AN APPEAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. 
345 
ing his connection with the murders and outrages daily committed. 
He has at all times, when outrages have been committed by his 
accomplices, and he feared the just wrath of the people, protected 
them by United States troops. He has, when fearing an attack 
upon Lecompton, been seen entering the scow to cross the river 
to save himself, and, under the protection of Major Sedgwick, has 
made his second visit to the people of Lawrence, and made 
another treaty with them. He has asked for an escort to get him 
out of the country. But the President, at last, seeing the Dem¬ 
ocratic party in danger, has numbered the days of the govern¬ 
or. Let “ de mortaibus nisi bonum ” be our motto. Judge Le- 
compte was particularly qualified to be the chief justice in Kansas, 
by his want of legal knowledge, and lack of intellectual ability. 
His particular forte in packing juries, and instructing grand jurors 
to indict freedom-loving citizens for high treason, as well as hotels 
and printing-presses as nuisances, has probably fulfilled the Presi¬ 
dent’s expectations in regard to him, as well as made him a worthy 
fellow-worker with the decapitated governor. Another of the judges 
declared that he would leave the bench to assist in arresting per¬ 
sons who said they would pay no regard to the territorial laws. 
Such has been the partisan character of ail these appointees. 
When Congress was memorialized as to these grievances of the 
people, and a plain statement was laid before the President of the 
invasion of March thirtieth, he signified his alliance with the ruffi¬ 
ans by removing G-ov. Beeder. During the siege of Lawrence, in 
which Gov, Shannon had for his counsellors men from Westport 
and Independence, when Clark, the Indian agent, in a most wan¬ 
ton manner, murdered an unarmed man, Judges Lecompte, Elmore, 
Johnson, Cato, and Burrill, being of the same party, as they left 
Lecompton, on their way to head-quarters on the Wakarusa, the 
President was silent. He offered no protection to the people of 
Lawrence. He has done nothing since towards the removal of the 
murderer. When, however, a new invasion being in preparation, 
word was sent to him, he suddenly found that some things in Kan¬ 
sas required his interposition. His special message was crowded 
upon the House, and his proclamation soon followed. Did he 
speak of the murder by his official ? Not one word. Did he 
