The places that had been fortified by this “Law and Order” militia were one by one stormed and the garrisons driven off.  Franklin was a second time attacked and its occupants taken prisoners.  Col.  Titus had fortified his residence in the suburbs of Lecompton, and here he kept a company of men that made raids on the surrounding Free State inhabitants.  This fort was taken by assault, and Col.  Titus and his men were taken prisoners, while Major Sedjwick, with a company of United States troops, was encamped only two miles away.  The citizens of Lecompton were frightened out of their wits, and Gov.  Shannon was found under the bank of the Kansas River, badly demoralized, and trying to get across the river on an old scow, and thus escape the danger.  He came the next day to Lawrence, accompanied by Maj.  Sedjwick, to make peace and negotiate an exchange of prisoners, He announced this as his last official act, and exhorted the people in a speech he made to them, to live in peace with each other, while they shouted in angry retort, “Give us back Barber and the men that have been murdered under your rule.”

But in spite of all these reverses that had come upon the “Law and Order” party, they still had faith that Providence is on the side of the heaviest battalions, and that they would yet succeed in driving out these Free State rebels; and they proceeded to raise, along the Missouri border, a larger army than it would be possible for the Free State people to raise.  Did they not have on their side the President and his Cabinet?  Was not Congress on their side?  Was not Persifer F. Smith, Commandant at Fort Leavenworth, at least indifferent to all their deeds of violence?  And more and better, Woodson had succeeded Shannon as acting Governor, and it would be a bad day that should not see the full fruition of their hopes.

But there was one thought to mar their otherwise perfect joy, just as Providence always pours a drop of bitterness into every cup.  A Governor unfriendly to their purposes might be appointed, and it became them, therefore, to make hay while the sun was shining.  They, therefore, addressed the following pathetic appeal to the people of the South: 

We have asked the appointment of a successor who was acquainted with our condition; who, a citizen of our Territory, identified with its interests, familiar with its history, would not be prejudiced or misled by the falsehoods which have been so systematically fabricated against us.

In his stead we have one appointed who is ignorant of our condition, a stranger to our people; who we have too much cause to fear will, if no worse, prove no more efficient to protect us than his predecessors.

With, then, a government which has proved imbecile, has failed to enforce the laws for our protection, with our army of lawless banditti overturning our country—­what shall we do?

Though we have full confidence in the integrity and fidelity of Mr. Woodson, now acting as Governor, we know not at what moment his authority will be suspended.  We can not await the convenience of the incoming of the newly appointed Governor.  We can not hazard a second edition of imbecility or corruption.