Description of the Territory.--Its boundaries--rivers--prairies--woodlands--soil--climate--appearance--and general characteristics

Discovery and early exploration of Kansas.--The Indians of the Territory.--Their reserves.--The Shawnee Mission.

Application of Missouri for admission into the Union.--The restriction and compromise bills of 1818-19-20.--Debates on the Kansas-Nebraska Bill.--The Organic Act of Kansas Territory.

The organic act a compromise measure.--Kansas intended for a slave state.--Conduct of the pro-slavery party.--Persecutions of free-state people.--New England Emigrant Aid Societies.--Public meetings.--Blue Lodges.--Invasion from Westport.--Arrival of Governor Reeder.--Judges of the Supreme Court.

Elections.--Gen. Whitfield's politics.--Meetings in Missouri to control the Kansas elections.--The Missouri press.--The Lynching of William Phillips.--Outrages upon the free-state citizens approved.--Destruction of the "Parkeville Luminary".

Census returns, February, 1855.--The election of March 30th.--The Legislative Assembly.

Removal of Governor Reeder.--Secretary Woodson.--Assumption of power by the Legislature.--Office-holders all pro-slavery men.--Free-state mass meetings and conventions.--Elections for delegate to Congress.--Free-state Constitution adopted.--Dr. Charles robinson elected governor.--Meetings of the State Legislature.--Arrest of Robinson and others for high treason.--The Topeka Legislature dispersed by Col. Sumner.

The Kansas Legion.--Patrick Laughlin.--The murder of Collins.--Outrages upon J. W. B. Kelley.--Rev. Pardee Butler set adrift in the Missouri River on a raft.--Disputes about land claims.--The murder of Dow.--Portrait of Sheriff Jones.--Arrest and rescue of Jacob Branson.

Governor Wilson Shannon.--Consequences of the arrest and rescue of Branson.--Meeting at Lawrence.--Military organization for defence.--Sheriff Jones requires three thousand men.--The governor orders out the militia.--A general call to arms.--The governor issues a proclamation.--War excitement in Missouri.--The invading army.--Governor Shannon's excuse.

The governor calls upon Colonel Sumner for United States troops.--Proposition for the Lawrence people to surrender their arms.--The governor makes a treaty with the free-state generals.--Dispersion of the militia.

The murder of Thomas W. Barber.

Pro-slavery mob at Leavenworth.--Ballot-box stolen and clerk beaten.--The jail and printing office destroyed.--The election and fight near Easton.--Murder of Captain E. P. Brown.--Shannon receives authority to employ the troops.--Congressional Committee.--Arrival of Buford and his southern regiment.--Sheriff Jones shot at Lawrence.--Rev. Pardee Butler tarred and feathered.

Charge of Judge Lecompte to the Grand Jury.--Presentment.--Arrests at Lawrence.--Travellers interrupted on the highways.--The murder of Jones and Stewart.--The sacking of Lawrence.--Burning of the hotel and destruction of printing offices.

Murderous assault on a pro-slavery company.--Captain John Brown.--The Potawattomie murders.--Outrages of Captain Pate at Osawattomie.--Battle of Palmyra.--Fight at Franklin.--General Whitfield's army.--Colonel Sumner disperses the contending armies.--Murder of Cantral.--Sacking of Osawattomie.--The murder of Gay, an Indian agent.--Outrages at Leavenworth and on the Missouri River.

Removal of Colonel Sumner and appointment of General P. F. Smith.--Free-state refugees driven from Fort Leavenworth.--Immigration from the North.--Destruction of pro-slavery forts by free-state bands.--Murder of Major Hoyt.--Defeat of the pro-slavery forces at Franklin.--Colonel Titus captured by Captain Walker, and his house burned.--Alarm at Lecompton.--Governor Shannon makes another treaty with the Lawrence people.

Atchison and Stringfellow call on Missourians for assistance.--Mr. Hoppe and a teamster scalped.--A German murdered at Leavenworth.--Outrages upon a young female.--Shannon removed, and Woodson acting-governor.--Atchison concentrates an army at Little Santa Fe.--General L. A. Maclean his commissary.--He robs the settlers and the United States mails.--Reid attacks Brown at Osawattomie, who retreats and the town is sacked and destroyed.--Murder of Frederick Brown and insanity of his brother John.--Lane drives Atchison into Missouri.--Outrages at the Quaker Mission.--Burning of free-state houses.--Lane threatens Lecompton.--Dead bodies found and buried.--Captain Emory murders Phillips, and drives free-state residents from Leavenworth.

Appointment of Governor Geary.--His departure for Kansas.--Arrival at Jefferson City.--Interviews with Governor Price.--Removal of obstructions on the Missouri River.--Departure on steamboat Keystone.--Scenes at Glasgow.--Captain Jackson's Missouri volunteers.--What Reeder did.--Arrival at Kansas City.--Description of Border Ruffians.--Who comprise the Abolitionists.--Appearance and condition of Leavenworth City.

Arrival at Fort Leavenworth.--General P. F. Smith.--Free-state men driven from Leavenworth City.--Pressed horses.--John D. Henderson.--Violation of the United States safeguard.--Arrest of Captain Emory.--Character of his company.--Governor Geary's letter to Col. Clarkson.--Rev. Mr. Nute.--District Attorney Isacks.

Fort Leavenworth.--Departure for Lecompton.--Barricade at Leavenworth City.--Excuse for Border Ruffian outrages.--Terror of James H. Lane.--Hair breadth escapes.--Anecdotes of the times.--Robbery at Alexandria.--A chase and race.--The robbers overtaken.--Arrival at Lecompton.--Letter to the Secretary of State.--Two men shot at Lecompton.

