The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-14


for aid. On the 9th inst, the following letter
was laid before the Assembly of New York by
Governor Clark:
LAWRENCE CRY, KANSAS TER.
January 81, 1856.
To has Ercellency Governor Clark:
SIR: We have authentic information that
an overwhelming force of the citizens of Mis-
souri, are organizing upon our border, amply
supplied with artillery, for the avowed purpose
of invading our Territory, demolishing our
town, and butchering our Free State citizens.
We hope to be able to hold ont until assistance
can reach u.s. We respectfully request, on be-
half of the citizens of Kansas, that such steps
may be taken by the people of the States as
humanity suggests, to prevent the successful
carrying out of 30 inhuman an outrage.
j. H. LANE,
Chairman Er. Com. Kansas Ter.
Z. ROBINSON,
Governor Elect of Kansas
Governor Chase, of Ohio transmitting copy
Of the same letter to the Legislature of that
State, took occasion to indicate what might be
done by the members, as follows:
To the General assembly cftae State Of Ohio;
/ transmit, for the consideration of the Gen
eral Assembly, communication from certain
gentlemen holding official positions in Kansas
The urgency of the appeal, made by the COM
munication herewith transmitted, induces me
to lay it before the General Assembly without
delay
1t is authenticated by the signatures of JAS
III. Lane Chairman of the Executive Commit
tee of Kansas Territory; of Charles Robinson,
the Governor; and George w. Deitzler, the Sec
rotary, elected by the people under the recently
adopted State Constitution
1t represents that an overwhelming force of
citizens of Missouri is organizing upon the Dor
ders of Kansas, with the avowed purpose of in
vading the Territory, demolishing its towns,
and butchering its Free State citizens.
1t appeals for prompt assistance, in terms
which cannot fail to command your most ear
nest attention.
The object of the contemplated invasion of
Kansas is to compel its inhabitants to submit
to the establishment of Slavery.
The progress Of slaveholding aggression is
very remarkable.
In 1920 the Slave Power insisted on the add
mission of Missouri as a slave State, and eff
| fected its purpose by engrafing on the bill for
its admission perpetual prohibition of Slavery
| in all the remainder of the territory acquired
from France north of the south line of Missouri,
| extending westward to our frontier.
| In 1854, the Slave Power demanded the re-
peal of the prohibition of 1920, and effected its
object by engrafting on the Nebraska Kansas
| bill, which provided for the repeal, an express
declaration that the people of the Territory
should be left perfectly free to form and regu-
late their own domestic institutions, subject
only to the provisions of the Constitution of
the United States"
| In 1856, the Slave Power insists that under
this declaration the people of the Territory have
no power at all to exclude Slavery, until, under
an enabling act of Congress, they proceed to
form State Constitution, preparatory to ad-
mission into the Union.
That this pretension would be advanced, was
foretold and predicted when the Nebraska Kan
sas bill was under discussions and it was, in
deed, indirectly sanctioned by the refusal of its
supporters to adopt an amendment to the bill,
expressly recognising the right of the people to
exclude Slavery.
Whatever construction, however, may have
been intended by the slaveholding supporters
of the BILL and whatever countenance to that
construction may be afforded by the phraseol-
ogy of the act ITSELF it is certain that through
out the free States the conviction is nearly uni
versal, that the people of Kansas. deprived of
the protection of the prohibition of 1920, have,
and ought to have, the complete right and full
power to protect themselves against the evils OF
Slavery.
10 pItFtHI bilc pcOplc lTOul tAcTCiSiuS buio
right and power, armed bands from the neigh
boring State of Missouri invaded the Territory
at the time appointed for the first election of
members of the Territorial Legislature, March
so, 1850 and, having taken possession of the
polls, and excluded the legal voters, selected
themselves the persons who were to constitute
the Legislature, without regard to their place
of residence, whether in Missouri or in Kansas.
The acts of the spurious Legislature were
worthy of its origin. Having excluded the few
Free State members who held certificates OF
election, they proceeded to promulgate, in the
forms of law, series of pretended statutes,
which have no parallels in the annals of legis-
lative usurpation. The Governor of the Terri
tory, who attempted, Intellectually, to restrain
their excuses by his Executive veto, was re-
moved from Office by the President of the Uni
ted States and thus full scope was given to
their utmost extravaganza.
AS if disposng of a conquered province they
proceeded to decree the establishment of Sla
very, and to secure it against popular opposi-
ton, by providing for the appointment of sher
ifs and other officers by commissioners of their
own creation, without allowing to the people
any voice whatever in their selection, and by
imposing on the exercise of the right to vote
at future elections of members of the Legisla
ture, conditions with which none but the sup
porters of Slavery could comply.
, 1t was impossible for men, not themselves
prepared to be slaves, to admit the validity OF
, this spurious legislation. The people OF Kan
sas refused to submit to Acknowledgement by
the usurpers. Left without valid law, and re
mitted to the original right, inherent in every
community, to provide for its own safety and
good order, they proceeded, in regular Conven
ton, to appoint day and prescribe the nan
ner of eecting delegate to Congress, and tc
, provide for holding a Convention to frame
{ Constitution, preparatory to application for ad
mission into the Union as State.
On the 9th of October last, the day designa
,, ted for the election of a delegate to Congress
, Andrew Fl. Reeder was chosen to that Office
and on the 23d of the same month, a State
ton elected for that purpose. On the 10th De
| cember, this State Constitution was ratified by
/ the people; and on the 18th of January, JUS
| passed, an election was held for State officers
and members of the State Legislature. The
Governor and Secretary, whose signatures are
f aitxed 10 the appeal herewith transmitted, were
. chosen at this election.
{ While these things were in progress the Ter
n ritory was again invaded, early in December
Il by armed bands from Missouri, now called int
Il action by an extraordinary proclamation from
X ilson Shannon. who had been appointed Gov
o ernor of the Territory in place of his removed
s predecessor. The town of Lawrence was act
o ually beleaguered, and its destruction fercely
threatened The people of the Territory rallied
v TO its defence, anu, Cor many days, civil wa
If was imminent. - length. however, the Co.
r ernor became sensible Of the error he had com
e mitted, and succeeded in inducing the invaders