The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-03-29

o''"Oy vi 'uc udv Vi ciectIOn, look posses
sion Of the polls. exclrded the lesa! voters
and proceeded themselves to elect member.
OF the legislature without the slightest regard
I" the qualitirations prescribed hy Law. The
Judges OF election. appointed under the au
thor'ty OF the administration at Washington
aided and abettrd in the preparation Of the
0ntraSes upon the rights of the people OF
Kansas. and the President of the United
States removed from office the Governor
whom he bad himself appointed. but who re-.
fused to acknowlrdge the Legislature which
the siav-holiing invaders from Missouri had
thus 'm.",-'i upon the TERRITORY.
That legislature met on the 2d July 1855
It's flrst at was to exclude those ru.mbprs
duly ele'te'i. who would not consent 10 tn.
enactment of laws for the admission of Sla
very into the Territory Having thus 81
fenced all opposition to its b+hests, the lryis
lafurc proceeded to the enactment of laws tol
the government OF Kansas npon the subject
I Slavery. The laws of Missouri in resar,
10 IT were at first extended over the Terrific
~ IL was tl'en enacted that every person
who should raise an insurre,tion or rebellion
ut negroes IN the territory: every person
who should entice away slave with intent +,
procure his freedom; every person who
should aid or assist in 50 enticiny away q
-'ave within the territory: and every person
who should tntice or carry away slave from
any other State or Territory Of the Cnion
and bring him within the Territory OF Kan
>as. with the intent TO effect or procure In:
tr... II
suffer death
IL was further enacted. that if anv person
! should write. Prin; or publish. any book, pa
i"r. argument opinion, ad,Ice or inueruo
.'alculated to produce disorderIy dangerous
or reb-lliou, disatfection amuny the slaves i,
the territory, or to induce them TO es
ape from their masters, be should 5e deem
ed guilty of "A FELONY. and punished by i'm
| ori>Onment at hard labor for a term not les
than FIVE YEARS; and that il anv free per
son. by speaking or writing. should assert o
MAINTAIN that persons have not the right I,
hold slaves in that Territory or should in
'roiuce or circulate any book, paper, pam
phlet or circular containing any such denia
% the right OF persons to hold slaves in the
Territory. he should I've deemed guilty OF tel
onv and be punished by lMrnlso>MKxr a
hard labor for a term not less than 1w,
YEARS.
1t was still further enacted hy the sam,
| L-gisiatu that every free white male citi
zen OF the l. nitcd States. and inhabiiant oi
the Territory. who should pay tax Of on,
dollar and take an oath to support the Con
! stitutIon Of the United States, the act organ
izins the Territory Of Kansas, the Terrtori
al Laws. andth act for the rccayture of tngi
tive slaves. should be entitled to vote at az,
election in said Territory max ing ciii
zrns OF Missouri or of any other State, lega
voters in Kansas, upon their presentation a
The polls. upon taking the oa:hs prescribed
and upon payment of one dollar-in direc
violation of the spirit of the act OF Congress
and in open disregard OF the rights OF the peo
Dle of the territory. And having Rad,
these enactmpnts for the establishment of
Slavery. the Legislature appointed Shcritis
Judges and other officers OF The Territory toI
! their enforcement thus deprivins the people
Of all power over the enactment of their owr
laws. and the choice OF officers for their exc
cutien.
Tha. these desrotic acts. even if they hat
been passed bv legislature duly elected b,
the people of the territory, would have beer
null and void. ina>mn,h as they are plain,
in violation Of the Federal Constitution, is To,
clear for argument. Congress itself is ex
prr>slv forbidden bv the Constitution Of tn,
United States to make anv laws abr,isin.
the freedom of speech and ofthc press; ALI,
it is absurd to suppose that territorial !esis
lafure. deriving all its power from Congress
should not be subject to the same restric
,ions. But these laws were not enacted b,
the people OF Kansas. They were impose,
upon them bv an armed force. Yet th'
President of the United States, IN a specia
message sent to Congress on the oath OF
January. 1856, declares that they have bee,
enarted by the duly constituted an.horitic
of the territory, and that they are Of bnllu
obligation mon the people thereof. And O.
the l2,h February. 1876. he issued his Pros
la.nati"n. drnounrins any attempt 10 resi-,
or Subvrrt these harbarous and void enac,
mcntS. and warning ali lcr.ons ens. aged !
such attempts. that they will te opposed NJ
only bv th, local militia. but ty anv avail
bic forces belonging to the regular army o
the United States. Thus has the icd.rs
government solrmnly recognized the usurp;
tions set upon Kansas 10y invaders from Nj
souri, and pledged all the power Of the Tn
ted States to ITS support. American hi>,or
furnishes no parallel to the cruelty aid ,y
amy OF these acts OF the present almnistr
tion. TIE expulsion OF aliens. and the pei
altirs inflicted upon citizens for exerri>,
freedom of speech and OF the press. unti,
| the alien and se.ltiOn laws, which were owe
| thrown by the Republican party of l79
z were lenient and mild when compared Wi
. the outrages perpetrated upon the people {
Z Kansas. under color o: Law, by the usurpir
L invaders sustained by the Federal Cover
!, menf.
: With full sense Of the importance Of Il
u declaration. We affirm that the execution {
: these threats by the President of the Unit,
S States upon the people Of Kansas. would
: an unconstitutional exercise OF executive po
t er. presenting ease Of intolerable tyranI
Z that American citizens cannot submit to
= aud remain free. and that if blood shall
: shed in prosecution Of so unlawful purpo.
those by whose agency it may be split will
o held to strict aud stern account by the fr.
5 men Of the Republic. So. plain. palpai
4 and deliberate violation of the CONSTITUTE
would Justify the interposit'on of the state
: whose duty it would he. by all the rons','
}, tional means in their power. to vindicatc I
= rights and liberties Of the citizen against Z
O power of the Federal Government: and !
take this occasion to express to our fello
> citizens in Kansas. against whom these u
constitutional acts are directed. our profou
: sympathy with them in the resistance viii
it is their right and theiv duty to make
them, and our determination TO make II
e sympathy efficient by all the means which