The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-24
Kansas Affairs.

The Congressional Committee was rapid
ly bringing its labors to close at last ac-
counts. The evidence is remarkably strong
against the Border Ruffians--much strong
er than has ever been represented by the
Free State press. We copy the following
of and comments upon a portion Of it, frcn,
the Galena Advertiser of Saturday last:
The news from Kansas is alarming in
many of its aspects. Gov. Robinson has
been arrested without the shadow of law at
Lexington, Missouri. 1t is reported with ap-
parently good authority, that Ex-Governor
Reeder and other Free State officers ofKan-
sas are, or are to be, arrested and tried for
treason. tits also reported that the Slavery
party in Kansas have resolved on taking the
bold step of Of breaking up the Congressional
Investigation of the ualaiaies by mhich they usur-
ped the Government of the Territory, and after
what we have seen, it would be strictly in
accordance with what has occurred should
this further step Of violence be carried out.
These things, with thousand others, all 60
to prove, that when Stephen A. Douglas, in
the Senate of the United States, told the
Free State mcn, GIVE WILL SUBDUE
YOU" it was no idle or unmeaning threat.
He spoke for power which is pressing
against Freedom in compact mass, with
the unyielding determination to "crush it
out" at whatever violence or hazard. 1t
will be vel! for the People who are opposed
to this tyranny to grid themselves up to meet
this idea, and to answer this question: Are
you prepared to see every cherished feeling
of true and full manhood in yourselves trod-
den down by the advancing iron foot of sla-
very?
At the last accounts from Lawrence, the
Investigating Committee of Congress were
pursuing their labors in exposing the intr-
cacies of one of the most infamous conspi-
racies ever yet formed to destroy Freedom
and to rivet the chains of slavery on the mil
lions who are yet to inhabit the vast Terri
tories Of the United States. AS proof Ct
this, and to show the character of tie testi-
mony which is being disclosed by the Com
mittee, readers are referred to the extracts
and remarks which follow below:
Mr.. Jordon Davidson, the first witness
who was examined before this Committee
testified that he was member Of secret So
ciety formed in Missouri, the express Object
of which was to make Kansas slave State:
and he had reason to believe that it existed
also in other Southern States,-in Virginia,
in Tennessee, in Kentucky and Arkansas
lie came from Missouri to Kasas to vote-was
sworn in on the spot as one of the officers Of
election: and knew of many others who came
from Missouri and voted. William Lyons
another witness, testified that at the election
March 1855, he saw Mr.. Shelby, who told
him he had come one hundred miles to vote
and "that 500 Missourians would vote on that
day:"-he himself knew that over 100 went
to Douglas, where the polls were held, that
day to vote. Augustus Wattles, living in
the Second District, testified after an exam
ination of the census returns, that there were
but twenty five legal votes cast. At that
poll Mr.. Hammond Muzzy testifies that just
as he got there Mr. Mace offered to vote,
and that
"When the Pro-Slavery Party saw that
his vote was Free State vote, they said he
should not cote IL !; several men took hold of
him and pulled him away; he took hold of
me and we were both pulled away together
from the poll; they cried "cut his throat"
tear the ID heart out of Limp saw one
man draw knife upon him, without doing
him any injury; saw a man with lever,
trying to pry up a corner of the cabin 9th
ers cried out, don't do it until you have or
ders; saw Ellison come out of the cabin with
the ballot-box in his hand, and cry out hur-
rah for Missouri! Ellison was one of the
Judges; heard Jones (now Sheriff } say no
would give the Judge FIVE minutes to resign
or die; Jones gave one more minute, and they
left; these Judges were Ramsey and Burson,
both Free State men; was there when the
other Judges were appointed; the crowd then
voting; saw no Free State man
vote.