The town of Lecompton.--Its location and moral character.--The accounts of their grievances by the pro-slavery party.--Policy indicated by that party for Governor Geary.--The Inaugural address.--Proclamations ordering the dispersion of armed bodies, and for organizing the militia of the territory.

Gloomy prospect for Governor Geary's administration.--Determination to make Kansas a slave state.--Opposition to the new governor.--Address to the people of the slave states.--Secretary Woodson's proclamation.

The Missouri army.--Orders to the adjutant and inspector-generals of the territory.--Dispatch to Secretary Marcy.--Dispatches from General Heiskell.--Message from the governor's special agent.--Requisition for troops.--Visit of the governor to Lawrence, and return to Lecompton.

Excitement at Lecompton.--Affidavit of W. F. Dyer.--Requisition for troops.--The battle at Hickory Point.--Arrest of one hundred and one free-state prisoners.--The killing of Grayson, a pro-slavery man. Treatment of the prisoners.--Conduct of Judges Lecompte and Cato.--Trial and sentence of the prisoners, and their subsequent treatment.

The Missouri army of invasion.--Letter from Theodore Adams.--Governor Geary proceeds with troops to Lawrence, and protects the town.--The governor visits the camp of the Missourians, addresses the officers, and disbands the force.

Improved condition of things.--Attempt to resurrect the courts and incite the judges to the performance of their duty.--Judges Burrell, Cato and Lecompte.--The examination and trial of free-state prisoners.---Directions to Judge Cato.--Letters to the Supreme Judges.--Replies of Judges Cato and Lecompte.--Great criminals permitted to run at liberty.--Discharge of free-state men on bail.--Judge Lecompte's defence.

The murder of Buffum.--Warrant for the arrest of the murderer.--Partial conduct of the marshals.--Reward offered.--Indignation of free-state citizens.--Arrest of Charles Hays.

Disoharge of Hays by Judge Lecompte.--Order for his re-arrest.--Conduct of Marshal Donalson.--Col. Titus re-arrests Hays, who is again set at liberty by Lecompte on a writ of habeas corpus.--President Pierce and the United States Senate on the case of Lecompte.--Letter from Secretary Marcy asking explanations.--Governor Geary's reply.--Judge Lecompte's letter of vindication.

The United States Marshal.--His deputies.--Requisitions for United States soldiers.--Visit of the governor to Topeka, and arrest of prisoners.--An address to the citizens of Topeka.--Report of the marshal.--Requisition declined, and an evil practice discontinued.

Arrival of free-state immigrants, and their treatment and discharge.

Peace and quiet prevailing.--Visit to Lawrence.--Proclamation of the Mayor of Leavenworth.--Suspension of the liquor traffic in Lecompton.--Organization of militia.--Escort for wagons furnished.--Another election.

Notes of a journey of observation.

The capitol building.--Captain Donaldson dismisses Justice Nelson's court.--Captain Walker surrenders himself.--Dragoons required for detached service.--Bad postal arrangements.--Free-state prisoners removed to Tecumseh.--The governor at Leavenworth.--Report of a deputation sent to arrest marauders.

Pay of the militia.--Settlers ordered from Indian reserve.--Sales of Delaware trust lands.--No prison in Kansas.--The capital appropriation.--Governor Geary between two factions.--False reports.--Settlement of Hyattville.--Peace still prevailing.

The Topeka Legislature.--Arrest of its members.--Appropriation of Vermont Legislature for the suffering poor of Kansas.

Meeting of the Territorial Legislative Assembly at Lecompton.

Act of the Legislative Assembly, to authorize courts and judges to admit to bail in all cases.--Veto message of the governor.--The bill passed.--Clarke and others bailed under the new law.

Resolution of the legislature asking the governor's reasons for not commissioning Wm. T. Sherrard--Governor Geary's reply--Conduct of the legislators--Violence of Sherrard.

Sherrard's abettors--Attempt to assassinate Governor Geary--Action of the legislature--Conduct of Judge Cato--Public indignation meetings--Outrage at a Lecompton meeting, resulting in the shooting and death of Sherrard.

How the pro-slavery leaders in Lecompton held large and enthusiastic town meetings--Incendiary meeting at Lecompton--Calhoun's speech and sentiments--The Kansas laws not created to punish pro-slavery criminals.

Meeting of a pro-slavery convention at Lecompton.--Discussion between Hampton and Maclean.--Sheriff Jones endorsed.--Organization of the national democratic party of Kansas.--A novel platform.--The national administration favors the pro-slavery movements in Kansas.--Analysis of the cabinet.--Governor Geary offered the United States senatorship.--Calhoun's address to the people of the United States.--Misrepresentations of its author exposed.

Passage of the census bill.--Governor Geary's veto message.--The manner in which the census was taken.--Repeal of the test laws.--Adjournment of the Legislature.--Secretary Marcy and the Topeka Legislature.--Letter to the Secretary of State.--Arrest of a fugitive.--Rencontre at Topeka.--Complaint of prisoners.--Breaking up of the Kansas River.

Governor Geary's instructions.--The United States troops.--Enrolment, mustering and discharge of the militia--The troops withheld from the service of the governor.

Resignation of Governor Geary.--His Farewell Address.

Election of a free-state mayor at Leavenworth.--Arrest of the murderer of Hoppe.--Resignation of Judge Cunningham.--Appointment of Judge Williams.--Removal of Judge Lecompte.--Taking of the census.--Hon. Robert J. Walker

Arrival in Kansas of Secretary Stanton and Governor Walker.--The policy of the new administration.--Disapprobation of the pro-slavery party