New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-11
EXCITEMENT IN KANSAS.
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.


The following memorial, being prepared for circuIs
ton among the citizens OF Kansas is 9 isithfa aaa
connect account Of the outragcs at the late election:
To Ae Senate aud Hose q RsP'eaiare' "a ooa9yea
To the memorial of tie subscribers citizens aud resi-
dents OF the Territory of Kansas, respectfully repne
That state OF things exists in said Territory I'M
paraleod believe, IN the history of orr county
ard which Il becomes our solemn duty 10 lay bcioe
YOU and through You before fcllow-czcns of the
United States. Under the guarantees Of your law or
the organization Of this Territory and In consideration
of the privileges which ihat law held cut TO Us we eh
our former homes met the prvations of an uninhab-
ted country and prepared for adding another republic
10 our mon.
The right of civil and religious liberty tho right Of
uffrace and self-govenment were set mp as the be-
lights which bcckorod US on. As irecmen we were
invited, as fTecmeu came, aud "a frcemcn we ex
Iocicd live. But address you now "a an outraged
nd subiueat,d people, disfranchised and enslavei,
tipped of dearest rights, aud governed by set Of
masters foreign to so, and responsible only TO Their
own lawless VIII.
Ore of the States Of our Union, strong in wealth,
reputation and resources relying upon her aocuma-
lated strength of almost half century, ana taking
advantage of cur feeble infancy as people, has In
yaded our soil seized upon our rights, subugaei our
territory and selected for us our rulers intending also
10 dictate our laws and make us me slaves OF Their
will This may well seem an almost incredible thing
in the Nineteenth Century and in this Republican
Unon-the peculiar and Boosted land Of liberty and
self-coyernment-bu tie evidence Of is palpabl
aud undoniable as the fact il bitter and Notifying 10
US and disgraceful to the public
This invasion of soil and usurpati0n OF our
rights commenced at the first moment OF calling those
rights into action. The first balloi-box that was
opered upon virgin soil closed To ns ny over
towering numbers and impending force. IL became,
not what Americans have been proud 10 designate II,
the exponent Of the peoples will, but was converted
into The sword Of the opiTessor TO strike at civil Liberty
So bold and reckless wcro our invaders that they cared
not TO conceal their attack.
They came upon us, not in the guse Of voters 10
steal away our franchise but boldly and openly to
snatch il with the strong hand. They came directly
from their own homes, and in compact and Organize.
bands with IN their hands and provisions TOR inc
expedition marched to our polls, and when their work
was done returned whence they came. IL - unneces-
snry to enter into The details it is enough 10 say that
in three districts in which by the most irroitagible
evidence there moi enc hundred and nifty voters,
most Of whom refused to participate IN this moekery
of the elective franchise these invaders polei over
thousand votes.
Loving our country and It's institutions we were will
ling if this to be only solitary instance TO suffer
il in silence rather than TO proclaim TO the world that
even in this remote spot OF our great country civil
liberty YVES bu. a name Bitter and mournful expert
ence has taught u.s. however that this isolated
rCt-no temporary ebulliiion-but the commencement
Of q wol-maured and settled plan by large portion
Of the people of Of the States of our Union per-
manontly to enslayo and constitute themselves our
masters
On the 30th day of March last we were again IN
yiiod TO the ballO-box, under the lew which we, in
ommon with our fell0w-czens Of the Sletee, had
Trough your Body enacted Our vgilant and faithful
Chief Magistrate lad surrounded it with all the guards
nd Precautions with which his authority invested
i'm, and PREF AIRED TO exercise the dearest and
most cherished privileges Of American citizens with
lull OF the vital and interesting importance Of
his peculiar occasion.
The occasion came and with Il came our invading
nd se.constituted masters in thousands and with all
lie paraI hcrnalia Of ar They came, organized in
ufq alt md orrpa md at,fa anil
IONS and munitions Of war, though they werc
marching upon n foreign foe instead Of their own I'M
offending fcllow-ctzons. Upon the principal road
leading into our territory and passing several i'm
IoraIt polls, thoy numbered not less than twelve
Hundred men, and one camp alone contained not ess
than six hundred
They arrived at their several destinations the night
before the election and having pitched their camps and
placed their enirios waited for the coming day. Bag
gage-wagons were there with and ammunition
enough for protrected fight, and among them two
brass feld-peces ready charged. They came with
drums beating and flags flying, and their leaders were
of the most prominent aud conspicuous men Of their
respective States. In tie morning they surrounded tie
polls armed with guns, bowie knives and revovers,
end declared their determination TO vote at all hazards
aud in spite Of all consequences.
If the Judges could be made 10 subsofve their pur-
Ioses and receive their votes and obstacle
cast ia their way, the leaders exerted themselves to
preserve peace and order in the conduct OF the cleo
iion but at the time did not hesitate TO declare
that not allowed 10 vote they would proceed any
extremity in The destruction of property and life IF
control OF the polls could not be had otherwise the
Judges were by intimidation, and if necessary by vo
lence, prevented from performing their duty; or il
unyeldng IN THIS respect were driven from their post
and The vacancy filed in form, by the persons tho
ground; and whenever by any means they bad OBJ
tanned the control Of the Board, the foreign vote
was pronlscously poured in without discrimination or
reserve, or the slightest conceal its nefsrous
illegally.
Al one Of these polls, two Of the Judges having
maniully stood up in the face of this armed mob and
declared they would do their duty, one portion Of the
mob commenced 10 tear down the house. another pro-
ceeded 10 break in the door OF the Judges room,
While olcrs, with drawn knives, posted themselves at
tie window with the proclaimed purpose Of killing
any voter who would allow himself 70 be sworn
Voters were dragged from the window because they
would not show their tickets vote at the dictation
Of The mob, and tie invaders declared openly at the
polls that they would cut the tlroats Of the Judges
hey did cot receive their votes without requiring ar
oath as 10 then residence.
The room was finally forced, and the Judges sur.
rounded by armed and excited crowd were offered
the alternatives Of resignation death and nye
minutes were allowed fer their decision. The ballot
box was seized ana amid shouts Of fIurrah for Ms,
"souri," was carried into the mob Tie two mcnaced
judges then left the ground together with eli the req
dent citizens except few who acted "a tie outrage
because the result expected from il conforned TO ther
vos and hecause it enabled the few rule the many
When an excess Of tic foreign force was found % DO
lad at one roll, detachments were cent to others "He''
i was supposed tlev might be needed. -
A. tic polls adjoining the one above aiinqei Io one
Of the Judges q minister Of the Gospti "ho Ieiuscu
10 accede 10 the demands oil sinai oo 80, - 49, ~
four hundred armed ond organized men, was hriVen ~
violence from his post, and tie vacancy hNe1 Dy
themselves Threats ard violent demonstrations were
rife end aro.her clergyman, for the expression OF ms
orion. was assaulted and oeaten: lie lnhaDhah.s
Of The dsrict powercs 10 resist the abundant supply
= 80 aud o,nmunitoD the organized preparation