234 
KANSAS. 
ate with them for the maintenance of the peace, order, and quiet 
of the community in which we live. 
“ Very respectfully, 
“ Robert Morrow, 
Lyman Allen, 
John Hutchinson.’’ 
On the morning of the fifteenth, Mr. John Hutchinson was 
bearer of a despatch to Col. Sumner, at Fort Leavenworth, re¬ 
questing him, if he had no power to assist the citizens in defend¬ 
ing the town, to station a body of troops in the vicinity, that their 
presence might act as a preventative to the sanguinary measures 
with which the mob threaten it. The majority of the investigat¬ 
ing committee also asked for the interference of Col. Sumner, on 
the sixteenth. To them both the reply was similar : he wished 
he could do something, but he had no power to move without 
orders. Early Thursday forenoon, the fifteenth, Lieut. Gov. W. 
Y. Roberts, C. W. Babcock, and Josiah Miller, went to Lecomp- 
ton. to receive Marshal Donaldson’s answer. The following is the 
document : 
“ Office of the U. S. Marshal, i 
Lecompton, K. T., May 15, 1856. ) 
“ Messrs. G. W. Dietzler and J. H. Green, Lawrence, K. T.: 
On yesterday I received a communication addressed to me, signed 
by one of you as president, and the other as secretary, purport¬ 
ing to have been adopted by a meeting of the citizens of Law¬ 
rence, held on yesterday morning. After speaking of a proclama¬ 
tion issued by myself, you state, ‘ That there may be no misunder¬ 
standing, we beg leave to ask respectfully, that we may be relia¬ 
bly informed, what are the demands against us. We desire most 
truthfully and earnestly to declare that no opposition whatever 
will now, or at any future time, be offered to the execution of any 
legal process by yourself, or any person acting for you. We also 
pledge ourselves to assist you, if called upon, in the execution of 
any legal process,’ etc. 
„ “ From your professed ignorance of the demands against you, I 
nust conclude that you are strangers, and not citizens, of Law- 
