Howard, of the Committee, and Messrs. Roberts and Robinson, that the free state officers residing in Douglas County should avoid arrest, and that the Lieutenant Governor, who resided in Shawnee County, should call a meeting of the Legislature on the 15th of June, before the opening of the session of the Grand Jury in that county, which it was known would immediately issue indictments, not only against the State officers residing within their jurisdiction, but also against every member of the Legislature, which had previously assembled at Topeka. The Legislature thuassembled in advance of the Grand Jury in that county, should immediately enact a militia law for the organization and equipment of the State forces, with a view to sustain and uphold the State Government. Then should the Territorial authorities seek to arrest any of the members of the Legislature or of the State Government, they should be resisted by force. In this way it was the design of the free state men to put themselves in the attitude of defending their State Government instead of their individual persons in opposing the arrests.

The free state officers against whom it was known writs were to be issued by the Grand Jury for their apprehension, and who should succeed in eluding all efforts for their arrest, were to meet with the other officers and members of the Legislature at Topeka, and all unite in opposition to interference with the discharge of their official functions. But, as we shall see, this whole plan was entirely frustrated by the failure of these men to escape arrest.

With a view to enable him to avoid this anticipated arrest, Governor Robinson was selected to visit the free States, ascertain their feelings and secure their support in the coming conflict in the Territory; to convey a portion of the testimony taken by the Congressional Committee to Washington to prevent its being destroyed by a mob, as was feared. He designed to return by the time the Legislature should meet. He had proceeded down the Missouri River as far as

Lexington, when he was taken from the boat on the pretext that he was fleeing from an indictment. Notwithstanding he assured those who arrested him, that he was not aware of any indictment having been found against him, that he had not at any time attempted to conceal himself, that the Marshal in the Territory could have arrested him at any hour while there, and that if he had been desiring to escape he would certainly have avoided Lexington, they persisted in their demands. Mrs. Robinson, who had charge of the official documents, was permitted to pass on the next day. She visited several of the States and performed the object for which her husband had set out.

Governor Robinson was thus seized without the least show of authority. The indictment for treason was issued a week subsequently. But evidently the citizens of Lexington understood that it was to be issued. He was detained more than a week at this place, until Governor Shannon made requisition upon the Governor of Missouri for his return to the Territory. He was conveyed first to Independence, thence to Westport, thence to Franklin in a carriage, in charge of Colonel Preston and Captain Donaldson. At the latter place orders were received by the Marshal from Governor Shannon to return to Kansas City and proceed to Lecompton by way of Leavenworth, lest their prisoner should be forcibly taken from them by Ruffians, who had sacked Lawrence the day before, and who still lingered in that vicinity, and by them suffer violence and, perhaps, death. Arriving at Leavenworth on the 24th of May, the prisoner was placed under the guard of Captain Martin, of the Kickapoo Rangers, and three other men. Here he was detained during the reign of terror in that city, of which we shall speak in another place. Captain Martin faithfully guarded him, although many attempts were made at his destruction. Judge Lecompte slept by the door of the room in which Governor Robinson was kept, and General Richardson slept in the same bed with

him, to shield him in case of an attack. On the 1st of June he was conveyed to Lecompton and placed in camp with seven other prisoners like himself.

Governor Reeder on the day that Marshal Fain attempted to arrest him finding it unsafe to remain longer with the Investigating Committee, retired to a friend's house in the vicinity of Lawrence. After remaining there a few days, seeing all the powers of the Government arrayed against him, and threatened by lawless ruffians, he determined to leave the Territory. But his enemies not finding him at Lawrence, had sent messengers to all the border towns to intercept his exit from the Territory. Guards were stationed along the roads and at the steamboat landings, up and down the Missouri for some distance. With the assistance of Mr. Jenkins, he eluded the vigilance of his enemies and arrived safe at Kansas City. Here Mr. Eldridge took charge of him and secreted him in the American Hotel. His concealment becoming more unsafe every day, and there being no other mode of escape, he disguised himself in the dress of an Irish laborer, cut off his whiskers and moustache, with an ax on his shoulder, a budget in his hand and a pipe in his mouth sauntered around unnoticed. As soon as it was dark, in company with Mr. Edward Eldridge, he entered a skiff on the river and rowed during that night twenty-eight miles, to Liberty Landing. Here they waited until a boat came along, when Mr. Reeder went aboard, took deck passage with the hands, and descended to St. Charles. Disembarking at this place he made his way across the country to Illinois in safety.

Mr. G. W. Brown, editor of "The Herald of Freedom," returning to Kansas City on the 14th of May, after an absence from the Territory of several weeks, soon found himself watched by a mob. This was at the same time Mr. Reeder was there. About two o'clock the following morning, it having been announced that the coast was clear, in company with Mr. Jenkins, he set out on horseback for