The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-24
From the Kansas rec state. April 30.
THE KANSAS OUTRAGE.

THE KANSAS OUTRAGE.
The following memorial. being prepared
,or circulation among the citizens Of Kansas,
Il faithful and correct account Of the re-
cent ou.rages at the late election:
TeMe Senate and House of Representatives IN
Congress assenbted
The memorial OF the subscribers. citizens
and residents Of the Territory Of Kansas, re
spectfully represents:
That a state Of things exists in said Terri
.ory. unparalleled, as we believe, in the histo-
~ Of our country, and which it becomes our
solemn duty to Law before you. and through
YOU, before our fellow citizens of the United
States. Under the guarantee of your law for
the organization Of this Territory, and in con
,ideralion of the privileges which that law
held out to US, we left our former homes. met
the invitations Of an uninhabited country, and
prepared for adding another Republic to our
Union.
The right of civil and religious liberty
the right 0. suffrage and self government
we're set up as the beacon lights which beck
oned us on. As freemen we were invited, as
reemen we came, and as freemen we expect
ed to live. But we address you now as an
outraged and subjugafed people, disfranchised
and governed by set of masters foreign to
our SOIL and responsible only to their own
lawess will
One of the States in our Union. strong in
wealth. population and resources, relying
upon her accumulated strength of almost half
acentury and taking advantage Of our feeble
infancy as a people. has inpaded soA.
,sized upon our rights. subugated or terrific
s,Ta.tgy ru{s IufY1 MI
to dictate our iaws. and make US tie stuues Of
their oul This may well seem an almost in
credible thing in the nineteenth century. and
in this Republican Union-the peculiar and
boasted land Of liberty and self government
undeniable as the fact is bitter and Notifying
10 us. and disgraceful to the public.
This invasion of our soil and usurpation OF
our rights commenced at the first moment Of
cslin, those rights into action. The first bal
lot box that was opened upon our virgin soil,
was closed to US by overpowering numbers
and impending force. IL became. not what
Americans have been proud to designate it,
the exponent OF the peoples will, but was
converted into the sword Of the oppreSsor. to
strike at civil liberty. So bold and reckless
were our invaders, that they dared not to con
ceal their attack.
They came upon US, not in the guise of vo
,ers to steal away our franchise, but boldly
and openly, to snatch it with the strong hand
They came directly from their homes, and in
compact and organized bands. with arms in
hand and provisions for the expedition. march
ed 10 our polls. and when their work was
done returned whence they came. 1t is un-
necessary TO enter into the complaint; it is
IL IL . Al ,ab
BY the most irrefragble evidences, there We're
not one hundred and fifty voters, most of whom
refused 10 participate in this mockery of the
elective franchise, these voters polled over a
thousand votes.
Loving our country and its institutions. we
were willing, if this was to be only solitary
instance. to suffer it in silence, rather than to
proclaim to the world that even in this remote
spot of our great country. civil liberty was
but a name Bitter and mournful experience
has taught us. however, that this was no iso.
latel act--no temporary ebulition-but the
commencement Of a nell maturea and settled
plan BY a large portion of the peopie of one Of
tie States Of oar Uaion. permanently 10 en-.
Stare us, and constitute themselves our mas
isrs
On the 3oth day Of March last, we were
asaiH iNNllSu 10 ttt bdlLCl DpX. uUutT tue law
which we, in common with our fellow citizens
q the State. had, through your body. enact
ed. Our vigilant and faithful Chief Magis.
iFate had surrounded it with all the guards
and precautions with which his authority in
vested him. and We were prepared TO exercise
me dearest and most cherished privilege Of
American citizens, with a full sense Of the vi
al and interesting Importance Of this peculiar
occasion
The occasion came. and with it came our
invading and self-consttuted masters in thou
ahds, and with the paraphanalia Of war
ihey came organized in bands. with officers
and arms, and tents and provisions. and mu-
h'tons o' war. as though they were march
las upon foreign fee. instead of their own
aaodendlng fellow citizens. Upon the prin,
elpAl road leading TO our Territory and mass.
ins several important polls. they numbered
not less than twelve hundred men. and ons
camp alone contaiaed not less than SIX hun
drei
They arrived al their several destination
Inc night before the election. and having pitch
ed their camps an placed their sentries. wait
co Tor the coming day. Baggage wagon
were there. with arms and ammunition tor
pFo:rac.ed fight, and among them Two bras
~" pieces ready charged. they came VIII
afnms beating and hass flying. and thei
Ssaers We're OF the most prominent and con
,Pioaois mea of their respective States, Il
a'e morning they surrounded the polls. arn,e,
ssa guns bowie knives and revolvers. ans
ueesret their determination 10 vote al al
AA,srds. aud IN spite of all consequences.
!, ~ The Judges could be made to subserv
.e'f purposes. and receive their votes. and
oos.acie was cast IN their way, the leader
sso themselves TO preserve peace and or
- the conduct of the election: but at tn
ue nne did not hesitate to declare that
~ showed to vote. they would proceed t
extremity IN the destruction Of lie an,