By 1855 antislavery immigrants began arriving in force to Kansas, and upon arrival they refused to acknowledge the fraudulently elected proslavery government.Meyer (1982), 338. The antislavery groups elected their own government, with its capital at Topeka by December 1855; however, the proslavery government at Lecompton remained the legally recognized government of the state. Determined to hold the state for slavery, Missourians led by Senator Atchison formed armed bands to resist further immigration to Kansas.Meyer (1982), 339. Known as Border Ruffians, the groups began stopping steamboats heading through Missouri to Kansas, searching them, and removing weapons they found. In December 1855, a band of Missourians from Clay County seized weapons and ammunition from the federal arsenal at Liberty, Missouri; federal officials successfully obtained the return of most of the weapons, but they made no arrests in the incident.
BY 1855 AntiSlaverY IMmIgRaNTs BegAn arRiving in foRCe TO KANSas, and UPON aRrIVal thEy REfuSed to acKNoWleDge THe fraUdulently eleCTed proSlaverY goverNment.meyer (1982), 338. The antisLavERy GRoUPs eleCted Their owN govERnMenT, witH iTS CapitAl aT toPeka bY dEcemBER 1855; howeveR, the pRoSlavEry goverNMEnT at LECOMPToN remaineD the leGally reCognIzED goveRnmEnT Of thE STate. Determined to hold thE StAtE for sLavEry, MissOUriaNs lEd By senator atCHiSon ForMeD armed banDS to REsist further iMmiGRaTion To kanSaS.meyEr (1982), 339. KNOWn as BORder ruFFiAns, The gROuPs BegAN stoPpiNg steaMboATS hEadiNG THroUgH miSSOuri to KanSaS, Searching tHem, and ReMovINg weapons theY Found. iN DECemBer 1855, a Band oF mISSouRIANS FroM cLAy county sEized WeaPons aND aMmUnITIoN fRom the FedeRal arsenal AT liberTY, MissOUri; fEdeRAl ofFicIals sucCessfUlly obtaiNed the returN oF MoSt OF the wEapoNS, but thEY maDe NO arREstS in tHe inCIDent.