Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-17
The Kansas Invasions of '5455

The Kansas Invasions of '5455.
REPRoT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
The Special Committee appointed to inves-
tigate the troubles in the Territory Of Kansas,
having performed the duties required by the
House, beg leave to submit the following
REPORT.
A journal Of proceedings, including, sundry
communications made to and by the Committee,
was kept copy of which is herewith submit
ted The testimony is also herewith submitted
II copy of it has been made and arranged, not
according to the order in which il WAS taken.
but so us to present, as clearly as possible,
consecutive history Of events in the territory.
from its organization to the 10Th day Of March,
A. D.. 1856.
Your committee deem it their duty to state,
as briefly as possible, the principal facts proven
before them. When the act to organize the
territory OF Kansas was passed on-day Of
May, 1854, the greater portion of its eastern
borders was included i'll Indian reservations not
open tor settlement, and there were bat few
white settlers in any portion Of the territory
It's Indian population was rapidly decreasing,
while many emigrlnts from different parts Of
our country were anxiousy waiting the OK
tinction of the Indian title. and the establish
mcnt Of a territorial goyernmenet to s.ok new
homes in IFS fertile praries. 1t cannot be doubt
cd that If its condition as IL free territory had
been left undisturbed by Congress, is settle
mcnt would have been rapid, peaceful and
prosperous.
Its climate, soil, and its easy access to the
older settlements would have made it the ia
| vurul Enr Ia Fila nfo
stantly flowing to the West, and by this time,
it would have been admitted into the Union rs
II free state without the ienst sectional excite
lnont. If 50 organized, none but the kindcst
feeling could have existed between it and the
adjoining state. Their mutual interests and
intercourse, instead of, as now, onjangcring
the harmony of tho Union wJlld have
strengthened the ties of national brotherhood,
That testimony clearly shows that before tho
proposition to repeal the Missouri Compromise
was introduced into Congress the people of
Western Missouri appeared Indifferent to tho
prohibition of slavery in the territory, and
neither asked nor desired its repeal.
When however, the prohibition was removed
by the action of Congress, the aspect Of aif.irs
entirely changed. The whole country was ag-
itatel by the rcopenng of II controversy which
conservative men, in different sections, hoped
had been settled in every state and territory
by some law, beyond the danger of repeal The
excitement which has always accompanied the
discussion of the slavery question was greatly
increased by the hope, on the one hand, Of ex-
tending slavery into region from which it had
been excluded by law and on the other by
sense eff wrong done by what was regarded
us dishonor of IL national compact. This
excitement was naturally transferred into the
border counties of Missouri and the territory,
as settlers ftvoring free or slave institutions
moved into it.
A new difficulty soon occurred Different
constructions were put upon the organic law.
1t was intended by the one party that the right
to hold slaves in the territory existed, and that
nett hcr the people nor the territorial legislA-
turc could prohibit slavery-that that was
alone possessed by the people when they were
authorized to form state government. 1t was
contended the removal Of the restriction virtu-
ally established slavery in tho territory The
claim was urged by many prominent men in
Western Missouri, who actively engaged in the
affairs Of the territoy. Every movement of
what ever character which tended to establish
free institutions, was regarded as au interior
ence with their rights
Within few days after the organic law
passed, and rs soon as its passage could be
known on the border, leading citizens of Mis-
souri, crossed into the territory. held squatter
meetings and then returned to their homes
Among their resolution are the following
THAT we will afford protection to no abol-
ZIONIST as settler Of the territory"
That we recognize the institution Of slave
ry as already existing in this territory, and ad-
wise Shareholders to introduce their property rs
soon as possible"
Similar resolutions were passed in various
parts of the territory, and by meetings in sew
eral counties of Missouri Thus the first effect
of the repeal of the restriction against slavery
was to substitute the resolve Of squatter meet
ings, composed almost exclusively of citizens oil
single state, for tho deliberate action Of Con-
gress, acquiesed in for thirty-fve years.
This unlawful interference has been contin
ued in every important event in the history of
| the territory every eection has been controlled
not only by the actual settlers, but by citizens
of Missouri. and as consequence every officer
in the territory, from constable to legislators,
except those appointed by the President owe
their position to nonresident voters. None
have been elected by the settlers, and your
Committee have been unable to find that any
political power whatever, however unimportant,
has been exercised by the people of the terri
tory.
In October, A. D. 1854, Gov. A. II Reeder
and the other officers appointed by the President
areived in the territory, Settlers from all parts
of the country were moving in, in great num-
bers, making their claims and building their
cabins About the same time, and before any
election was or could be held in the territory, a
secret political society was formed in the state
of Missouri 1t was known by different names,
such as " Social Band" :. Friends Society,"
:. Blue Lodge = The Sons OF the South"
Its members were bound together by secret oaths,
and they had passwords, signs and grips by
which they were known to each other Penal
ties were imposed for violating the rules and
secrets Of the order. Written minutes were
kept of the proceedings of the Lodges, and the
different Lodges were connected together by an
effective organization. II embraced great num-
bers of the citizens Of Missouri, and was extern
ded into other slave states and into the terrific
ry
Its avowed purpose was not only to extend
SLAYER into other territory of the United States,
and to form union of all the friends Of that