quires protection, which cannot be given by any civil posses that can be raised, in consequence of the bitter feelings existing among the advocates of conflicting political sentiments on the highly exciting question which so long kept the territory in a state of feverish agitation and even anarchy. "Large combinations will doubtless be formed to resist attempted and even threatened violations of the law-and invasion and insurrection, with their fearful consequences, may be anticipated. 66 The presence of the troops, even should their active service never be required, will be sufficient, perhaps, to repel invasion,' which there is reason to expect-suppress insurrection,' which has been predicted by seeming authority-and repress combinations to obstruct the execution of the laws too strong for the civil power,' which seem to exist. "The withdrawal of all the troops at this time would, in my opinion, be the signal for the lawless to commence difficulties, which their presence alone may entirely prevent. A little care to guard against evils which we can foresee, may prevent others of greater magnitude which are beyond our comprehension. "In view of these facts, I must respectfully ask, that Captain Newby's company may be permitted to remain in this vicinity during the present month, or, at least, until I shall be able to communicate with and receive an answer from the authorities at Washington, upon the subject. The importance of the matter will doubtless suggest itself to your mind, and grant a ready compliance with this request. "An immediate answer will oblige, most sincerely, "Your friend and obedient servant, In view of the facts so clearly established by the foregoing documents-that General Smith had declined furnishing Governor Geary with troops at the time he supposed their services were needed; that the general declared the secretary of war had ordered all the forces to other and more distant service; and that even the few soldiers still near the governor had been ordered to report themselves at Fort Leavenworth, as soon as the weather would sufficiently moderate to enable them to travel,-it is somewhat remarkable that General Smith, after the resignation of Governor Geary, should have addressed the following communication to Secretary Davis : "HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS, "Senator. : "Baltimore, March 28, 1857. "Dear Sir: I received a letter a few minutes since from the editor of the Evening Star, requesting me to substantiate a contradiction you make to some assertion in the Herald of Governor Geary.' I happen to have my letter-book, and send you a copy of my letter to WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES TROOPS. 1 285 the governor when he 'required' a squadron of dragoons to be sent to him. He had already Captain Newby's and Captain Flint's companies of troops under his control, and he stated no case that would justify reinforcing them in the middle of the winter. I declined sending them, evidently without your interference in the matter, for you were in Washington. His letter is of the 9th February and my answer of the 11th. I exercised the discretion left me by the president, for I saw there was no need of them. "I send the copy to you, for I do not think myself at liberty to publish part of an official correspondence without authority from higher authority. 66 Moreover, I think your simple contradiction is sufficient; the affair will not offer to Governor Geary any advantage in pursuing it, unless he provokes proof of what the Herald says, and that is on record in the Department of the West. "I have copies of my letters, but his are on file in the office of the Department of the West. "I repeat, that with my knowledge of all that took place the governor will not pursue the matter. "With sincere respect, your obedient servant, "PERSIFER F. SMITH, Bt. Maj.-Gen. Comm'g Dep't of the West." In the general's letter to the governor he says: "All the forces here have just been designated by the secretary of war, and are under orders for other service more distant." In the letter to General Davis he says: "I declined sending them, evidently without your interference in the matter, for you were in Washington." What General Smith means by saying that the simple contradiction of Secretary Davis will be sufficient to disprove the fact that the troops had been withdrawn from Governor Geary's service, it would be extremely difficult to comprehend. It is certain that the troops were withdrawn, and from the following communication to the Adjutant-General of the United States, it would seem at the suggestion of General Smith himself: Head-Quarters, Department of the West, "Fort Leavenworth, Saturday, Nov. 11. "Colonel: Since my last communication nothing of importance has happened in the department. After the success of the measures taken a few weeks since to prevent the gross outrages on the law, then threatened, and to suppress the disorders then existing in the territory, order and tranquillity have gradually resumed their legitimate sway; the laws have again been put in operation, and the administration of justice revived. Deserted farms are again occupied, fences rebuilt, fields put under cultivation, and the ruins of houses, destroyed by fire, replaced by more durable habitations; the roads are covered with travellers, unarmed and secure; and the towns stores. thronged with persons selling their produce and purchasing from the All these evidences of restored order have enabled me, with the concurrence of the governor of the territory, to recall the troops from the active duty on which they have been employed, and to establish them again at their proper posts, where they are to pass the winter. As there are no secure prisons yet built for territorial authorities to use in the administration of justice, at his request there will remain at the disposition of the governor a few men to guard prisoners in the custody of the law and for other such contingencies. "I am happy, then, to be enabled to announce to the War Department, and through it to the president, the entire success of the measures they directed to be taken for the suppression of insurrection and removal of obstructions to the regular administration of justice, and that this end has been attained without the shedding of blood or the exertion of any force beyond the ordinary arrest of persons accused of crimes. "The winter has commenced with severity much earlier than usual, and it is now too late to send the