REDOUBLED EFFORTS FOR A NEW INVASION. 219 
farther, that the House of Representatives had recognized him as 
a claimant for a seat in that body, as a delegate from Kansas; 
that he was, therefore, entitled to the same privileges as a mem¬ 
ber of Congress, conferred by the sixth section of article first of the 
federal constitution. It was also the opinion of the majority of 
the committee that Gov. Reeder would be privileged from arrest 
to the same extent that a member of the committee would be, and 
that his duty required him to attend the sittings of the committee 
instead of those of the territorial courts. Gov. Reeder was a con¬ 
testant for a seat in Congress; his memorial had been received ; 
the committee was sent to Kansas to take testimony in his case ; 
and his attendance, in obedience to the summons of the committee, 
is essential to the prosecution of their labors. He must judge for 
himself upon his course of action. Gov. Reeder then informed the 
officer he should not be arrested, and, if he attempted it, it would 
be at his peril. Soon after the deputy left, however, he sent a 
letter to Judge Lecompte, saying he would appear before him 
as a witness, if he would promise him protection while in Lecomp- 
ton, and grant him a safe return to Lawrence when he should have 
given in his testimony. The answer of the judge was, that “ the 
matter had gone out of his hands.” 
The committee being about to leave for Leavenworth, Governor 
Reeder was warned not to go with them if he would escape assas¬ 
sination ; but his reply was that he should go. It was rot un¬ 
known to many that, on his first arrival in Kansas, in May, com¬ 
ing to Lawrence by way of Leavenworth, he had only left the 
last-named place when a band of men threatened to assassinate 
him if he could be found. These threats had not grown less 
bitter or more rare, and reports from Wyandot, Leavenworth, and 
Kansas city, showed that a new invasion was being planned against 
the territory. On the tenth, word came into Lawrence of these 
plans of the borderers. They were crossing into the territory and 
forming about Atchison, ready to march at any time. Their first 
plan was, by forced and stealthy marches, at night, to surprise 
Lawrence. But, seeing the impracticability of such a procedure, 
another plan more sure was adopted, and, on the eleventh of May, 
