TWO WEEKS IK JUNE ON THE MISSOURI BORDER. 298 
carry on the war.” A few days after, another meeting was called, 
and a resolution was passed to the effect that they had taken no 
part in this invasion upon the territory, in the outrages, such as 
murder, hanging, etc. A man, who shot Mr. Cantrell, voted for 
this resolution. Another man, more honest at least, arose and 
said he was of a party which had gone through a mock hanging; 
but the resolution passed. 
Business was dead at Kansas citjr. For the few last days I 
was there nothing was stirring where before, for the press of 
teams, a person could pass with the greatest difficulty; scarcely 
any one could be seen. The warehouse men had received 
word from Lawrence that all freights in their houses, consigned 
to merchants there, must be shipped to Leavenworth. This 
made them anxious, for through their pockets their feelings had 
been reached. The business men invited conversation with some 
eastern men. They said they would call meetings expressive also 
of their disapprobation ; but they were assured the move was too 
late ; that it would not be regarded as sincere; that eastern capi¬ 
tal was timid, cautious; that it would not be convinced ; that 
money, which would have come in here, would go where life and 
property are safe ; that eastern travel would leave the Missou¬ 
ri river for a northern route. 
One man, who brought the governor’s proclamation down to 
Westport and Kansas city, was on the way, through the border 
town, to raise more men for the war. Wm. Donaldson, several 
days after, was at Independence, endeavoring to induce men to 
g°# u p and attack Topeka. The following letter from Indepen¬ 
dence states the fact: 
“ Independence, Mo., Thursday , June 12, 1856. 
“ Postmaster, Lawrence, K. T.: There were some men here 
yesterday trying to get men to go with them to the territory, for 
the purpose of going to Topeka to burn it up. Now, for God’s 
sake, send an express immediately to that place, and get the peo¬ 
ple there to send for the United States troops to protect them. 
One of the men that were here was named William Donaldson 
(brother of Postscript D.), and he said that Shannon had left the 
territory and gone home leaving Secretary Woodson as acting 
25 * 
