The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-10-22
Beauties of the Kansas Code.

| which the Uulteu states government mas
shown itself SO ready to enforce with the
bayonet, we give a synopsis Of a few of
them, so concise that oil may read and
understand We will premise that no
one disputes that these statutes were ac-
tually passed by the bogus Legislator,
which usurped authority over tho Terri
toty in 1865, and we assure the reader
that cur abstract does not misreprescnt
them in the least. We say this. because
in the words Of another il seems incredi-
bic that any body of men could be col-
lccted from any quarter without rubbing
the gallows and the peuitentiaries, who
could enact laws so atrocious. ltshould
be added, that several loading admins.
tration and Southern Senators have indig-
nantly denounced some Of these laws, n.
mong whom reCass Clayton, Woller,and
Bell. But Congress did not blot out tho
foul aud bloody code and those who refu'
sed to acknowledge it wcre declared BY
the general government to be in ipsur-
rectlon, while tho very ruffians who franz
ed these Internal laws were enrolled ASA
posse cOntitotus, and armed with author.
ity to wage a savage warfare against all
who would not submit to their iron yoke
the United States troops. meanwhile,
standing ready to aid them, if they need
cd any assistance
Imposing penalty Of death for assisting
slaves to escape.
Imposing penalty of death for speak
ing, writing. circulating or printing any
thing calculated to incito slaves to insut-
rec'ion
Imposing penalty of death for entic.
ing or carrying away slave out Of tho
Tarritory, with the intention Of securing
hi. freedom
Imposing penalty of death for assisting
slaves to escape from any State and to
take refuge in the Territory.
Imposing penalty Of not less than firo
years imprisonment at hard labor for
harboring fugitive slaves.
Imposing penalty of not less than two
years imprisonment for aiding fugitive
slave to escape from custody Of an officer.
Imposing penalty of not less that two
years Imprisonment for aiding fugitive
slave 10 escaTe from custody Of an officer.
Imposing penalty of not less than five
years imprisonment at hard labor fer wri.
ting. printing or circulating anything
against slavery.
Imposing penalty of not less than two
years Imprisonment at bard labor for say
,ng that persons have not a right to hold
slaves in the Territory.
Disqualifying all from sitting as Ju-
rors who do not admit the right to hold
slaves in the Territory.
Disqualfying all as voters or candid.
ates for Office who DO not swear to sup.
port the Fugitive Slave Law. and the
Nebraska Kansas Bill.
Disqualifying all persons from prao.
tis;ng as attorneys or counsellors at law,
who refuse to take the aforementioned
test oaths
Suspending the writ of habcas corpus
in The case Of slaves held in the Terrific
ry. or Of fugtives from other States, in
violation not only of the Constitution Of
the Uuited States, but Of the Kansas Ne.
braska act itself
Admitting any one to vote on pay
mont Of 81 no matter where resident,
who will swear to uphold the Fugitive
Slave Law and Nebraska bill
Providing that persons sentenced to
imprisonment at hard laboI, shall wear,
when at work, nu iron ball Of not less
than four inches in diameter attached to
the ankle BY chain six feet in length, OF
no. less than J inch links, with such 9TH
er chains or means of confinement as the
keeper may deem necessary.
Providing that the lash shall be sub
situted for imprisonment in the case Of
slaves convicted of certain offences
Re enacting the Slave laws of Nilsson
ri en- masse, adding that wherever the
word State" occnrs in them, it shall be
construed to mean Territory"
Even this array of worse than AUstri.
an enactments does not fully exhibit the
wrongs against which the people of Kan
sas are struggling The bogus Legisla-
ture was,very careful to provide that tho
courts should be quite as bad as itself,
thus making it absolutely impossible for
an anti.slavsry man to obtain Justice in
the Territory, On this point we quote
from a receut letter oe Hon X. G. Cha
pin, of Springfield, one of the most infu-
entail and conservative Wings of Wes'
tern Mass achusetts He says:
Among other things. the very courts
Of justice are so arranged as to be instru-
ments of outrage upon the Free State
people The Legislature appoints the
sheriifs, aud enacted that the sherifs
should select the jurors. Of course tho
sherifTs woulu never select a juror who
was not fellow.conspirstor, fe and the Free
State people have no remedy. Ii is pro-
vijod that the jurors shall bo residents
whom called upon to serve but the sher-
iff Jones, the Missouri postmaster. has
only to take Missourians along with him
to be ready at the Court House, aad
when called upon as jurors, they are
deemed residents | have been credi-
bly, informed that such men have thus
actually served. Those who are brought
before the court can receive no aid from
Froe State men as attorney or counsel.
Without taking the oath which Mr.. Cass
denounced, and which no Free State man
can take. person who appears 10 court
as counsel, is by statute punishable for
contempt of court. The public have late
ly learnt what iudga may do nnder Dre-