KANSAS LAWS—GOV. SHANNON. 
93 
mg that to bear is better than to retort, and to the office we 
should try to pay that respect of which the man plainly shows he 
is not worthy. With the Bev. Thomas Johnson, of the Shawnee 
Mission School, a slaveholder, he will pursue, on the morrow (Sun¬ 
day), his way thither. 
IQth .—A delegate convention was held at Topeka to-day to 
take into consideration the formation of a state constitution. 
The convention decided, after full discussion, to call a constitu¬ 
tional convention, to be held on the 22d of October, at Topeka, 
and organized a provisional government to superintend the election 
of delegates. The executive committee consisted of Messrs. J. 
H. Lane, Chairman ; J. B. Goodwin, Secretary; G. W. Smith, 0. 
B. Holliday, C. P. Schuyler, M. J. Parrott, and G. W. Brown. 
Previous to this convention, the mass convention, held at Law¬ 
rence August 15th, had resulted in a call for this of the 19th, at 
Topeka. Also a delegate convention of the free-state party was 
held at Big Springs, September 5th, to fix a day for the election 
of a delegate to Congress, and to nominate a candidate. At this 
convention, the 9th of October was named for the election, instead 
of the 2d, the day fixed by the Shawnee Mission Legislature, and 
Ex-Governor Beeder was nominated for candidate. This conven¬ 
tion, by resolution, referred the matter of a state organization to 
the Topeka convention, which was to represent all parties. 
22 d, — For the last few days nothing had been thought of but 
company. The house was full all day, and nearly all night. 
There are also continued rumors of new invasions, which disturb 
us but little. 
Yesterday Mrs. W. and I went out to Mr. N.’s. He has a 
most lovely location two miles from town, and himself and wife 
are well pleased with their Kansas home. Last evening there was 
a melon party at the hall, at which there was a general gathering 
of old and young. 
About this time the people of Lawrence entered into a self 
defensive organization. The street broils and outrages were 
becoming so frequent their lives were in daily peril. As soon as 
the organization was complete, and their badges gave evidence of 
a secret society, the outrages ceased. 
