Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-05-22

... From tlic Kansus Free Slate.
EXCITEMENT In KANSAS.
MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS.

count OF Inc OutTupcS a. tHu ld'c 'ICSiioh'
To iAe Senate and House Of Representa-.
tires, IN Congress Assembled
TO the memorial Of ;hc subscribers,
citizens and residents Of the Territory OF
Kansas, respectfully represents:
That state oil things exists in said
Territory unparalleled, as we believe, in
the history Of our country, and which il
becomes our solemn dutyto lay before
you, and through you before our 'ellow.
citizens of the United States. Under
the guarantees of your law for tho Or
ganiza,ion of this Territory and in con-
sideralion Of tho privileges which that
law held out to US we left our lormcr
homes, met the privalions Of an un'
inhabited country, and prepared 'of
adding another republic 10 our Union.
The right Of civil ond religious liberty
the right OF suffrage and seli'govern.
mont were set up as tho beacon lights
which beck oned US on. As irecncn VIC
were invited as ffcemen We came, and as
frecmen We expected to live. But we
address you now az an outraged, and
subjugated people, dis(fanchlscd and Gu
sIavcd, stripped of our dearest risn's'
and governed by set OF masters Ior'
cign to our SOIL and responsible onlyto
their own lawlcss will.
Ono Of the States OF our Union,
strong in wealth, population and re,
sources, relying upon the accumulated
strength of almost half a century, and
taking advantage Of our feeble infancy
as a people, has invaded our SOIL seized
upon our rights, subjusated our territory
and selected for US our rulers, intending
also to dictate our laws and make us the
slaves of their will. This may well
seem an almost incredible thing in the
Nineteenth Century and in this Re'
publican Union--the peculiar and boast
ed land of liberty and lf.governmenl
but the evidence Of it is as palpable
and undeniable as the fact is bitter and
mor,ifyns to US and disGraceGul 10 the
public.
G This invasion Of our soil and usu:Pa
!. ton Of our rights commenced at the hrs
. moment of calling those rights into &C
Z ton. The first ballot.box that wa
l. opened upon cur virgin sell was close
J. to us by ovor.powerlng numbers AM
- impending force. 1t became, not wha
. Americans have been proud to designat
e it, the exponent Of the peoples will
but was converted into the sword OF tn
8 oppressor to strike at civil liberty. >
e. bold and reckless we.o our invaders tha
;" they cared not 10 conceal their attack.
10 They came upon US, not in tue gus
'e of voters to steal away our franchise
re but boldly and openly TO snatch it wit
strong hands. They came directly lro'
their own homes, and in compact an
ed organized bands, with arms in the
VI. hands and provisions for the expedition
We marched to our polls, and when the
II. work was done, returned whence the
nd came. 1t is unnecessary 10 enter INT
let the details; it is enough to say that
as three districts in which by the mo
,at irrefragible evidence there were not OF
by hundred and fifty voters, most OF who
s." refused to participate in this moekeFy
"a. tho elective franchise, these invade
yas polled over thousand votes.
Ter : Loving our country and its institutio
he we were willing, if this was TO be on
ost a solitary instance, to suffer it in slien
re. ra,he. than to proclaim to the wotld II
his even in thi. remote spot Of our sr'
ing country civil liberty was but name.
Who Bitter and mourn(ul experience
in. taught us, however, that this was
sur. isol ated act--no temporary ebullltlon
in hut the commencement Of well'n
ted, tured and settled plan by large port
ate, of the people Of ono Of the States
b Of our Union permanently to ensIave
and constitute themselves our mast
i've, On the aOth day Of March last
9 to we're again invited to the balioi'o
was under the law which we, in conn
not with our fellow citizens Of the State,
, of through your body enacted. Our vigil
and faithful Chief Magistrate had
yico rounded it with all the guards
told precautions with which his authority
hay. vested him, and we are prepared
,ears exercise the dearest and most cherl'
him, privileges Of American citizens wit
Ca. fnll sense Of the vital and interes
ding importance Of this peculiar occaslo
leasy The occasion ca,i.' anu "'A
our invading and sclf.cons'ltuted ma
to M. in thousands, and with all the patat
Lam. MALTA of war. They came, organize
- bands, with officers, and arms, and t
lend, and provisions, and munitions oil
pre. as though they were marching up.
v La foreign foe instead Of their own unof
,ct 10 ing lellow citizens. Upon the pri,n
have road leading into our territory and
Beau. ing several important polls, they
a was bered not less than twelve hundred
oricaI and one camp alone contained moi
same than six hundred.
her They arrived at their sevetol
|, tha tinations the night before the elo
before and having pitched their camps
which placed their sentries waited for the
q, and ing day. Baggags.wagons were
!. with arms and ammunitiou enough
please protr acted fight. and among ther
-. brass field. pieces ready charged:
q / re. came with drums beating and flo
yours, ing, and their leaders were OF the
COW. prominent and conspicuous men
Respective States. In the mornin
surrounded the polls armed with
d,.l lbowie.knives and revolvers ar
| ] .Moh elared their determination TO vote