The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-29


which constitute part of this work. F0sf, accord
ing to one act, all who deny, by spoken written
word "the right Of persons TO hold slaves in this
Territory" are denounced felOns, to be pun
ished by imprisonment at hard labor, for a tern
not less than two years; it may be for life. AND
10 show the extravaganza of this injustice, ii has
been well put nv the Senator from Vermont, + Mr.
CoLLAxER that should the Senator from Michi-
gan. Mr. CAss, who believes that Slavery can
not exist in Territory, unless introduced by ex-
press legislative acts, venture there with his mod
crate opinions, his doom must be that of felon
TO this extent are the great liberties of speech
and of the press subverted. Secondly, by an
other act, entitled "An Act concerning Attorneys
at-Law,' no person can practice attorney
unless he shGH Obtain license from the Territorial
courts, which, of course, a tyranuical discretion
will be free to deny; and after obtaining such
license he is constrained To take an oath MOI
only support the Constitution of the United
States bst also =" to support and sustain mark
here the reduplication-the Territorial act and
the Fugitive Slave Bill, thus erecting a test foi
the function of the bar, calculated to exclude
citizens who honestly regard that latter legisla-
five enOrnity unfit to be obeyed. And, thirdly
by another act, entitled {" An Act concerning Ju-
rors,' all persons "conscentiously opposed tc
holding slaves" or " not admitting the right tC
hold slaves in the Territory" are excluded from
the jury every question, civil criminal
arising out OF asserted slave property while, in
all cases, the summoning of the jury is left with
out one word of restraint to "the marshal, sher-
if other officer" who thus free to pack il
according To their tyrannical discretion.
For the ready enforcement of all statutes against
Human Freedom, the President had already fur
nished powerful quota of officers, in the Gov
eTnor, Chief Justice, Judges, Secretary, Attorney
and Marshal. The Legislature completed this
part Of the work, by constituting, in each county
Board Of Commissioners, composed of two per-
sons, associated with the Probate Judge, whose
duty it is "to appoint a county treasurer coro-
ner, justices of the peace, constabes, and al
other officers provided for by law" and then pro-
ceeded TO the choice of this very Board thus
delegatng and ditiasing their usurped power, and
tyrannically imposing upon the Territory crowd
of officers, in whose appointment the people have
had voice, directly or Indirectly.
And still the final memorable work remained.
A Legislature, renovated in both branches, could
not assemble until sJs, so that, during this lone
intermediate period, this whole system Ysysss 60
tinue in the likeness of law uELsa1cys rturucd bv
the Federal GovernlnesYff or in deG,nIt Of suci
generous uprising Of OPP
pressed people. But it was necessary to guard
Against the possibility of change even tardiy, at
a future election and this WAS done by two Diff
f-rent acts; under the first of which, all who viii
not take the oath to support the Fugitive Slave
Bill are excluded from the elective franchise; and
under the sccond Of which, all others are entitled
10 who shall tender tx of one dollar TO the
Sheriff the day of election thus by provision
of Territorial law, DISTINGUISHING all opposed to
Slavery, and at the same time opening the door TO
the votes Of the invaders by an unconstitutional
shibboeth excluding from the polls the mass of
actual settlers, and by making the franchise de-
pend upon petty tax only, admitting to the polls
the mass of borderers from Missouri. Thus, lay
i. Al
fortified all that it did, but assumed Self-perpet
Mating energy.
Thus was the Crime consummated. Slavery
now stands erect, clanking ia chains on the Ter
ritory of Kansas, surrounded b. code Of death,
and trampling upon all cherished liberties,
whether Of speech, the press, the bar, the trial
by jury, or the electoral franchise. And, sir,
all this has been done, not merely to introduce
a wrong which in itself is denial of all rights,
aud in dread of which a mother has lately taken
the life of her offspring; not merely, as has been
sometimes said TO protect Slavery in Missouri since
it futile for this State to complain Of Freedom on
the side of Kansas, when Freedom exists without
complaint on the side OF Iowa and also on the side
of Illinois; but il has been done for the sake Of
political power, in order to bring two new slave
holding Senators upon this floor, and thus to for
fify in the National Government the desperate
chances of waning Oligarchy. As the ship,
voyaging on pleasant summer seas, Is assaulted
by a pirate crew, and robbed for the sake of its
doubloons aud dolars--so is this beautiful Ter
ritory now assaied in its peace and prosperity,
and robbed. in order TO wrcst its political power
10 the side of Slavery. Even now the black flag
of the land pirates from Missouri at The
mast head in their laws You hear the pirate
VEIL aud see the fash of the pirate knife; while,
incredible TO relate the President, gathering the
Slave Flower AT his back, testifies pirate SYM
pathy-
Sir, all this was done in the name of Popular
Sovereignty. And this is the close OF the TRACE
DIV. Popular Sovereignty, which, when truly
understood, is fountain of just power, has ended
in Popular Slavery; not merely in the subsection
OF the unhappy African race, but of this proud
Caucasian blood, which YOU boast. The profess
sion with which you began, of All by The Feopie,
has been lost in the wretched reality of Nothing
for he People. Popular Sovereignty, in whose
deceitfnl plighted faith was broken, and
an ancient Landmark of Freedom was overturned,
now lifts itself before u.s. like Sin, in the terrible
picture of Milton,
Thai seemed q n the waist, and "a r,
Bat -nde foul "a many a scay fold
goluminous aad vast serpe-i armei
Urh mortal sting; about her middle round
cry OF h-il-hounds never ceaSIns banked
With wide Cerl,ereaa mouths fall loud. aud rung
A hideous peal yet. when they list would creep.
Taught Disturbed iheir noise. into her womb,
Aud kennel hers yet there still barked and howled
Within. un-ecn'
The IMAGE is complete at oil points; and, with
this exposure, take my leave of the Crime
against Kansas.
III. Emerging from all the blackness of this
Crime in which We seem To have been lost,
as in a savage rood, and turning our backs upon
it, as upon desolation and DEATH from which,
while others have suffered, we have escaped,
I come now to The APOLOGIES which the Crime
has found. Sir, well may You start at the
suggestion that such series of wrongs, so
clearly proved by various testimony, so openly
confessed by the wrong-doers, and so widely
recognised throughout the country, should find
Apologies. But the partisan spirit now, as M
other days, hesitales at nothing. The great
Crimes of history have never been without
Apologies The massacre of st. Bartholomew,
which YOU now instinctively condemn, was, al
the time, applauded ID high quarters, and even
cornmemorated by papal medal, which may
still be procured at Rome: a. The Crime against
Kansas, which is hardly less conspicuous III
dreadful elninence, has been shielded on :5l'
floor by extenuating words, and even by Presi-
DENTAL message which, like the Papal medal
can never be forgotten in considering the mad
ness and peryersity of men.
Sir. tL. Crime cannot he denied. The Presi
.leut himself has admitted illegal and repre-
heasible" CONDUCT. To such conclusion he wa:
comoeled by irresistible evidence; but what h'
mildly describes openly arraign. Senators MAJ
affect to put il aside 10y sReer; or to reason |
away by figures; or 10 explain IL by theory
ench as desperate invention has produced on thu
floor that the Assassns and Thugs OF Nisson,
were in reality citizens of Kansas but all thes
sgorts. go FAR rs made, are only tokens of th
weakness of the canse, while To the origina
Crime they add anetsss offence OF false testimon
AGAINST innocent aud suffering men. But tn
Apologies for the Crime are worse than the effort
fanc, nSC a