have nothing to fear. I think that organizations to take the law into the hands of self-constituted only lead to bad consequences. The other party will do the same by way of retaliation, and no one will know when he is safe. I am glad to learn that you discourage such movements.
I will leave in the morning for Washington City, stopping some days at home on my way. I shall urge in the President the policy of stationing a company of United States troops in Lecompton, or such other place in that region as you may think best. I shall also urge upon him the policy of quietly stationing company at Topeka, about the middle of February next. The Free-State Government, you know, is to be inaugurated on the 4th of March, and the Legislature at that time will convene its session. The President has the power to station the troops any place he sees proper, and there will be no necessity of his saying for what purpose he stations a Company at Topeka. It will be looked upon by the Free-State men as a significant sign, and may induce them to pause in their mad career of folly and treason.
I would be glad if you would write to your friends in Congress and get them to back me up in what I may seek to accomplish for the Territory. Moreover, I desire to see and talk with the leading men of the South in relation to matters in this Territory. I wish to post them on the real state of things out here, and what the South must do the coming year, or lose all dominion in a few years in the affairs of the Republic.
Write to me frequently at Washington City, to the care of Gen. Whitfield. Post me at least once or twice a week as to all that is going on out here. I shall feel great solicitude as to the state of things in Kansas while I am gone.
Yours, with great respect,
WILSON SHANNON.
GEORGE W. CLARK, Esq.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Shawnee Mission, K. T.
Event Date
Jan. 4. 1856
Key Persons
Event Details
Governor Shannon expresses regret over Clark's situation regarding the Barber killing, discourages vigilante organizations, plans to travel to Washington to urge President Pierce to station U.S. troops in Lecompton and Topeka to counter Free-State activities ahead of their March 4 inauguration, and requests Clark to lobby Congress and inform Southern leaders about Kansas affairs.