THE ATTACK UPON LAWRENCE. 
231 
“ If the citizens of Lawrence submit themselves to the terri¬ 
torial laws, and aid and assist the marshal and sheriff in the 
execution of processes in their hands, as all good citizens are bound 
to do, when called on, they or all such will entitle themselves to 
the protection of the law. 
“ But so long as they keep up a military or armed organization 
to resist the territorial laws, and the officers charged with their 
execution, I shall not interfere to save them from the legitimate 
consequences of their illegal acts. 
“ I have the honor to be 
“ Yours with great respect, 
“ Wilson Shannon. 
“ Messrs. C. W. Topliff, 
John Hutchinson, 
W. Y. KoBEPvTS.” 
The citizens of Lawrence will be entitled to protection while 
they submit to the territorial laws. He is very careful, however, 
not to promise such protection; and the non-committal essay 
leaves room for the belief that, if the people did not yield like 
slaves to the insolence of an irresponsible mob, they would be 
regarded by him as outlaws, and be wholly given over to his 
reckless gang of desperadoes. “ No military or armed organiza¬ 
tion to resist the territorial laws, and the officers charged with 
their execution,” has ever been formed in Lawrence, which Gov. 
Shannon knew well. There have been military companies with 
stated drills, and these have constituted all the organizations 
entered into, save the one which he himself commissioned, gladly 
availing himself of its protection from the lawless mob he had 
precipitated upon us. 
On Tuesday, the 13th of May, one of the marshal’s proclama¬ 
tions was brought into town, and its charges were so entirely 
false and cruel in their intent, that the citizens immediately came 
together in public meeting, Judge W. presiding, and the following 
resolutions were adopted: 
“Whereas, by a proclamation to the people of Kansas Terri- 
