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

WAX IN KANSAS.
We hear OF indictments of leaders of the Free
State Party in Kansas for Treason-indc,
ments found by Grand Jury acting under IN,
structions from Judge Lecompte What i,
Treason? 1t is defined by the Constitution A..
the United States-its meaning is not LEFT 10
the caprice of tyrannical judges. There ha,-
been from time to time American disciple, o.
the Bloody Jeffries, who have sought, with dcr
ilish ingenuity, to smuggle into this country IL.
law OF constructive treason, but their mahppitr
has always been baffled. Judge Lecomp,e b.
longs to this school, and we suppose Goverr.r
Robinson and his associates are TO he tried f,
an offence, unknown to the laws of the Uni.J
States-that OF constructive treason.
Congress may define piracy, but neither 70
Congress nor to the Judiciary is submitted tl.
definition of Treason. Our fathers were to,
wise and humane to suffer to be reproduced +,
this country the damnable abuses under which
the People Of the Old World had groaned. in
consequence of leaving this crime to be defined
by the Party happening to have the power.
Treason" says the Federal Constitutior
against the United States shall consist oply
IN levying war against them, or in adhering 10
their enemies, giving them aid and comfnl
NO person shall be convicted of treason, unless
on the testimony Of two witnesses to the same
overt act, or confession in open court"
The act must be "o0ert 1t must be again,,
the United Stdtes-it must consist in "leryig,
'oar against them, or din adha'ing, anil qiria,
did and comfort, TO their enemies" No such su
has been committed by the Free State men of
Kansas. This is notorious. Their enemies. wick
ed as they are, dare not utter this lie aoairs
them. There has been no Glowing war against
the UnitedStates." The People-American ci,i
zens, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh -
have met in Convention, agreed upon the
form of Government, sent their memorial 70
Congress, asking the United States to ratiiy
their act, and admit them as a State into the
Union, so as to rescue them from tyranny on
one hand, anarchy and civil war on the other.
All the while, in the most emphatic terms, they
have disclaimed any intention to resist the
laws or the authorities Of the United States.
all the while have they forborne the slightest
demonstration Of resistance: there has been no
riot, not a tumultuous assemblage looking 10
opposition to even single law of the United
States. And yet this lanatieal pro.Slayer,
Judge, holding his appointment from President
Pierce, acting through Grand Jury packed BIZ
a creature of the sham Legislature arraigus
their leaders, as guilty of the crime of Treason,
and detachment Of the United States army,
is put at his disposal, so as to uphold the Reign
of Terror he has inaugurated. Is the doctrine
of this American Jeffres the doctrine Of the
Administration Is he acting upon insruc-
tons from the President? Is it, by a course
of judicial proceedings fagrantly unconstitu-
tional, flagtious, and inhuman, that Franklin
Pierce and his Administration seek to force
slaves into Kansas, and drive free men Out ?
That Judge is his creature-he appointed him
he is responsible for his acts. And yet he pre-.
tends to feel panied at the conflict now immi.
nent in Kansas--it is an act of humanity he
would have US believe, to enforce the laws Is
it humane to invent crimes not known to the
laws, so as to manufacture criminals humane
to arrest and incarcerate American citizens for
constructive Treason-humane to persecute
them as guilty of levying war against the nj
ted States, because they will not recognise
Missouri Legislature, imposed upon them By
fraud and violence, successful only because
winked at by the Federal authority?
The President is the traitor, and were this
Congress a fair representative of the sentiment
of the majority Of the American People he
would this hour be impeached, for "high crimes
and misdemeanors."
We have reports from Kansas that our ri.
lowcitizens in Lawrence, oppressed, trodien
upon, outawed, have entrenched themselves,
to resist the laws Of the
United States, not to refuse submission to
legal process served by United States officers,
but-to resist to the death the armed invasion l
from the border counties of Missouri so long
plotted, and at last about to be let loose upon
them. What is the President about? We
thought the devoted Territory was to be pro l
tected against foreign invasion as well a.
convulsion. The army is ordered olf
to aid the marshal to serve n writ, agsra
which there is no resistance; but, in reps
an imploring call Of the prescribed People
Lawrence, 10 protect them against Nilsson
invaders, Colonel Sumner tells them he has %
orders, and cannot act. He has returned 70
his quarters. Good God Is the president
Nero? Has he passion for massacre and
Is he anxious to stain his SOU
with blood, to go down to posterity, branded s.
the butcher of American citizens? Armed
bands of men go into Kansas from the South,
under military drill, and they are mustered
into service by Governor Shannon, TO enforce Z
he laws against the people of Lawrence, when
ne knows that United States authority is not
resisted there. And so, we presume, the Ms
souri, barbarians invading the Territory, sre
already taken into service AS part Of the
militia, and will receive pay from the United
States Treasury, for exterminating our fellow
citizens in Kansas who choose to prefer Free
lom to Slavery
Why has Colonel Sumner been ordered
return to his post? If the People of Lawrence
be really disposed to Instruction, he Is the
man to quell it. His presence with few drs
yoons was rather hailed than deprecated by the
prescribed People, as a safeguard against 'l0
ence. But, he is ordered to retire, the Mar'hai [
summons the posse comitatus, and forthwith
Buford with his Southern band of Slavery ms
,ionaries and the men Of blood who have beea
ying in wait for Lawrence, pledged TO extef'
innate the Abolitionists, are enrolled as tba