A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint)

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Excerpt from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, Vol. 2 The testimony of Eli Thayer and others before the Congressional Investigating Committee put the Emigrant Aid Company in its proper light. The people of Kansas had known from the first that the Company has assumed a position of duplicity, but it took the published words of Thayer under oath to undeceive the whole people of the North. By the month of June, 1856, the people generally had come to know that the New England Emigrant Aid Company was accomplishing nothing in the crises of Kansas affairs. They saw plainly that the dependence first placed on that company had been entirely misplaced. It was doing nothing to forward the Free-State cause, but was engaged in securing lots in the towns being laid out in the Territory. It was apparent that help would have to be sought in another quarter. It was also seen that the Free-State men were insufficiently armed, and that the aid to be rendered must include guns and ammunition. There was no lack of men and none whatever of spirit and determination. Early in the year of 1856, the Missourians considered a blockade on the Missouri River. Cannon were placed at various points to command steamboats bringing emigrants to Kansas. Many boats were stopped and searched. By July the Border-Ruffians were turning back companies of Free-State men. An Illinois company was forced aboard the boat at Leavenworth and compelled to return, as we shall see. By direction of the Free-State Legislature and Constitutional Convention, James H. Lane had gone to Washington in March to present the Topeka Constitution to Congress, and endeavor to have Kansas admitted as a State. He was also instructed to make a tour of the North in the interest of Kansas. We have seen that his presentation of the Constitution led to no definite results. His appeal to the North had a far different effect. He addressed monster meetings in many Northern states. He kindled in all of them an enthusiasm for a free Kansas. The outrages of the Border-Ruffians furnished him new incidents every day. The sacking of Lawrence was told as only Lane could tell it. Wherever he spoke, the people organized to send substantial aid to Kansas. Other Kansans were touring the North, and they rendered the country valuable service, but Lane was supreme, unapproachable in this campaign. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.