Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

Exciting News From Kansas.
Civil War in Bourbon County

[From the Missouri Democrat]

We are indebted to the editor of the Crusader of Freedom for the following dispatches in advance of the issue of that paper.

Doniphan, Dec. 24, Thursday, 9 A. M.

By express messenger from Lawrence we have just received the following dispatch.

A civil war is raging in Bourbon county. The pro-slavery men last week commenced a series of persecutions and prosecutions of the free state men. Several houses were burned down. The free state men organized a vigilance committee and arrested several of the marauders. In no case, however, did they inflict other or more than the usual penalties of a court of law - no personal punishments were inflicted. Missourians came over to assist the pro-slavery men. They arrested three of them - one the Rev. Mr. Stewart, whom they threatened to hang and imprisoned in Fort Scott. The free state men rallied. A scout party of fifteen came upon a body of Missourians near Barnesville, a town near Fort Scott, eighty strong, who gave them chase. Five free state men were captured, making in all eight prisoners. Additional free state men assembled. The U. S. marshal came down on them with a force of eighty men and demanded their unconditional surrender. The free state men replied to this demand, as the party advanced, by a volley of musket balls. The fire was returned. The conflict lasted an hour. The posse retreated to a distance, and finally fled in disorder. One man on their side was killed, two mortally wounded; the U. S. marshal dangerously injured. The free state men received no damage. Colonel Phillips, of the militia was sent by Lane to command this force, with orders to avoid the troops. He advanced on Fort Scott, but found that before he could give battle to the invaders, he would have to encounter several companies of dragoons. He retreated and encamped. Lane went down, and is now entrenched at Sugar Mound. The troops were within twelve miles of him, advancing to drive him from his position. His men held a council, and resolved to fight the dragoons, if they attacked them. Lane cordially endorsed their action. Be it remembered, that Lane is now the major-general of the legalized militia, and is therefore protected by law. A fight is probable. I will send more minute news by another messenger.

The Lawrence boys went up to Lecompton to-day and demanded of Denver the arms seized by the dragoons from the emigrant train which came in under Eldridge. He was unwilling to restore them, but seeing that they would be forcibly taken if he did not consent, finally agreed to deliver them up. The boys returned with them last night - 20 sabres, and 176 muskets and carbines, in good order and condition!

The convention now in session has had exciting debates all day. The committee on resolutions disagreed, and presented three reports. The majority report, signed by seven members, disapprove of voting for state officers under Mrs. Cunningham's constitution. The first minority report (signed by Mr. Vaughan of the Leavenworth Times, and another delegate,) recommends that a full state ticket be nominated. The third, signed by James Redpath alone, recommends that the election be participated in for the purpose of destroying the Lecompton conspiracy; that no man be nominated for any office under it who will not pledge himself not to put it in operation; that the Topeka constitution be submitted by the Legislative assembly to a vote of the people; that loyalty to the Topeka constitution be made a test of fealty to the free state party; that the Legislative assembly repeal the entire border ruffian code at once, then adjourn sine die. Mr. Thatcher eloquently supported his (the majority) report, Mr. Vaughn advocated his plan, also, in a happy effort. Gov. Robinson is in favor of voting; Judge Conway, Col. Phillips, Judge Schuyler, and others, took the same side. Mr. Redpath said they could nominate a state ticket, the very sight of which would kill the Lecompton iniquity where it was conceived - at Washington. He could nominate Capt. John Brown of Osawatomie for Governor, and men equally pointed, to all other minor offices. The most radical and revolutionary speeches have been made to-day, and received with great applause. The revolutionary spirit is awakened - events may soon make it manifest in acts that will astonish the demagogues who think that by plausible sophistries they can enslave a free people.

May God defend the right!

[From the N. Y. Post.]