Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-11-07
Letter of Governor Grimes of
Iowa, to President Pierce.
Executive OFFIoE, Iowa,
BURLtNGToN, Aug. 30, 1856.

y
President Of the United States
Sin; 80 During the last twelve
months, have been constantly re-
ceivug letters, memorials aud ahida-
Wits, from former citizens of Iowa,
now residents of the territory Of
Kansas, alleging that they are not
protected by the United States off
GERS in that territory, in the enjoy
ment of their liberty and property
/ They charge, and the evidence fully
supports the charge, that at the first,
aud at each subsequent territorial G.
lection, armed bodies of men from
an adjacent State invaded the terri
tory, took possession of the polls, de-
prived the actual settlers Of the right
of suffrage and pcrpclrated gross out
RACES upon such citizens ms prolessed
political sentiments dsugreeable to
the invaders. BY threats and law
less violence, they secured the cleo
ton of a majority of the members
/ of the legislative assembly-many
OF whom were then, and are now,
citizens OF another State. BY this
assembly code of laws was enacted,
unparalleled in the history OF legisla-
llonj laws, paIpably unconslitution-
al, aud which no man with the spir-
It of a freeman could obey without
personal dishonor and violation of
his conscience.
In this condition Of things, and
without any attempt to repel violence
10y violence, the people Of Kansas
sought a peaceful remedy for the
wrongs that had been perpetraled,
10y forming a State Constitution, e.
lecliog State officers, aud asking adj
mission into the Union as a sovereign
State.
Although the constitution Of the
United States declares that treason
"shall consist only in lcvying war"
yet man Gliding commission un-
der the seal of the United States,
and exercising the Office Of chief
justice IN that territory, has decided
that the persons who accepted office
under the State Constitution are gull
~ of treason. Under his instruc-
tons the State officers have been in
dlcted, arrested and bail denied them.
Under the prelence Of judicial pro-
ceedlngs, but without Trial or hear
lug Of any kind, on armed posse has
invaded the town of Lawrence aud
slroyed printing presses, private
dwellings and a hotel Human lives
nave been sacrificed, property to a
large amount has been destroyed, cit
Izens have been driven from the ter
nlory 10y violence anarchy and dis
order everywhere prevail.
Among the sufferers have been
many former citizens Of Iowa, who
wen. to Kansas in no spirit of prop
agandsm, but with the intention Of
becoming permanent residents Of that
territory. Three of them have been
slain by arms said TO have been
placed by a federal officer in the
hands of a band of outlaws from a
remote State. Some have been COM
PEELED to flee from the territory Tor
no offence save that of having emf
grated from free State whilst
Others remain there, stripped Of lheir
property, and appeal 10 their fellow
citizens Of Iowa for sympathy and
protection.
In my conviction, their appeal
should not be in vain. They went
TO Kansas relying upon, and had
right to expect, the protection Of the
general government In this expec-
Ialion they have been disappointed.
Citizenship has been denied them
Their right to defend themselves.
and "to keep and bear arms" has
been inlringed by the act Of the ter
ritorlal officers, who have wresled
from them the means of defence
while putting weapons Of offence
into the hands of their enemies
They have been oppressed by a code
Of laws unequalled in atrocity in
modern times The character and
conduct of the territorial Judges
have shown that an appeal to the ju-
dical tribunals is worse than useless.
The central government having
failed to perform its duty by protect
ing the people of Kansas in the en-
IJoyment of their rights, it is mani
leslly The right Of each of the states
to adopt measures to protect its for
mer citizens. If the people of Iowa
are not permitted to enjoy the rights
OF citizenship IN that territory, they
retain their former citizenship in this
state, and are as much entitled to
] protection from the state while on
/ public domain, as they would be if
the general government faild to pro-
tect them in foreign country.
Whilst / write, an army raised in
the state Of Missouri, is marching
into Kansas with the avowed pur-
pose Of driving out all those citizens
of the territory who emIgrated from
the free states, and who express a
| preference for free state constitu-
ton. Another armed body of men
have placed themselves on the en-
grant route from the state of Iowa,
to prevent at The point of the bayo-
net any further emigration from this
state.
The state Of Iowa cannot be an
indifferent spectator TO these acts of
lawless violence. She demands lhat