Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-08-02
His Excellency HENRY j. GARDNER, Governor 0
Massachusetts,.
GOVERNOR GARDNER TO GOVERNOR WINSTON.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, Boston, July 5, 1856.

COUNCIL CHAMBER, Boston, July 5, 1856.
SIR have received your letter under date of
June l9th returning copy of the resolves of the
Legislature of Massachusetts in relation to the
Territory of Kansas, transmitted to you IN accord
ance with the request Of that body
While regret to say one word that may add to
the irritation existing between the North and the
South, it becomes my imperative duty briefly, but
plainly, in behalf Of Massachusetts, to repudate
the insult you attempt to cast upon her, and to
yindicate the propriety Of her conduct
You say, believing the resolves you have for
warded to this department in relation to the Terri.
tory of Kansas to be in conflict with the truth OF
history, unconstitutional and reasonable in de-
sign, return them to you."
Had your Excellency attempted to particuarize
wherein these resolves were ''in conflict with the
truth of history" and not contented youself with
the more easy, because moIe general, denial OF
their accuracy your errors could have been at once
pointed out
These resolves are temperately and calmly writ.
ten, referring only to few salient points in
the long catalogue of injustice and outrages that
mark the record of the past two years in Kansas
declaring that these deplorable occurrences are the
result of the effort made by the Slavery prOpagan-
dists for the purpose Of forcing the system of
human servitude over that Territory, against the
will o: a majority of its actual inhabitants, aud
the wishes of the people of the Union-that the
suerings Of chose settlers have touched the hearts
of our citizens, and that will use every just and
constitutional effort to aid them in maintaining
their liberties and that the President of the
United States in reference to these transactions
has exhibited a servity to sectional interest and
an indifference to the fundamental principles of
justice and freedom, which merit the condemnation
of the American people. This last declaration
has since been fully indorsed at Cincinnati,
it needs no further argument to establish its
truth.
Your excellency may rest assured ,notwithstand-
ing your denial that the exact accuracy of every his
tori cal fact here spoken of is known to,and recog-
nized by, every reader of these resolves whether
be live North South. The truth of history is too
stern and inexorable to warp itself to suit your
Excellency's wishes. These shameful occurrences
are written with pen Of fire on the broad skies
for the whole world to read, and they will exist
till history itself shall be more, q damning dis
grace to our country. our ageour humanityto those
who dared to 90 them, and to those who with equal
hardihoOd, dare deny or defend them
But if you mean that the whole truth Of history
is not expressed in the resolves, then agree with
you. They do not give the half, nor the worst Of
these inhuman outrages. They make no reference
to the rhing of the mails the organized irruption
of the citizens of another State to control elections,
arrests without judicial authority, mockery Of
legislation, inhuman laws, destr ucon of printing
presses, theft arson, and last that great and final
crime, beyond which human depravity has no
power to 20, cold-b -blooded and deliberate murder.
Should your Excellency invoke the whole truth Of
history, it must bring to your view the vision OF
murdered men, of wives driven to madness, and
to your ear the agonizod cry of the orphan and
all for the crime that their husbands and fathers
opposed, by vote voice, the introduction Of
human servitude into region your father and my
father, ,dedcated.a third of century ago. by sol
emn national compact to Freedom forever.
! But your Excellency asserts that these resolves
are "uuoorlt!tutionsl and treascusSle iu 3esisn.