Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-07-25
VOL. L. NO. a5..~.wHoLE NO. 2597.

Try at least.
That is the condition Of things
alleged. will take it to be entirely
true, for the sake Of the arguu ent.
We are oil called upon, il this be
true, to do something TO put an end
to such a state of things, which is
assuredly very dsrepuiabc, not only
TO the people there engaged but to
the power Of this country, which,
unless we act, would seem to be in
competent to redress so great an evil.
Now, there are but two modes
proposed Of redresslng these evils.
We all know that the settlers IN Kan
sas are divided into two parties a
portion Of them desire to found a
State from winch domestic servnude
shall he excluded another portion
desire to see slavery established with
10 It's limits. One portion has been
reinforced by umigrauon from the
North-an increase of population
which 1t is alleged has not gone there
IN the natural How oi emigration
and settlement, but has been Indu-
ced to 90 by invitations held out, by
privileges proposed, by aid advanced,
and certainly 10y desire on the part
Of those who were dissatish fed with
! tho original act to have as many set
tlrrs brought into the Territory, 10y
nook Or 10y crook, as would favor
the establishment OF free State
On the other hand, 1t is alleged, and
believe II is true, that individuals
have gone from the southern States
who propabIy would not have gone
there # II had not been for the poll
tical struggle OF which that Terrific
~ was the scene. BE that as II may,
everybody must admit the evils now
exisung IA that Territory that vio-
leuce prevails, more or less, over law;
| that cultivation is checked, if not
wholly stopped ; that industry is par
ally zed that society is broken up
into hostile aud exasperaled parties,
aud peace and prosperity banlshed
from the borders oil very beautiful
country; aud the only question nov
IS, what is the remedy for all these
evils
Two remedies are proposed. One
has come 10 us from the House OF
kopresenlatve aud is urged by the
Senator from Vermont, Mr.. Cola
mer, who represents the minority ol
the Committee on Territories the
} other remedy is proposed 10y The ma
/ lorny OF the committee. What Is
The iirst II Is to admit Kansas ln-
TO the Union as Il Stale, wnh con
stilulIon called the Topeka constiiu-
ton. How was that formed Not
with any legislative sanction Of the
I General Government or the terfiiO-
, rial government not by Presidential
J SANCTION, not by gubernaIOrIal sane
ton, not by the sanction Of any Of
tcer whatsoever shaving, or Pretend
ing TO have, any right or authority in
I the maltpr. II is not denied that
this convention was the work OF
portion of the people ouly, without
the participation aud against the will
of The rest of the settlers: The party
thus setting up the convention at
Topeka as clearly IraDplng on the
rights Of those who did not parlicl-
pate, und setting at defiance the au-
IborIty of the organic law Of the
Territory, as the border rutiians'
are said TO have lramped on tho
rights of the actual settlers Of
Kansas. That convention and ell
its acIggs and proceedings are as
much without validity aud authority
as even the acungs and doings Of
the so-caled bogus Legislature of
Kansas are said TO be. They pro-
pose TO break into the Union, leaping
over all the barriers OF law aud or
der and justice, aud we are called
upon TO sanction that as remedy
/ for those evils 10 which it may well
be compared
What guarantee have we that we
should put an end 10 this condition
OF things If we did adopt this asa
remedial measure What guarantee
have We that lawlcss proceedings
would cease that men would not De
stabbed or shot IN The sunlight, that
houses would not blaze at midnight,
that force aud fraud would not con
troll eleclions-whal guarantee have
we Of all this I The bill proposes
nothing rs remedy for that Ii
leaves matters Just as bad as we find
them, only we clothe the Territory
with d new form, give II new dlgn-
lly, aud say It shall come into the
Un'on with all these slns on its head;
thus punlslnng one SET OF alleged
/ Violations OF ldw aud juslics by IN
dorslns, approving, aud rewardIng
another clear usurpallon oil authors
( ~.
The Senator from Vermont said,
this Is a consequences OF your con-
duct two years ago ~ passing the
/ kansas-N Nebraska act, aud the re-
nedy is 10 relrace your steps. But,
IN the first pluce, let me say that
do not see that II was the necessary
aud legitimate consequence oi that
acl. For IN the other Territory (Ne-
braska) there has been no such com
motion we hear OF no slabblngs
and house burnlngs, no frauds at
elections no iuuptlon OF border ruf-
fans, II has gone on smoothly aud
peaceably in the unchecked flow of
immigration and settlement The