Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-30
KANSAS.

KANSAS.
Our contemporary of tho Republican has COM
menced the publication Of Judge Douglass
Report. report ought to contain a fair
statement of the facts respecting the matters
onwhich the report is made. But such "a state
mcnt is nowhere TO be found in the report OF
Judge Douglass 1t is in reality an elaborate
ly written speech, setting forth one side, and
only one side of the case. Like many other
one sided'arguments, it may appear plausible
enough till the whole truth is told 1t object
seems to be to justify the Border RufIians who
invaded Kansas, and to form kind of manual
or textbook for all the faithful followers Of
Pierce, Douglass & Co.
The author of the report leaves altogether
out ofview the most important facts that make
against him, misrepresents others, and dweIls
largely upon such statements as he believes
can be turned to his advantage. Those lawless
Missourians who invaded Kansas in armed
bands, took possession of the ballot-boxes, and
undertook to elect Legislature to make laws
for the people of the Territory, cndeayorcd to
justify their outrages by saying that the peo-
pie of Massachusetts, did wrong, They pre-
tended 10 consider themselves as innocent as
lambs -Asr"i't~s>s- that Douglass uses the
same logic and follows in the same track. He
may be considered their fayorite champion.
But what grave offence IS it that these men
OF Massachusetts have committed! Itamounts
simply to this, that some OF them chose to en-
lgrate and settle in Kansas, and that some of
the friends of the cmigrants formed an Emf
grant Aid Society or company which afforded
facilities for emigrating and settling. Will
any one pretend that northern men had no
right to go to Kansas as settlers Why, the
very fact Of forming the territory was an inyi-
tation to all who chose to enter in and settle
All who went in settlers were doing what
they had perfect right TO do and what the
laws Of the land invited them to do. Their
act was praiseworthy and lawful and those
who furnished them facilities for emigTaling
merely assisted them in doing what was per
fectly lawful aud right.
We are told in the report OF Mr. Douglass
that aimmediate steps were taken by the peo-
pie of the western counties of Missouri TO stim-
ulate, organize and carry into effect a system
of emigration similar to that of the Massachu-
5etts EtG.ssa;lt -rid COMPANY There is then
an effort made to represent the conduct of the
Nis,ourians to have been very much the same
10 that Of the cmigrants from Massachusetts,
except that tho Missourians were not near so
bad or worthy Of blame as those persons from
Massachusetts.
Now are such representations Just? Are
they true Every one who knows The course
Of affairs in Kansas knows them to be untr4c
There was in fact no similarity between the
conduct OF the two parties. The men from the
eastern States pursued a system OF Emigra-
tton ,-they went to Kansas as settlers. and
1his they had right to do. The system rur
sued BY he Missourians was not system Of
emigration but OF invasion they went to
Kansas as invaders, and this they had no right
TO do. Those who assisted in emigration from
Massachusetts, and elsewhere were assisting in
4 lawful act, but those who assisted in the in-
vasioa from Missouri were assisting in what
as unlawful.
IN Kansas there were Is election districts
on The day Of election March 30, 1850 the
Nissculiars in armed and organized bands ap-
pesred in nearly every district, took posses
sion Of the polls, and, by violence, intimida-
tion and superior force carried everything their
own way. After the election they returned a
gain to Missouri.
Every sensible man knows that such an elec-
ton was usurpation and a fraud. II would
lie fraud in any event, no matter whether the
charges against the eastern emigrantS we're true
or false. Representatives thus elected were
not the Representatives Of the people Of Kan
sas but Of the Missouri mob that elected them.
II such an election can be sustained aud pro-
nounoed legal it makes Kansas conquered
province under the control of men elected and
placed over her by a lawless mob from neigh
boring State.
portion of the inhabitants OF Kansas may
seem ready TO scquiescc in the outrage that
has been perpetratcd against their rights; some
few, because they are in league with the inva
dcrs, and others through fear Of violence be-
ing done them in case they should manifest
any opposition. But vast majority. of the
people claim the rights cffreemen and are nm
Wiling 10 be thus subdued aud tranrled to tb.,
earth Aud who. that has the spirit Of free