The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-09-06
I
Sketches from kan>as-No. IL.

Convention of the Free State men of Kansas,
held at Lawrence on the 14th and 5th inst.
This Convention Wa. called for the purpose
of considering what course should be pursued
relative to the mob Legislature now in session
al the Shawnee Mission, rather at West
port In order to understand fully the grounds
taken BY the Convention at Lawrence. 1t will
be necessary to take 8 glimpse st this con-
temp;ible Legislature and its doings The
members spend much of their time q: West.
port in drunken revels. and few evenings
since a general melee occurred among them,
in which some Of them received various
wounds and cuts While they are spending
their time in this manner. the leading spirits
among the border ruffians preparing laws
for them to vote upon. Most OF the laws they
are passing are concocted in Missouri. Some
of the border ruffians attend the sessions of
the Legislature regularly. for the purpose of
debating and melting by their presence
Atchison and Stringfellow, with their misera-
bic satellites. have been there, and President
Shannon has been there. firing them up with
his intlammatory speeches. | have been re-
liably informed that number Of the members
of the Legislature are opposed TO some of its
proceedings, but they are kept in the traces
by the bullying of the fire eaters, and the out
side influences which surround them. l am
have passed. l can only speak of those they
are attempting to pass. and doubt will
pass One is bill to make it a capital offense
to aid in any way the escape Of fugitive
slave Another is to allow every man to vote
in Kansas who will pay dollar for the
privilege, without any reference whatever to
his place of residence. Another is to author
ze the Legislature to appoint three Commits
sioners, for four years. for each county, who
shall levy all taxes and appoint all officers. the
people to have voice III the election of any
officer. These unprecedented outrages have
ronsed the indignation Of every honest free
man hence the convocation of the Mass Con-
vention For ten days previous to the meet
ing of the Convention, rain had fallen in vast
quantities the streams We're swollen and the
roads difficult to travel, yet there out
pouring of the squatters from nearly every
part of the Territory. About four hundred
were in attendance, and many Were surprised
to see so much of talent and responsibility
number Of ministers Of various sects, and
others Of high standing. were present. The
Convention was presided over by Judge
Schuyler. of Council City. formerly of New
York, an elderly gentleman. whose sensible
remarks and admirable tact In conducting the
business, won the respect OF every one. \
more determined set of men or a more har-
mOOlOuS aSscHUlage, stldoHi Dteu con
vened Every one seemed to feel the import
ance and responsibility of the occasion. The
question seemed to be. not much whether
the African should be enslaved on the soil of
Kansas, as whether we should be made slaves
ourselves and the mind naturally REQUIRED
to tie times when our Revolutionary fathers
arose in opposition to oppression. Every one
felt the necessity of making bold strike, and
making it now. Resolutions were adopted,
utterly repudating the Missouri Kansas. Bor
der Ruffian Legislature. and boldly declaring
the determination of the people to maintain
their position at any hazard. Men of age and
much experience, openly avowed their Inten-
ton to resist unto death the wrongs we suffer.
There seemed to be but one voice in the Con
vention on this point the resolutions passed
almost bv acclama,ion. A movement was
Sc. on foot to organize State government i'm
mediately. and apply for admission into the
Union at the next session of Congress, since
the attempt to organize a Territorial govern
ment had thus far been an utter failure
Men of all parties united IN this project,
and though the burden of sustaining State
government. in SO sparselv peopled country,
would needs be great, yet we feel tha. that
burden would be incomparably less than the
grievous wrongs We now suffer, and we be-
heve it would be cheerfuly borne; while it IS
argued that, should tree state De established
here, there would be such q sweeping tide OF
emigration TO Kansas, as TO carry away the
unwonted burden.
/ Should the Aissourians invade the Terrific
~, and attempt to overrule an election for del
egates to a Constitutional Convention, the
settlers will quietly adjourn till another time
and in the event of two Constitutions being
sent up to Congress, we should trust to the
wise discrimination of that body. 1t was an
opinion. generally expressed in our Conven
ton, tha: nine-tenths of tie people Of Kansas
are in favor of freedom. We feel that our
cause is just, and tia: it has the hearty appro-
val of every true freeman in America. and
| nat we shall be sustained in our struggles for
] liberty. RICHARD INCIDENTAL.
/ KANSAS TER, mo-, II, 1885.
WILLOW FEVER AT NORFOLK. NA.-This
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