Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-05-26
From the Kansas Free State, April 90.
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.

faithful ana correct account Ol tue outrcs w the
late election;
10 tie Senate and House Of Representatives., IL Con-
gresS asSemJied:
10 the memorial Of the subscribers citizens and
residents Of the Territory O Kansas, respectfully
That state of things exists in said Territory
as we believe, in the history Of our
country, aud which it becomes our solemn duty
lay before und through you before our fellow
citizens ui the Uhitcd States. Under the guaran-
ties of your law for the organization of this
Territory and in consideration uf the privileges
which mat law held out to we left our former
homes met the rivatiOns OF an inhabited cuun-
try, aud prepared for adding another republic to
our UIiun.
The right of civil and religious liberty--the
right Of suffrage end selguvernment were set up
as the beacon lights which beckoned us on. As
reemcu we were invited, irsemen we came,
us ireemcn we expected to live. But we address
you now as an outraged and suhjug .ted people,
disiranchiseG and enslvel, stripped OF dearest
rights, and governed by set vi masters foreign
to suil aud responsible ouly to their own law
less viii.
One Of the States of our Union strong in wealth
population aud resources, relying upon her accu-
mulated strength of almost half a century, and
taking advantage OF our feeble infancy rs II peo-
pie, has invaded cur sO! seized upon our rights
Suiugated our territory and seecte for our
rulers, intending also to dictate our laws, aud
make us the slaves of their will. This may well
seem an almost Incredible thing in the Nineteenth
Century and in this republican Unlon-bc pecu-
liar and buasted land Of liberty and selt1g0vern-
ment--but the evidence OF it is as palpable ara
the fact Is bitter and mOrtityIng to
us and disgraceiui to the public.
This invasion of our soil and usurpation of our
rights commenced at the first moment of calling
those rights into action. The first ballot-hOx
that opened upon our virgin soil was closed to
us 5y overp0wering numbers and impending forge
1t became not what Americans have been proud
to designate it, the exponent of the peoples will,
but was converted into the sword of the Oppressor
to- strike at civil liberty. So bold and reckless
were our invaders that they cared not to conceal
their attack.
They came upon Us, not in the guise of voters to
steal away our franchise, hut boldly and openly to
snatch it with the strong hand. They came d.
rectly from their own homes, and i'll compact and
organized bands with in their hands and
provisions for the expedition, marched to our polls,
nnd when their work was done returned whence
they came IL is unnecessary III enter into the de-
tails it is enough say that in three districts IN
which by the m'st irreIrasiOle evidence there
were not one hundred and fifty voters, most OF
whom refused to participate in this mockery of the
elective fran ihise, these invaders polled over u
thousand votes,
Loving our countries and its institutions, we
were willing, If this to be only solitary in
e,
claim ~ the worl that even in this remjte spot of
our great cJurtry civil liberty WAS but name.
Bitter and mournlul experience has taught us.
however, that this is isolated aCtlo temporary
ebuliiton-hut the commencement OF II wel-ml-
tured and settled plan by large portion OF the
people Of one of the States of our Union pernan-
entity tn cnsluve Us and and constitute themselves
our masters.
On the )0th Of March last we were again invi-
ted To the tllot-hIX, under the law which we, in
common with onr f,l!ow citizuns of the States,
had through your Body cnucled. Our vigilant
and faithful Chief Magistrate had surrounded IT
with III The guards and precautions with which
his authority invested him, and we are prep red
10 exercise the dearest and most cherished privi-
lereS of American citizens with full sense Ut the
vital and interesting Importance Of this peculiar
occasion.
The OCCASION came, and wi it came our lnvad-
ing add seli-cunstituted masters IN thousands, and
with all the araphcrnalia IF war. They came,
organized in bands, with officers, and arms, and
tents and pruvsiurs, and munitions ut war, as
though they were marching upon Il foreign 70
instead of their own unoffendng felluw-citizens.
Upon the principal road leading into ouI ter
ritory and passing several important pulls, they
numbered not less than twelve hundred men,
and one camp alone contained not less than six
hundred
They arrived at their several destinations the
night before the election, and having pitched their
camps AMI placel their sentries waited Tor the
coming day. Blgslge-wagnns were there with
arms and ammunition enough for protracted f5ht
and am ,ng them twn brass field pieces really char
ged rney clme with drums be ttjn5 ant Hag'
! hying all their llrrs were of the most prln
nent and conspicuous men ot their respective
States. In the ,rnnJ they surrounded the ppll'
armed with guns, bowie knives and reyo vers, and
declared their determination 10 vote at all hazards
and in spite of VII consequences.
If the Judges could be made to subserve then
purposes and receive their votes, and 40 Obstacl,
was cast in their way, the ltadels exerted
themselves to preserve peace and order in the CON
duet of the election, hut ut the same time did moi
bpsitate To- declare that if not allowed to vote
they would ptJ;sel t. a0y extremity III the de
structiun of property and lite. If control OF tho
polls could It be had otherwise the Judges were
by ntimil ,tion, AMI it necessary by Violence pre-
vented frcm leriurning their duty; OF, If ul
Welding in this respect, were driven from thel
post and .he vacancy filled, in form, by the pers IN
.n the ground and wleneyer bv any means they
had obtained the control of the iard. the f"reigi
vote was promiSruously poured in without discrimi
nation or reserve, the slightest care to cJncea
its nerlriuus illegality.
AT one Of these polls, two of the Judges having
maniully stood up III the lace ct this arnei MOI
and declared that they would do their duty, "n'
| nnrtinn of the mna commenced to tear down tht
| house another proceeded to break in the door F"
the judges ruoni while others, with drawn knife
posted themselves mt the window, with ihe pr,'
caimel purp ,se of killing any voter who woul'
allow himself to be sworn. Voters were drngge'
| from the window lecause they would not shuN
their tickets or vIte 1t tho dictltion at the mob
ani the INVADERS declared openly at the polls tha
they woul eur the thruats of tile Judges il the
did not receive their votes without requiring al
oath as to their residence.
The room was finally forced, and the judge
surrounded by an armed and eSited crowd wer
offered the alternatives of resignation or deatl
aud Ave minutes allowed for their decision
! The blot-box was selzed, and amid shouts
IIurrah for Missouri" was carried into the mol
The two menaced judges then left the sroun'
/ together with all the resident citizens except
few who pcte in tho outrage because tho resu
lexpected from it cnnfurmed to their views, and b'
cause it enabled the few to rule the many. Whe
an excess of foreign force was found to be had
one poll, detachments were sent 10 others where
was supposed they might be needed.