Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-07-18
Is this Republic. or is il a Depot
ism?

uml
We had just recorded the usurpa-
ton Of Governor Wright, which ap
pears in another column. when the tel
egraph announced the following
Advices from Topeka TO the 4th. are
received. The Convention met there
the Ell, and passed resolutions In "a
vor Of the Republican party and de-
mandatory OF the Democracy, and up
pcaIing TO the friends Of free Kansas
In Congress. to stop supplies until
Kansas Is admitted under The present
Constitution. Marshal Donaldson and
Judge Elmore read TO The Convention
the Presidents February procIania-
ton. Shannon's proclamation, and a
new one from Woodson. the Secr,ta-
W OF the Territory; also. q note from
sumner. stating that he would pre-
vent the meeting Of the Legislature.
but he was not Needed. About eight
hundred people were present, oil arm q
cd. f
Both branches of the Legislature
met on the 4lh. Quorum present
The roll was called about noon.
Mr.. Sumner entered town with abou,
600 Dragons. and planted two peices
OF artillery nc the head Of Kansas av-
cnue. ~ iff rsf hff
The troops wosc drawn up before the
Constitution Hall. uad Me. sumner told
the citizens he would not dsafm them
or break up the Convention, but he had
orders 20 dissolve tho LeeiaIature, and
would do so.
Mr.. sumner then entered the Hall Of
Representative, aud IN gentlemanly
| manner Informed tho members that he
had orders 10 dIsperse them and he should
enforce II. lie said, ain called upon
TO perform the moat painful duty Of my
lile.a .lfIi .f - s
'Under the authority Of the Presis
dent, am here 10 dissolve this Leglsla.
ture, aud In accordance with my orders
command you 10 disperec. God knowe
have no party feeling IN the matter.
and will have none while hold my pres.
eat position W kansas. have Just re-
turned IRON The borders. whefn ! have
been sending home companies ol Mls.
eourlana. and am now here with insiruc-
lIoaa 10 dissolve this LegIalautfc, and !
again eomman you TO dlaperso."
Judge Schuyler aeked " they were 60
understand they were dIyen out AZ the
point of the bayonet.
Mr.. Sumner rcpied"I will usothe whole
force under my command 10 enfofe my
orders. The House then dlsptsed.--
A similar scene was enacted 10 the Sen.
ate. and Il alao dIapefsed.
The Convention was preparing reeo-
lullonp cndorslng The State covern-
meni. and tho Topeka conycnllon,--
lQuere, Con.tltut ion.1 Fears OF inva.
sion had kept large plumbers from At.
tending the Convention, Lane had not
arrived yet ~
Thefcl 10 the army vfthe United States
scnt TO break up pcaceable meeting
Of citizens. 1.-THE President had a rIs HI,
TO dispense that assembly BIO has right
10 dIsperre any congregation. relIgious
or political that dare assemble I, h
however but one Of tho aeis In the drs-
ma which 10 10 result In civil war;
We fofbear further comment. for the
present but commendthe following 10 our
res iess. from the Cincinnati 0assfie.
The Last Great Crime Against Civil
Liberty.
No reader ht all acquainted with the
Constitution aud The laws OF the United
States. can read the proceedings nt To.
, pekn, without a shuddcr for the iiber.
Ties OF his country An armed force
driving out a body OF citizens peseeably
assembled, 10 the lat resort OF despoi.
Ism. Well did Colonel sumner al To.
pska. say, "ThIs Ia the most painful
duty Of my lile." Colonel sumner l.
an officer and gentleman. and while
under the direct orders OF the President
he WINS compelled to obey; he felt that
~ man he was performing a d-testa.
BILE act. ~ citizen violating the rights
of bis countrymen, and as an officer
obeying the DEGREES Of arbitrary power
All this he must have scutely leIt. and
said oil that no could say 1, exienuaie
or soften the cact. ut 10 the most pain
! iul act Of my life, but II Is the order Of
the President" Alas that In this land
Of boosted liberty even a soldier should
be obliged to obey such orders.
But on what pretence was this net
performed d What reason has The Pes
idents Where was the necessity or
the utility OF IL : Under what law Is il
done Even pirates make an excuse
Tor their acts, and usurpers always act In
/ the name Of the law. IL the reader
wants to know under what law the
President acts, let him ask the first
Judge or lawyer he meets with, we care
not OF what politics he may be. II he
knows any thing OF law. or has parti
Gle of honesty, he will say that he
news of no law under which a body
of peaccalle unarmed citizens can be
( dispersed by military force. Suppose,
1 for example. that body of cuizens
we're TO assemble at Wooster, Wayne
Coun'y.) and call themselves the Su-
preme Court. or the Legislature Of Ohio,
or the Jewish Sanhedrim, or by any
other name. what lawful power exists
in the President OF the United Ststcs or
any executive officer, to dis.erse that
BODY Z Let the reader observe that the
Topeka Legislature (supposing il TO be
entirely illegal.) was in no way against
the law organizing the Territory, or the
Constitution OF the United States. Us-
less II was against one or the other, the
President and the United States Gov
eminent have no right whatever 10 in
terfere. Will the reader do Us the ia
vor to refer to the Only words OF the
Constitution which refer TO any inter-
ference OF the United States governm snt
in any case OF instruction. rebellion,
or other act Of contumacy.
In the first place, lei US suppose the
President were TO justify this armed in-
reference, on the ground Of insurrec-
ton or rebellion. This case 10 met In
Article 4. Section q. OF the Constitution
which rerds thus:
1.-THE United States shall guarantee
to every State in this Union a Republi-
can form OF Government, and shall pro-
tect each Of them against invasion and
on application OF the Legislature, or OF
the Executive (when the Legislature
cannot be convened) against domestic
violence" W f