314 
KANSAS. 
must disperse. I now command you to disperse. I repeat that 
this is the most painful duty of my whole life.’ 
“ Judge Schuyler asked, 4 Col. Sumner, are we to understand 
that the Legislature are driven out at the point of the bayonet ? ’ 
“ Colonel Sumner : ‘ I shall use all the forces in my command 
to carry out my orders.’ 
“ The Legislature dispersed. Some of the members in town 
did not appear at the hall; but the immortal number who re¬ 
sponded to their names occupy a proud position. Some pleasant 
interchange of civilities occurred between Col. Sumner and per¬ 
sons in the hall —members and others. He left the hall, and 
mounted his horse, when he was reminded that he had not dis¬ 
persed the Senate. He dismounted, and returned to the Senate 
Chamber, Donaldson going with him; Donaldson having also 
been present at the dispersion of the Legislature. The Senate 
had not yet been convened, as it was but very little past the 
appointed hour; but Col. Sumner, addressing them in their col¬ 
lective capacity, proceeded to disperse them in terms something 
similar to those used in the hall below. When he concluded 
there was a pause, the senators standing in a circle silently but 
respectfully. No one was in the hall but the senators, the Senate 
officers, Col. Sumner, Donaldson, and your correspondent. Col. 
Sumner broke the pause by asking if they intended to disperse. 
With calmness and dignity, Mr. Thornton, President of the 
Senate, replied that the Senate had not yet convened, and could 
not make any repljn He asked Col. Sumner if he could convene 
the Senate, so that they could make a reply to him. Col. Sumner 
replied that his orders were to prevent them from meeting, and 
that they could not convene, but must disperse. 
“ Here Donaldson stepped forward, and made the outrageous 
demand that the senators should promise not to assemble again, or 
he would arrest every member. Monstrous usurping villany foi 
a federal officer! If he had writs from a court to serve on eithei 
of these officers, it was his duty to serve them independent of any 
contingency; if he had none, he had no right to arrest or molest 
a man, and as little thus to insult popular representatives thug 
assembled. Several senators told Col. Sumner that, when thu? 
