The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-16
The Voice Of Kansas.


The people of Kansas have spoken.
In memorial to Congress they have pro-
tested warmly against the invasion of
their rights by the armed mobs from Mis-
souri,. They ask that power that passed
the Kansas bill to protect them, if they
would be understood as acting in honesty.
Their description of the actions of Mis-
souri, ruffians is a peculiar study for the
thinking men of this age: and if a close
reading of it does not bring reflections
unfavorable to the slave system, with its
hardening influences, We are mistaken as
to the deep argument that underlies the
movements of southern mobs. The me-
morialists say that one of the States of
our Union, strong in population and re-
sources, relying upon her accumulated
strength of almost half century. and
taking advantage of the infancy of the
Kansasians as people, has invaded their
soil; seized upon their rights; subjuga-
ted their Territory, and selected for them
their rulers; intending, also, to dictate
their laws and make them the slaves of
their own will. There is the first theme
for reflection How strange it is that in
this boosted land of liberty, men should
thus assume the freedom of governing a
people beyond their natural powerof con-
troll. The memorialists tell us that these
men went directly from their homes, and
in compact organized bands, with officers
properly equipped, and arms, and tents,
and provisions, and munitions of war as
though they were marching upon for
eign foe, instead of their own unoffend-
ing fellow citizens. Their mode of OBJ
taining control of the polls was singular
ly meretricious. If they could not get
possession otherwise, the judges were by
intimidation, and, if necessary, by vio-
lence, prevented from performing their
duty; or, if unyielding in this respect,
were driven from their post, and the va
cancy filled in form by persons ON the
ground; and whenever by any means,
they had obtained control of the board,
the forei On vote was promiscuously pour
ed in, without discrimination or reserve, or
the slightest care to conceal its nefarious
illegality. Having obtained control of
the polls, the object was to make every
one vote according to their opinions. Vo-
tiers were dragged from the window be-
cause they would nos show their ticket or
vote at the dictation of the mob, and the
invaders declared openly at the polls that
they would cut the throats of the Judges
if they did not receive their votes with
out requiring an oath as to their residence.
Thus did they vote in many districts
throughout the country, and thus did
they defeat the great plan of sovereign
ty'' which is awarded to the separate gov
ernments by our federal constitution
Notwithstanding the fact that a number
of the genuine settlers did not 60 to the
polls, the memorialists say that in two
election districts, where the census shows
one hundred voters, there were polled
three hundred and fourteen votes, and
last fall seven hundred and sixty-fve
votes.
What an appeal the presentation of
these facts is from the ruffianism of Mis-
sourians to the government at Washing
ton, and the good people of these great
States ? Will the government pass this
thing over in silence? 1t cannot do it.
The voice of every press in the North and
many in the South, has uttered the senti-
ments of the people, and the admiuistra-
ton must attend to it. Ifthey fail to re-
prove and punish the ringleaders of these
nefarious mobs, upon what are we to de-
pend but the arms of the people them
selves? Let the government look to it
But The most shocking statement yet
made is, that Atchison, late presiding Of
ticer of that diguifed body, the United
States Senate, was the ''grand captain" of
this revolutionary mob. The memorial
lists describe him as armed with bowie
knife and pistol, the most conspicuous
and active scoundrel of the whole crew
Republican and Chopman's
Chanticleer.