Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-09-05
VOL. L, NO. f..~.wHoLE NO. 2eo3


earnest and firm legislation in that
great forum. When, hereafter, one
shall be looking through the pages OF
statute laws affecting the African
race, for period Of more than
quarter OF a century, he will regard
Tins ephemeral recognition Of the
equality Of men with the affection
and hope which the traveller feels
when approaching a green spot in
The deserts Of Arabia. 1t must be
other Senators not |, who shall CON
sent to blast this oasis, aud disappoinl
all the hopes that already are burst
ing the bud upon it, Mr.. President,
although the fact is clear that the
/ pretended laws in Kansas can only
be executed by armed force, and
therefore arc obnoxious TO a presump-
ton that they are founded in iuius-
tice and although those laws upon
searching examination, are found to
be subversive of the Constitution,
and IN conflict with all the sentiments
OF humanity, the whole case Of the
House of Representatives has new
ertheless not yet been stated. The
proceedings which have hitherto ia-
ken place in executing those laws
have been unconstitutional in their
character aud attended with grind
ing oppression and cruel severity
The Senator from Virginia has ask
ed the whether such laws do not eH-
isl in Missouri.
Mr.. MAsoN-The Senator from
Virginia asked you whether a law on
which you were commenting was
not law OF the State of Missouri.
copied by the Territory of Kansas.
MIR. SEwARD-Take the question
IN the shape in which the honorable
Senator repeats it. suppose such
laws exist in that Stale, and in other
States. | have this to say for those
States, and for the United States,
that a Federal standing army has
never been employed in executing
such laws in those Slares. And how
have these atrocious laws been exc
euted in Kansas The Marshal Of
the Territory, an officer dependent
on the President Of the United States,
has enrolled as a volunteer militia, at
the expense Of the Federal Treasury,
an armed band of confessed propa-
! gandsis of Slavery from other States;
aud this 50 called militia, but really
unconstitutional regular force, has
been converted into a posse comitd-
ms TO execute these atrocious stat
utes by intimidation, or by force, as
the nature of the resistance encoun-
tered seemed to require. This has
been the form Of Executive action.
What has been the conduct of the
Judicial department Courts of the
United States have permitted grand
Jurlcs TO find and have maintained
indictments unknown 10 the laws Of
all civilized countIes--an indictment
OF a tavern as nuisance, because
the political opinions of its dodgers
were obnoxious an Indictment Of
bridge over river for nuisance,
because those who passed over it
were of opinion that the establish
ment of slavery in the Territory was
injurious TO its prosperity indict-
menls even of printing presses as
nulsances, because the political opin-
lous which they promulgated were
favorable To the establishment of a
Free State Government. Either
with warrant from the Courts, or
without warrant, but with their
connlvance, bands OF soldiers with
arms belonging to the United States,
and enrolled under its flag, and di-
recied by its Marshal, combining with
other bands Of armed invaders from
without the Territory, and without
even the pretence of a trial, much
less of Judgment, have abated the
alleged nuisance of tavern by lev
cling II to the ground, and the pre-
tended nuisances of the free presses
by casting type and presses and com
pOsitors' desks into the Kansas River.
Moreover, when the citizens, whose
obedience to the laws was demand
ed, sought relief in the only constitu-
tional way which remained open TO
them, by establishing, condltionally,
aud subject 10 the assent Of Congress,
20 be afterwards obtained, a State
Government, provisional Executive
officers, and a provisional Legisla-
ture, indictments for constructive
treason were found in tho same
courts, by packed grand jurles, a.
| gninsf rhcse Pr"v's'saal EVasn''Vs
officers, and detachment Of the
army of the United States entered
the Legislative Halls, and expelled
the representatives of the people
from their seats. During the intense
heat of this almost endless summer,
a regiment of Federal cavalry per-
forms It's eyolutlons in ranging over
the praries of Kansas, holding IN its
camp, as prisoners under martial law,
without bail or moiDprise, not less
than ten citizens, thus indicted in
these Federal Courts for the pretend
ed crime of constructive treason.--
The penalty of treason under the
laws of the United States is death.
What chance for justice attends
,hosc citizens9 | will show you
The Judge who is TO Try them pro-
cured the indictments against them,
by charge 10 packed grand jury,
in these words;
Thi, Territory oganizedb BY an act Of Congress,
and % fr is auth nTity Is tram The United states II
ha. eglslalne. eeeled In puIsuanee Of tha ofg.nle