Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-09-21
The Crisis IN Kansas |.

doubt that a conflict is impending
there OF momentous interest and i'm
portance. The wrongs and outrages|
to which the settlers Of that Territory
have been subjected are such as Amed-
cans cannot submitto without changing
their nature, and abjuring all the les
sons of their history. Having gone
thither with their families and their
property, to settle and subdue new re-
gion, TO found institutions and build up
Society and State, they have been
invaded by armed bands from neigh
boring State, who have imposed upon
them. laws more bloody and tyranni-
cal than any despot in Europe dare
promulgate, and deprived them Of all
voice in the management of their own
affairs.
American history offers nothing to
compare with the proceedings in Kan
sas. Never before were armed men
marched from a neighboring State, and
permitted to seize upon the polls. and
elect the lawmakers for any commun-
ity. Never before did the advocates
Of any line Of policy eject from a
Legislature all who differed from
them, simply and exclusively because
Of that difference. Never before, in
our history, were the inhabitants Of
any State or territory thus openly and
entirely disfranchised. deprived Of all
voice in their own governments. and
subjected 10 the dictation and tyranny
of an armed invasion.
The character Of its enactments are
strictly in keeping with the character
Of the Legislature thus installed. AS
the forcible imposition Of Slavery up
on Kansas--whether its inhabitants
desire it or not-is the great end and
purpose of ali these movements. so
the laws they pass are aimed solely at
its accomplishment. Enaciments have
been passed outraging common sense
and doing violence to every conception
Of popular rights and political free
dom. A conscientious opposition to
Slavery has been legislated into a
crime, and punished by exclusion from
rights essential TO the very idea Of cit.
izenship. Printing, writing or utter
ing sentiments which can be construc-
ted into encouragement to slaves TO
escape from their masters. is made
punishable by death. Violence the
most extreme, has been inflicted upon
men for the mere suspicion OF disap-
proving Slavery. Laws have been
passed suppressing all freedom Of ac-
ton. speech and even thought upon
this subject. And to perpetuate the
power thus usurped. the Legislature
has appointed officers to execute these
laws throughout the Territory for six
years to cone-thus depriving their
successors, and the people themselves.
for all that time. OF the power to
change their rulers or elect other men
to administer justice and enforce the
law. And as contamination Of this
crusade against the liberties OF this
new community. the Legislature has
decreed that any man, on payment of
one dollar, and taking an oath to sus-
tain these in;quitous Kansas laws;
and the Fugitive Slave Law, shall
have the right to vote-whether he be
a citizen, a resident or not!
Its madness to suppose that any
community of American citizens will
submit 10 such tyranny as this. If the
settlers in Kansas do not resist the en-
forcement of such laws to the last ex-
tremity,-if they hesitate an instant to
take up arms. if need be. against the
dastardly tyrants who seek thus to
trample their freedom under foot
and to spill the last drop of their blood
rather than TO be thus degraded and
conquered, they are unworthy Of their
name and their descent. The provo
cation of our forefathers TO Revolution
was trifiIng. compared with that which
these Kansas settlers have experience
ed. And to this issue the matter must
come, if the pro-slaveiy madmen per-
sist in the measures by which they
have thus far sought the accomplish
ment Of their schemes. We are conf
dent the people Of Kansas will not
submit to the domination Of their inva-
ders. They will resist the execution
Of their intended laws. They will
not permit their enforcement against q
single inhabitant. And if their execu-
ton be attempted by force, 1t will
be resisted by force; and then the is
sue will be one Of simple strength.
Under such a menancing state of
affairs, it would seem natural TO invoke
the interposition Of the Federal Exc
cutive. But the Administration at
Washington seems to have been as
thoroughly conquered by the Missouri
invadersa as the people ofKansas them
selves. President Pierce seems to be
as completely under the control Of
Atchison and Stringfellow as the myr-
midons they marshal to the Kansas
polls. It's idle, therefore to hope for
aid from that quarter. The people of
Kansas must rely upon themselves
for the defence of their liberties and
the protection Of their rights. And il
they are compelled to encounter the
weight of the Federal Government in
their contest, they must appeal from
that to the people. They can trust
to the justice Of their cause for final
victory.-X Y. Times. 49,.