The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-11-06
Ikaus.,s Affairs

IN tuu, IS hlnply W utseT piaiH AM slHple
state ment which is pronounced false by every
report from that ill.fated territory. But a
shcrt time since, a train of emigrants, mum
bsring over one hundred persons, was stop
ped by band Of ruffilns in the employ oil
the government. treated as those lawless des.
peradoes only can treat alleged criminals, and
after a lenthy detention we're discharged No
doubt but the near approach Of the Presdeh
tial election was all that procured their re-
lease.
There are to day over one hundred -per-
baps more llfan two hundred--free state men,
our own fellow citizens, under arrest, secured
by chains ald a strong guard of armed men,
under charge Of high treason, and other
offences having equal y severe penalties. And
what is their offence /? No man is SO ignorant
Of the facts as to require an answer to this
interrogation. All know that their offence
consists in having refused to recognize the
validity Of the laws enacted by Legislature
proven to have been elected by q Missouri
mob, and composed of citizens Of Missouri
Not only so /; but every intelligent man knows,
and every honest man will acknowledge that
the laws enacted by that legislature, were di-
rcctly opposed to the spirit Of our govern.
ment, and to the recognized rights of our cit
izens. Distinguished men of all parties, have
united in pronouncing them inhuman, barba-
rous, ard unconstitutional. Notwithstanding
all Of these facts, Pierce il using every means
in his power to enforce those laws, and the
last Geographic dispatch announces the start
ling fact that Geary is extensively prepa-
ring to make more arrests Ulder the
laws which Geary makes his arrests, not
a freeman in that territory is exempt from the
penitentiGy or the gallows. -... .... ...r.
In view of these facts, and many others of
like import, the Governor Of Iowa addressed
Il letter to the President, demanding for the
citizens Of his State in that Territory, pro-
lection in the enjoyment of their property,
their liberty, and their political rights" To
this the President replied, through Secretary
Marcy. Here is the only Justification to which
the President can refer for his extraordinary
conduct. His ,wer is only executive, and
that witch he is sworn to tx}cute." Again
he says, I" He will protect, with the national
arm, all who are disposed to gather around
the standard Of the ls~, and 10 obey its be-
hests." No man. possessed of sense of
right and the feeling Of freeman would
" obey the bchests " Of the Kqnsss mob laws.
Even Steadman, in his speech in this place,
pronounced those laws infam US, and boldly
declared that if in Kansas, he too would op-
pose ther execution. .......... .....
The President, in the above quotation, ex-
cuses his action upon very singular gr, unds,
He virtually claims TO bo bouai to exscute ey-
erything having upon its face the appearance
of law, and that he has no right to inquire as
to the source from whence they emanated, or
the depth t mischief which they are designed
to accomplish. 10 other words he is bound
to execute every " BE IL nactei," and he has
no right to ask whether it is the production of
legal or an illegal body, OF whether it is
the production of any body or not, AMI his
ears must be deaf to all testimony. Even the
constitution cannot interfere, for is be not
sworn to execute the laws True, he is sworn
first to support the constitution, but that will
not lstify the protection Of citizens against
unconstitutional and barbarous laws.
his is a fair construction of the Presidents
position. Now what democrat will back him
up? Who, in this free North, will sustain this
position and justify the enormous, cruel. and
relentless prosecutions of the free men in
Kansas? Can he receive the sanction Of
single honest heart 4? r..u .'t"a ..E"
Nov that the election is over, and no one
can be charged with improper motives, we
shall endeavor to keep cur readers informed
OF the facts concerning Kansas and the Ad-
minislralion, without the risk of being charged
with manufacturing lies"
ToLKDo BLADE-J. r. Williams, ESQ, has