good service, that the highways were clear, and traveling was safe; but not knowing what might happen, the men generally carried their muskets hidden in their wagons.  The writer of these “Recollections” went to Topeka with the Free State men of Atchison county.  At this convention it appeared that there was the greatest possible divergence of judgment as to the best policy for the Free State party to pursue.  There was nothing of the noise and bluster that characterizes a drunken mob; they were sober and quiet men; nevertheless, they evidently labored under an intense and burning excitement.  Some were for war, bloody, relentless and unforgiving war; others advised a more pacific policy.  If the reader can imagine the savage determination with which the old Scotch Covenanters turned at bay when hunted into their mountain fastnesses by their bloody persecutors, then he will have some idea of the spirit that animated a great part of that assembly.  Two companies of soldiers, handsomely equipped, armed and drilled, one from Topeka and one from Lawrence, were drawn up in front of the Topeka House, where the Free State Legislature was to meet.  It is probable that this crowd of men assembled at this convention could have laid their hands on five hundred muskets hidden away in their wagons, in ten minutes.

Meanwhile Col.  Sumner had quietly drawn up his company of dragoons just outside of the crowd.  In front of the dragoons were two loaded cannon, and by them grimly stood soldiers with burning fuse.  While the members of the convention were discussing among themselves their proper policy, United States Marshal Donaldson came forward, accompanied by Judge El-more, and taking possession of the stand from which the speakers were addressing the people, Judge El-more read a proclamation from the President and from acting Gov.  Woodson, commanding the Legislature to disperse.

To this Col.  Sumner had appended the following note:  “The proclamation of the President and the orders under it require me to sustain the Executive of the Territory in executing the laws and preserving the peace.  I therefore hereby announce that I shall maintain the proclamation at all hazards.”

This act of Marshal Donaldson was fiercely denounced as an impertinent intermedding with other men’s business.  The general drift of the reasoning was as follows:  “Our act in framing a constitution and in electing a legislature is not treasonable nor revolutionary.  There is no law against it:  consequently we are breaking no law.  It is, moreover, something that has to be done at some time by the majority of the citizens of this Territory, and we hope to be able to convince Congress and the President that we are that majority.  If we had undertaken to set in operation a government in contravention to the one now recognized by the President, then might there have been some apology for this interference; but we have done nothing of the kind.”