The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-09-03

OFFICIAL PAPER OF THE CITY


The opinion OF the Judiciary of Kansas
has been rendered in favor of the ronstitr-
taonality Of the action Of the Kansas Leg
islature, and of course, in favor of the va
hdity Of the'laws enacted BY them.
The .eouri Republican, which owes its
proninsace to the patronage of Northern
nsa, = the defender and eulogist of Kansas
principles, and one Of it's favored cores
pondents in letter highly commenda,ory
thereof forwards the law furnishing offences
in relation to slave property" believing that
its circulation in your paper will render
good service throughout the country"
And such communications, the editor of
the kePubticom endorses by publication in
his papsr, thus heralding to the world, with
has approval, the most Infamous and bar
barous act Of cruel and vindictive legisla
ton thst over disgraced the statute books of
a civilized people.
In that one act, six distinct offenses are
enacted, and the punishment Of death pro-
vidod against every one who shall commit
any one Of said crimes. All these offcnses
relate simply to property, to slave property
the most casual interference with which in
Kansas renders any citizen liable to punish
ment OF death-a penalty which all civilized
governments have reserved only for the
highest crimes known in human society.
Such legislation is a damninc blot upon
Rcpublicanism, foul but natural emanation
OF slaveholding tyranny, cruelty, ignorance
and fanaticism, and an everlasting rcproach
to the American name
Six more sections of the act create as ma
ny more offenses which are to be punished
by hne and Imprisonment in the Penitenti-
airy. Amongst these latter are the publica-
tion or circulation Of any documents or pa
persi Of any kind in opposition to slavery or
ihcinaintaining either in speaking or writing
that persons have no right to hold slaves in
Kansas.
Such are the fruits Of the "Squatter Sover.
eighty" doctrine Of the Northern doughfa-
Cos. An immense Territory consccrated to
freedom by solemn compact of our faith
ers 10 thrown open to the incursions of slave
holders, and then death is denounced against
all who interfere with slave property, and
the Penitentiarv against all who speak or
write against slavery.
Thus does the fell spirit of this insolen,
oligarchy of oppression seek by legislation
not only to establish the slavery of the
blacks but to suppress whisper against it,
and utterly to abrogate freedom Of speech
and freedom Of the press amongst the free
white citizens of the Territory.
And yet all who dcnounce such laws are
vlllifed as agitators, aboltionists and dis
unionists, by men who claim to revere the
memory and principles Of the founders Of
our Republican Government.
Here is the law; let our readers ponder
this first great act of Squatter Sovereign
ny" legislation.
An net 10 Punish Offenscs Against
slave Property.
Section /. Every person, bond or free
convicted of raising a rebellion Of slaves
free negroes or mulattoes-shall suffer death
SEC. 2. Every free person who shall aid in
any rebellion of slaves, &C., or do any over,
act in furtherancc thercof-jhall suffer death
SEC. 8. If any free White person shall b,
speaking, writing, or printing, advise, in
duce, &C., any slaves to rebel, conspir,
against or murder any citizen Of Kansas, OF
shall import or aid in importing such docu.
mems, shall suffer death.
SIC. 4. IL any person shall entice, deco,
or carry out Of Kansas any slave belonging
Ia vrsth snto IN he
hereof Of the services Of such slave, or pro.
cure the freedom of such slave, he shall suf
fer death, or be imprisoned at hard labor fol-
not less than ten years.
SEC. 5. Ii any person shall assist in enti-
cling, ETC., las above)-shall suffer death OF
be imprisoned at hard labor for not less thar
ten years.
SEC. 3. Ii any person shall entice or car
~ away out Of any State or territory of tn,
Z. s., any slave and shall bring
such slave into this territory, &C., .
he shall suffer death, or be imprisoned AT
hard labor for not less than ten years.
SEC. I. If any person shall enticS any
slave to escape from the service Of his mas
ssfer or owner or shall aid any slave in
escaping he shall be imprisoned a,
hard labor for not less than FIVE years.
SIC. 8. any person in this territory shall
AID or harbor any escaped slave from another
state such person shall be punished
IN IKE manner as If such slave had escaped
from his master in this territory.
SEC. y. IT any person shall resist an off
cer while attempting To arrest any slave thai
may have escaped or shall rescue
such slave, or aid such slave to escape from
inc omcer-the person SO offending shall b,
Imprisoned at hard labor for not less tina,
two years.
SEC. ~. II any marshal, sheriff, consta
Die, or the deputy of any such officer. shall
when required, refuse to aid or assist in tn
arrest or capture Of any slave that NAV hay
cscared anch officers skaN L. c---a-.