304 
KANSAS. 
and twenty others, came on board, and kept them under strict sur¬ 
veillance until the boat reached St. Louis. 
While such deeds of blood and violence were being committed 
on the river, the Indian agent, Gay, was killed, near Westport, by 
some of Buford’s men. Upon his replying in the affirmative to 
the question, “ Are you in favor of making Kansas a free state? ” 
he was immediately shot. 
Bands of the marauders infested the woods on the Westport 
route. They plundered wagons of provisions, for subsistence, and 
struck down the unwary. In camp we were awakened one morn¬ 
ing by loud words near by. One of the “ chivalry ” was talking 
to Col. Sumner in no gentlemanly way. 
When the news of the nomination of Buchanan and Brecken- 
ridge was received in Lecompton, a meeting was called. The cel¬ 
ebrated “ Sheriff Jones ” was the president of the meeting, while 
kindred spirits filled the other offices. / The following resolutions 
were unanimously adopted 
“ Resolved , That we have entire confidence in James Buchanan 
and John C. Breckenridge, as sound and true national democrats, 
and believe them to be the best men w r ho could have been selected 
as the exponents of the principles of the platform adopted by the 
Cincinnati convention, and noble standard-bearers, who will rally 
to themselves and their platform all Union-loving men and true 
democrats. 
“ Resolved, That we do most heartily approve and endorse the 
leading measures of the administration of Franklin Pierce, and 
have the utmost confidence in the integrity and patriotism of S. 
A. Douglas; and while some of us may have preferred the nomi¬ 
nation of one or two other of these able statesmen, yet we do 
heartily endorse the nomination of James Buchanan, and look 
upon his election as necessary to the stability and safety of the 
Union.” 
On the 23d the prisoners received an accession to their num¬ 
bers in the persons of Capt. John Brown, Jr., and H. H. Wil¬ 
liams, likewise dignified with the name of “ traitors.” The former 
