U. S. CAMP — DISPERSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. 811 
anxiously for the denouement of the day’s proceedings. It was 
well known that nearly all the military force in Kansas was con¬ 
centrated within a few hundred yards in Topeka, and that in the 
camp of Col. Sumner was Secretary Woodson, the infamous 
Jeffreys Lecompte, Donaldson, who led on the plundering hordes 
to the sack of Lawrence, Judges Cato and Elmore, and other 
influential pro-slavery men; and it was also known that those 
men, who have shown the most inveterate hostility to the settlers 
of Kansas, were plotting mischief against them. All this was 
known, and, although it might make the pulsation of some hearts 
beat quicker, it neither disturbed nor affected their action. 
“ About ten o’clock, United States Marshal Donaldson, accom¬ 
panied by Judge Elmore, entered the town, and gave it to be 
understood that he had a proclamation to read. The convention 
paused in its business, and invited these gentlemen to the stand. 
Donaldson being, like Moses, not particularly well qualified for 
public speaking, called on his Aaron, in the shape of Judge 
Elmore, who read the proclamation of the President, dated in 
February — a law-and-order document, the signification of which 
was comprehended at the time, and which was now made to do 
its work in the drama, 4 We will subdue you.’ Next was read 
the second proclamation of Grov. Shannon, issued a month ago ; 
and then-followed the proclamation of Secretary Woodson, w T hich, 
acting under presidential authority, commanded the Legislature 
to disperse, and threatened it with violence from the troops in 
case they did not submit to this order. The proclamation being 
read, these gentlemen made their exodus as they had made their 
advent, neither being accompanied by any external or visible 
symptoms of a moral earthquake; and the convention proceeded 
with its business, which had been interrupted. This evidently cha¬ 
grined Donaldson, who turned round and in term} ted the debate 
upon a resolution, by asking if we had any reply to carry down 
to Col. Sumner. The president informed Mr. D. that this assem¬ 
blage was not the Legislature, to which the proclamation had 
been specially addressed, but asked him if it was desired that 
we should send any reply. Donaldson said No, but, if we had 
anything to send, he would convey it. The president, on behalf 
