WAKARUSA WAR — PREPARATIONS. 
117 
guests of Lyle and Johnson, notorious ruffians, and ringleaders in 
the mobbing of Phillips. Such being the facts of Gov. Shannon’s 
course here, what can we expect? Jones threatens that he will 
return to destroy Lawrence; “ not one stone shall be left standing.” 
He asserts that “ Shannon has promised him ten thousand men, to 
enforce the laws.” It seems a little singular that such a promise 
should have been made, when not even one arrest has been 
attempted, to test the temper of our people. Where will the poor 
governor find ten thousand men to do his bidding ? 
With all these truths before them, our people cannot but see 
that preparations for defence are necessary; and in the"afternoon 
the adjourned meeting came together again. The pledge reported 
by Mr. Lowrey, as chairman of the committee, was carried through 
the hall, by the secretary of the meeting, and was signed, by those 
of the audience not belonging to volunteer companies, upon the 
stock of a Sharpe’s rifle, that being used as the most convenient 
article at hand. The following was the pledge of union and 
mutual support: “We the citizens of Kansas Territory, finding 
ourselves in a condition of confusion and defencelessness so great 
that open outrage and mid-day murder are becoming the rule, and 
quiet and security the exception ; and whereas the law, the only 
authoritative engine to correct and regulate the excesses and wrongs 
of society, has never yet been extended to our territory, thus leav¬ 
ing us with no fixed or definite rule of action, or course of redress, 
we are reduced to the necessity of organizing ourselves together 
on the basis of first principles, and providing for the common 
defence and general security; and here we pledge ourselves to the 
resistance of lawlessness and outrage, at all times, when required 
by the officers who may from time to time be chosen to superin¬ 
tend the movements of this organization.” 
It is rumored that the Missourians will make the attack to-mor¬ 
row night. To complete the farce, Gov. Shannon, in person, it is 
said, will lead on his red-shirted, butternut-colored-trousered allies 
from Missouri, to subdue and crush his own people. Has he no 
sense, or has his brain become so muddled in the bad whiskey in 
which it floats, as to dull all his perceptions of justice or right ? 
28 th .—Wednesday morning. A beautiful morning dawned 
