184 
KANSAS. 
awake each morning, with wonder, to say we “ still live.” We 
might, however, have lived in greater security, had the mighty 
genius, who made these words memorable in his last hour, been 
ever true to the instincts of his great nature; had he in his 
declining days spoken honest words for freedom, as in his life’s 
morning, or in its noon of splendor. “ Lawrence is ” not “ in 
ashes,” and her citizens still go unhung, notwithstanding the efforts 
of government officials to the contrary. 
The following are the exact copies of letters from Gov. Sham 
non to the murderer of Barber, Gen. George W. Clarke, Indian 
Agent, and will show the direction of his efforts : 
“ Executive Office, y 
Shawnee Mission, K. T., Jan. 4, 1856. $ 
“ My 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 all 
organizations to take the law into the hands of self-constituted 
judges or conservatives of the peace will only lead to bad conse¬ 
quences. The other party will do the same by the way of retal¬ 
iation, and no one will know when he is safe. I am glad to learn 
that you discourage all such movements. 
“ I will leave in the morning for Washington city, stopping 
some days at home on my way. I shall urge on the President the 
policy of stationing a company of United States troops in Le- 
compton, or such other place in that region as you may all think 
best. I shall also urge on him the policy of quietly stationing a 
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 commence its 
session. The President has the power to station the troops at 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. 