companies of the Sixth Infantry to the posts further west-their original destination. From necessity they must be crowded into the quarters at Fort Leavenworth. great reduction in the number of men in the First Cavalry will render this possible now, which it would not be if the latter regiment were full. 66 The Being no longer occupied with the affairs of the territory, which have caused so much uneasiness, undivided attention can be paid for punishing the Cheyennes Indians. In pursuing them in the spring, the great want will be forage and transportation for supplies. Pasturing animals in rapid movements is impossible; nor can horses perform a regular day's work on grass. In short, daily journeys, grass is sufficient, for there is time to pasture and very little labor to undergo. Additional appropriations will therefore be necessary to provide for the expedition, which must be chiefly of mounted men, and ought to be ready by the middle of April. The details of the force and the direction of the operations cannot now be determined; but a general appropriation of an additional sum-much less, however, than that given to the Sioux expedition-will be advisable. "I will again report that I consider tranquillity and order entirely restored in Kansas. I foresee nothing in the shape of disorder that the ordinary means in the hands of the civil authority, directed by as able and energetic hands as those of the present governor, are not amply sufficient to control; and the whole time and efforts of the troops here can henceforward be devoted to the protection of the frontier. "With the highest respect, your obedient servant, "Colonel Samuel Cooper, Adjutant-General of the Army." Now, from all this, it very clearly appears that, although the president had placed at the disposal of Governor Geary the United States forces in Kansas, to preserve the peace and THE TERRITORIAL EXPENSES. 287 bring offenders to punishment, and to be employed by him as he supposed existing circumstances should require, those forces, at the suggestion of General Smith (who had been confined, by indisposition, to his quarters during the entire term of Governor Geary's administration, and, therefore, had very limited opportunities for ascertaining the true condition of the territory, and the exigencies that might demand the use of troops), and without consulting Governor Geary on the subject, were taken from the support of the governor and ordered to other service, and that at a time when the peace of the territory and the life of the executive were alike threatened and in danger. CHAPTER XLIII. Resignation of Governor Geary.-His Farewell Address. GOVERNOR GEARY was not only deprived of the use of the sword at a time when he considered it needful to carry out his instructions, but the public purse-strings were also drawn against him. The following communication was received on the 13th of November : "JOHN W. GEARY, Esq. "Governor of the Territory of Kansas. "Sir:-I have received your letter of the 6th inst., in which you ask to be furnished with a draft for two thousand dollars for meeting the contingent expenses of the government of Kansas. The president does not doubt the necessity that you should be put in possession of the means you have asked for, and he has gone into a careful examination of the authority he has under the laws, to comply with your request. He regrets to be obliged to state that this examination has resulted in a conviction on his part, that he has no authority to advance for the contingent expenses of the government of Kansas territory, any amount whatever, beyond the sum appropriated by Congress for that purpose. The appropriation, which was an inconsiderable sum, has been exhausted, and there is no power in the executive government of the United States to furnish you with any more. This state of things is most seriously regretted; for, situated as you are, the sum provided by Congress for the contingent expenses of the territory must fall far short of that required for the public service. The subject, will, of course, occupy the attention of Congress at the approaching session; but what will be its decision on it cannot be foretold. I should think there could be no doubt, that the next Congress will provide the means for paying all the expenses which may be or have been properly incurred in administering the affairs of the territorial government. "I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Such was the encouragement received by Governor Geary from the government at Washington. It could have been nothing less than an enlarged patriotism that caused him to retain so long the most thankless and unprofitable office'in the nation. For months he had labored for the public good with untiring energy, not even taking time for needed rest and sleep; deprived of all the usual comforts of life; occupying a log house, and very often unable to obtain wholesome food; vexed and harassed hourly with the complaints of an abused people; constant drafts being made by persons whom he was compelled to employ, upon his pecuniary resources; required to pay the militia called into the service by the president himself, from his own private funds; every federal officer in the territory conspiring to embarrass his administration; his mails overhauled and their contents examined by government officials; surrounded with organized bands of assassins; and without a word of comfort or a particle of aid from the general government, he still continued, with fidelity, zeal and unflagging energy, to discharge the arduous duties of his station. Under these discouraging circumstances, he addressed a lengthy letter to Secretary Marcy, on the 22d of November, from which the following is extracted :— "I herewith transmit you by the hands of Brevet Major H. H. Sibley, a copy of my executive minutes from the 17th day of October to the 21st day of November, inclusive. These minutes will furnish you a truthful history of Kansas affairs. They embrace a daily record of all my official transactions, and a full statement of any matters requiring explanation. 66 Fully appreciating the delicate and responsible mission confided to me by the generous partiality of the president, and knowing how liable, amid the strife and prejudice which seemed to hold undisturbed sway here, a person with the most patriotic intentions might be to misrepresentation and abuse, I adopted the custom of keeping an hourly record of all events, in any manner connected with my official action, which, |