Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-09-28
Annirs in kansas.

Gaping palpaOlc anu Wluc-spreau ltulh'
Affairs in Kansas.
A full and enthusiastic free state Convcn-
ton was held on the 9Th inst, at Big Springs
Kansas, at which every district in the terri
tory but one, was represented by delegates.
The convention nominated UNANIMOUSLY and
with enthusiasm Ex- Governor REEDER for de-
leCate to Congress. lie was present and &C
cepted the nomination in strong speech,
placing himself unequivocally on the free |
state platform. The resolutions adopted de- |
clare among other things that the body of
men who had been passing laws for the terri
tory, represented only the lawless invaders
who elected them, and that their actions
were the monstrous consummation of an act
of unparalleled violence, usurpation and
fraud that the citizens OF Kansas disavowed
with scorn and indignation their contempti-
BILE and hypocritical mockery Ola representa-
tive government that the miscalled legisla-
ture had deiicd the power Of Congress, libelled
the Declaration Of independence, violated the
/ Constitutional Bill of Rights, and brought
contempt and disgrace upon Republican IN
situations at home and abroad; that their
/ laws were not binding, and no allegiance was
due to their enactments that it was neces-
sarv to set aside minor issues for the time,
and form an organization into which all par
ties might enter for the paramount object OF
recovering their dearest rights that all non
residents, at the polls in Kansas, whether
from Missouri or elsewhere, should be op-
posed and resisted pladsing members to en-
dcavor to secure the constitution OF free
State for Kansas and that the Conventionwoul
discountenance any attempt TO encroach
upon the constitutional rights Of the people
of any State, OF to interfere with their
slaves.
In the support Of this platform, it is said,
the mass Of the people IN the territory are
agreed, the settlers from slave States not OK
ccrtcd. The citizens of Kansas are nearly
unanimous in their intention to resist the en-
rJrcclncnt Of the laws of the foreign lcgsla-
turc. almost the only active pro-slavcry men
there being the federal Office holders. OF
,hc three officers placed over the Lawrence
. district for six years by the mob legislature,
oniv one i, resident Of the territory the
other two. the sheriff and prosecuting attor-
ncv, reside at Westport, Mo-, and the former
is postmaster Of Wcstport. of the same
character are the appointments in other dis
, tricts. It is Missouri government through
out
The expenses Of the squatter legislature re
Gently adjourned, were 5000 rcr day which
= added to the pay Of the other territorial OH
= GERS, makes the expenses Of the government
d not less than $500 per day, or at the rate OF
c sl00,0 coo per year, which we pay throug'
d the government to enable a Missouri mob t.
= rule over our felow-citizens in Kansas. A
0 more absurd and abominablc collection oil
y acts was never passed by any Legislative
|, body than the miscalled laws Of the usurpinl
IS Legislature Having elected county officer
= for SIR ycar, and duly legalzed the voting Q
/. non-residents upon the payment Of dolla
!, fee, they further secured themselves by {
n law that no e-sOiler, unles. he take oatl
It to support the fugitive slave bill and tn
Il Kansas Nebraska bill, shall hold any Office
= even if elected by the people, nor if chal
J. lenged shall be allowed to cast n vote. Il
1t one county on the day Of the last election
there were 300 free state men and pro-sla
" very men of these nine the legislature mad
TT four county officers for six years, They ais
8. prohited clcrgymcn from holding any Office
% and fixed the price of whisky az five cents
rs glass
A very bad circumstance connected wit
pit this business is thus pointed out by tn
IN Springfield Rcpu5hran
ly The Kansas Nebraska act seems to hay
ty been deliberately planned with view to tn
Ia Outrageous proceedings that have taken plac
=, in Kansas Besides It's positively iniquitou
w provisions, it has also II sin of omission, i
"a effect the most iniquitious of all. In all Pr,
of vious territorial bills Congress reserved 10 i
as self the right To review the proceedings If I'll
:. territorial legislature and To annul such d
~ might be considered inconsistent with II
M general good This act contains no such pr
ic vision, although the general impression
that it does, and we presume many member
Of Congress who voted for it were unaware
the fatal omission 1t gives the legisatui
he absolute power, and it was no doubt plannt
ms with that intent hy itchson and Dougla
in order that the torciblc suhjugltion Of Il
- territory might be successfully accomplishe
a. The only immediate remedy i. fo
chile resistance to the acts Of the l.
a. giNaturc until new Congress shall ha
RI repealed the wrongs of the Nebraska hi
we We cory from the correspondence of 4
n. -. Louis Democrat, a fuller report Of Il
Ia. speech Of Shannon the precious new Cove
e nor, mad, on his arrival at Wesport NJ
w. to crowd Of Msmmian'
~ Gov Shannon began his remarks by than
iug the audience for their courteous r1rc
tlJn 1t gratlcd Lin, hc said, not hocau
ing If vas personally hntt.rlng, but because
lee showed him that they were not dist 'scl
ms decide on his official career in atyanca.
ma showed i'm that he might rely on your al
Gu IN ,nd'N orug to overcome obstacles, VIII
oil he was aware existed, hut hoped were not II
ew surmuunablc.
OF \ Nuice.-les, you shall have our aid.
mt lie regretted to see in certain portions
ne the Territory disposition to nulily I
ne laws which have been enacted 10y your Leg
ort hturc.' This was n revolutionary movcmo
which was greatly to be- dcTlprcd, lie
GREETED, he sad, that he had arrived too Il
icrs to form the acquaintance OF the members
=, tie Legislature, lie knew nothing of I
'n' laws passed by item, but from the abi
be aud patriotism OF the genllamen who conn
lies sed 1t, he doubted not that they were W
,r,I and iudicious, But, even if they were
Wise and iuiicious, open resistance aud n
TO lifration of them was not the proper way
urn defeat their provisions. If they were unc