The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-11
The na-xaS Criminal Law.

We some weeks since published law of the
Kansas Legislature, providing the punishment
of death for numerous offences against slave
property, and Imprisonment in the penlten-
tiary for discussing the pEo?rls'y OF making
Kansas a slave State, as discussion Is expressly
provided for in the act Of Congress, called the
kansas Nebraska Act " The following com
msnts from the North East Reporter, publish
ed at Trenton. Missouri. show how the act Of
the Legislature is viewed in that locality:
We doubt whether the whole history Of
legislation can present a parallel 10 this code,
far relates 10 severity of the penalties.
Blood, blood seems 70 be written IN every line;
and Freesoilism considered to be the extreme
point of human depravity-to the advocates
OF which no mercy can be extended. The
long continued and ofl-repeated wrongs in
fiefed upon the people of the South by the in
csndisrie. of Abolitionism, have, no doubt,
had their effect In the passage OF the laws IN
question. But or neghbors of Kansas should
remember that they not on y ensctlng laws
for the present emergency, but establishing
precedent which is 10 effect the interests Of
their commonwealth for all time TO come. No
Just man will fail to give hearty sanction 10
law which inficts condign punishment on
any person interfering OF tampering with
slaves in manner calculated to induce them
TO rebel or abscond; but when the penalty IS
death. few will take pleasure in seeing 1t ex-
ecuted.
The l2th and 18th sections of the law In
question we regard particularly objection
able. We cannot see how a body of eullght-
eued law givers, with the recollection of hay
ing taken solemn oath TO support the Con
stituton of the United States. could enact a
low utterly contrary TO the bill of rights. and
/ condemn a fellow citizen to incarceration III
the penite ntiary, merely for the expression of
An opinion on . matter of public poiicy-a
matter, too. which is now the all-absorbing
theme of discussion both in Congress and out
Of it.
We would not be understood as opposing
the enactment of laws for the punish
ment OF abolition incendlarles. Our objection
to the present code is founded upon convlc-
tion that the severity OF the penslues Will
operate AS serious hinderance TO its execu-
ton, and that It's provisions must consequent
lv remain dead letter on the statute book
We are In favor OF intiicting merited and
CERTAIN punishment on offenders OF this ear
aeter. which we DO think can never be done
under the operation of tie laws IN question.
We thjuk II viii turn ous IN the end that
Kansas nas been the mos. unfortunate terri
terry eveI ORGANIZED unsy. an aeE ii gonsreSs.
Brigham / Qua saI ms po.ygan.4sys are mora
entitled ia respect : m the cray Legislature
Of Kansas winch mas a.a,.e It's .-..-4 81 the
ErngFant AID society s. Aassaa -asetts, the
pretex. ic- enzctn4aft,s " aig4 much bs con
lemaei wherever season and el.,li4iln sense
have any influence lelt.
The slave owners OF Missouri are peculiar
" unfortunate IN having their interests connect
ed in any way with tie disgraeetul legislation
/ r.
resolutions of the Lexington Convention and
the address of It's committee but left
handed support to this institution in our State
st Louis IntsHigencer.