The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-06

sets will allow me- desire, before he proceeds,
to ask him a question. l understood him to state
yesterday, upon the authority of General Pome-
roy, that a former presiding officer of this body
fmeaning, of course, my late colleague) had en-
tered Kansas Territory for some unlawful purpose,
armed with bowie-knives and pistols. 1 desire
first to know whether General Pomeroy states
that on his own knowledge; and then, at what
time it was that he is supposed to have entered
chat Territory thus armed2 Will the Senator be
good enough to answer
Mr.. WILSON. Mr.. President, I very cheerfully
answer the questions submitted to me by the
honorable Senator from Missouri l stated yes
terday, on the authority of General Pomeroy,
that on the 30th of March, 1855, the late Presi-
dent of the Senate entered the eighteenth cleo
ton district of the Territory of Kansas, near
4oorestown, and that he was armed with a
bowie-knife and revolver around him, apparently
ready to shed the blood of any man who refused
to be enslaved." And this trustworthy authority
adds, all these facts we are prepared to estab-
hsh, if necessary, by proof that would be consid-
cred competent in any court of justice"
Mr.. GEYER. Will the Senator allow me to
state my information on that subject?
Mr.. WILSON. Certainly, sir.
Mr.. GEYER. Mr.. President when that charge
was made yesterday, l was not prepared to prove
a negative; therefore did not interrupt the Sen
ator. have since made inquiries of the Repre-
sentative in the other House of the district in
which General Atchison resides, to ascertain
from him whether General Atchison had crossed
the borders at that time. He answered, "No !;
he was not there" l inferred, therefore, that
General Pomeroy had given the information
upon the authority of some one else, and not of
his own knowledge. The only time, SO far as /
have been able to learn, when General Atchison
crossed into Kansas at all during the period of
any disturbance there was the last one which
was mentioned in the report read before the
Senate yesterday. At that time it was apprehend-
ed there would be serious collision and much
destruction of life between those who had col
lected at Wakarusa and the citizens of Lawrence.
At that time General Atchison, together with
some two or three other gentlemen-his neigh
bors-went over for the purpose of persuadng
those at Wakarusa to forbearance He counsel
led peace. That was his errand at that time in
the Territory. So much was he indisposed to
any collision between the citizens of Missouri or
those who are represented to have been citizens
of Missouri, and the inhabitants of Lawrence
that he left his home for the purpose of inter
posing as q peace-maker. Afterwards, it is true
after the pacifcation had taken place, as men
toned in the report, and he was about to return
home-there was a gallant captain of mounted
men at Lawrence who proposed to proceed and
capture him. He was, to the credit of the COM
handing officer at Lawrence, restrained from do
ing So That is the only instance within my
knowledge, and so far as l have been able to as
certain from the Representative of his district,
when General Atchison crossed the border at all.
Mr.. WILSON. place, sir, the written decla-
ration of General Pomeroy, gentleman thor
oughly cOnversant with affairs in Kansas, and a
gentleman of the strictest veracity, against the
statement of the Senator from Missouri The
facts stated in this memorial, drawn up by Gen.
eral Pomeroy, have been published to the world,
and never to my knowledge questioned before.
That General Atchison entered Kansas at that
election do not entertain the shadow of doubt
That it can be clearly established by persons of
veracity and character am assured by gentlemen
now in this city from Kansas.
Sir, / do not wish to do injustice to the gen.
tleman who so recently filled your chair. When
Congress assembled, in December 1854, he was
not here; and you, sir were placed in the seat
which the Senate had assigned to him. He came
here afterwards, spent few weeks, and about
the LIST of February left the capital for his home
in Western Missouri, with the avowal that he
went to look after affairs in Kansas and to organ
ize for the election to take place on the 3Oth of
March. General Atchison was the organizing,
moving spirit of that Missouri movement from
which all of these unlawful transactions have
originated.
| congratulate the Senate and the country, that
the honorable Senator from Missouri is sensitive
in regard to the position of General Atchison. 1t
is now admitted that there was an unlawful inva-
sion of Kansas by excited and armed men, and
that the late President of the Senate left his home
in Western Missouri and passed over into Kansas,
and used his personal influence with these men
he had once organized to prevent their imbruing
their hands in the blood of the people of Kansas,
and making Lawrence heap Of ruins. | con-
graduate the Senate and the country that the
Senator from Missouri has made the statement to
which we have listened. l hope it will 60 forth
to the country, that the late President of the Sem
ate went over to Kansas, not to aid Shannon in
executing the laws, but to restrain the men who
were threatening Lawrence with swift destruc-
ton.
When 1 yielded the floor yesterday for an adj
journment, was speaking of the election of the
Both of March, 1855. The result of that election
was, that the nineteen districts in Kansas were
carried by the Pro-Slavery party, and that more
than six thousand votes were given in that Terri
tory, where, thirty days before, there were less
than three thousand voters.
The question was put yesterday by the honor
able Senator from Connecticut, why the Govern
or gave certificates of election on that occasion
| will simply say that Governor Reeder, in the
cases brought before him, did refuse to deliver
the certificates that he made the refusal in the
presence of the men who claimed them, with
bowie-knives and revolvers in their belts, and
amidst threats of his life and while he read the
statement he held a cooked revolver in his hand,
for necessary self-defence. There were a few
devoted friends around him, expecting to see him
murdered on that occasion. In the cases not at
the time contested, in the cases where at the
time no one dared to raise question, in the
cases where at the time contest was neglected,
the certificates were given. A new election was
ordered in those cases where the certificates were
set aside, and in pursuance thereof, the people
elected Representatives and Councillors, and COM
missions were issued to them. They met on the
I'd day of July, at Pawnee, and both branches of
the Legislature, without examining the facts,
and positively refusing to do so, voted out the
men chosen by the people of Kansas and voted
in the men originally chosen by the Missouri in
vaders. This Legislature, thus chosen, moved
the place of meeting from Pawnee to Shawnee
Mission, against the consent of the Governor who
refused afterwards to recognise it as a Legisla-
ture. They went on, and passed the laws which
are now brought here. Some of those laws are
as inhuman as any code ever presented for the
government of a conquered people.
wish to call the attention of the Senate and
of the country to some of those laws forced upon
the people who were allured to Kansas by the
assurance that they were empowered to shane
their own Institutions. Here is precious enact
ment:
IL any person print, write, introduce into or publish
circulate be brought into printed written
Pnbshed or circulated, shall knowingly aid assist
In bringing nto printing, publishing, circulating with
IN ms territory, any book, paper pamphlet magazine
hahdbiii, or CIRCULAR containing any statements argu-
mens, opinion sentiment, doctrine advice, or inuendo
calculated TO produce dsorderly dangerous or rebel
nous among the slaves of this Territory OF 10
induce such slaves to escape from the service OF their
masters to resist their authority shall guilty of fell
ony and be punished by imprisonment hard labor for
term not less than five years.
This law, thus enacted, is the law that is to be
executed in Kansas, if need be, by the sabres of
the United States dragons If the men from, the