Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-02-15
LEGIsLAT1vE.
CoLUMDUs, Feb. 6, ls56.


ton of cities, which was referred to the
Committee on Corporations. On motion
of Mr.. BraytOn the following resolution was
adopted, and then after considerable discus
sion was rcconsidercd and laid on the table
WHEREAS, The editors of the Cleveland
daily papers have signifed their willingness
to publish an abstract of the doings Of this
House, not exceeding two columns in length,
provided the same is furnished them, there
fore,
Resolved, That one OF the Assistant
Clerks of this House be directed to prepare
an abstract of the Journals daily, for publ
cation in one or more of the papers in Co
lumbus, provided the editors viii publish
the same, and in case the publication of the
same is declined by the Columbus editors,
the same to be sent to one or more Of the
Cleveland papers.
The following Message from the Govern
or was received, read, and after some debate
by Mossrs. Sawyer, Franklin, CLANCY and
others, laid on the table to be printed.
MESSAGE OF GOV. CHASE.
Tothe General assembly of Ohio:
l transmit for the consideration of the
General Assembly communication from
certain gentlemen holding official positions
in Kansas.
The urgency of the appeal, made by the
communication herewith transmitted, in
duces me to lay it before the General As
sembly without delay. s
1t is authenticated by the signatures of
James H. Lane, Chairman of the Executive
Committee of Kansas Territory, of Charles
Robinson, the Governor, and George w.
Deitzler, the Secretary, elected by the peo-
pie under the recently adopted State Con-
stitution.
1t represents that an overwhelming force
of citizens of Missouri is organizing upon the
borders of Kansas, with the avowed purpose
of invading the Territory, demolishing its
towns, and butehering its Free State citi-
zens.
1t appeals for prompt assistance, in terms
which cannot fail to command your most
earnest attention.
The object of the contemplated invasion
of Kansas, is to compel its inhabitants to
submit to the establishment of Slavery.
The progress of slaveholding aggression
is very remarkable.
In 1920 the slave power insisted on the
admission Of Missouri as Slave State, and
effected it, purpose by engrafting on the bill
for its admission a perpetual prohibition of
Slavery in all the remainder of the territory
acquired from France, North of the South
line of Missouri, extending westward to our
frontier.
In 1854, the slave power demanded the
repeal of the Prohibition of 1920, and eff
fected its object by engrafting on the Ne
braska Kansas bill which provided for the
repeal, an express declaration that the peo-
pie of the Territory should be left "perfect-
ly free to form and regulate their own do
mestic institutions, subject only to the pro-
visions Of the Constitution of the United
States"
In 1856, the slave power insists that un-
der this declaration the people of the
Territory have no power at all to ex-
clude Slavery, until under an enabling act
of Congress, they proceed to form State
Constitution, preparatory to admission in
to the Union.
That this pretension would be advanced
was foreseen and predicted, when the Kan
sas Nebraska Bill was under discussion; and
it was indeed, indirectly sanctioned By the
refusal ofits supporters to adopt an amend
ment to the bill, expressly recognizing the
right of the people to exclude Slavery.
Whatever construction, however, may
have been intended by the slaveholding
of the bill, and whatever coun-
tenance to that construction may be afforded
by the phrsseolgy of the act itself, it is Ger
tain that, throughout the Free States, the
is nearly universal, that the peo-
pie of Kansas, deprived of the protection of
the prohibition of 1920, have, and ought to
have, complete right and full power to pro-
tect themselves against the evils of Slavery.
To prevent the people from exercising
this right and power, armed bands, from
the neighboring State of Missouri, invaded
The Territory at the time appointed for the
first election of members of the Territorial
March 3Oth, 1861 and hav-
ing taken possession of the polls and exclud-
ed the legal voters, selected themselves the
persons who were to constitute the Legisla-
5ure, without regard to their place of resi-
lence, whether in Missouri or Kansas.
The acts of this spurious Legislature were
worthy of its origin. Having excluded the
ew Free State members who held certif-
'ates of election, they proceeded to promul-
gate, in the forms of law, a series of pre-
ended statutes which have no parallels in
,he annals of Legislative usurpation. The
Governor of the Territory, who attempted
to restrain their excesses by his
executive veto, was removed from office BY
he President of the United States, and
hus full scope was given to their utmost
As if disposing of conquered province,
hey proceeded 70 decree the establishment
If slavery, and to secure it against popular
opposition by providing for the appointment
# SherifS and other officers, by Commits
ioners of their own creation; without al
owing to the people any voice whatever in
heir selection, and by imposing on the ex-
rcise of the right to vote at future elections
# members of the Legislature, conditions
With which none but the supporters of slave
y could comply,
4 II