Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-22

nble. Nor will the application Of opprobrious
epilhots. and calling this propogdadisn, change
its moral or legal character, from whatever
quarter OF source, official or otherwise, such
epiihois may come. Neither should They deter
any man from pepceably performing his duty,
by following his honest convictions. On the
other hand, all ihose who have seen and rcaliz-
ed the blessings Of universal Liberty, and he
lieve that il can be only secured and promoted
by the prohibition Of domestic Slavery, and
that elevation Of honest industry can never sue
cecd where seryilude makes labor degrading,
should, as in duty bound, PIT forth all reason
able exertons to advance this great ohjec
by lawful means, whenever permitted by the
laws of their country. When, therefore, Kan
sas was presented by Law as au open field for
this experiment, and all were invited 10 enter,
it became the right and duty Of all such as de-
sire to go there as Inhabitants for the purpose
by their numbers and by their votes, lawfully
cast fiom time 10 time, to carry or control, IN
a legal way, the elections there for this object
This could only he lawfully effected by perma-
neni residence, and continued and repeated eff
fort during the continuance Of the Territorial
Government, and permanently remaining there,
10 form and preserve Free State Constitution.
All those who entertained the same sentiments,
but were not disposed themselves to 60, had
the right and duty 10 use all lawful means to
encourage and promote the object. If the pur-
poses could be best effected by united efforts, by
voluntary associations or incorporation, or by
State assistance as proposed in some Southern
States, it was equally lawful and lapdable. 1t
was not the oflicious iniermeddling with the in
ternal affairs of another nation or State, or the
territory of another people. The territory Is
the properly of the nation, and is professedy
open TO the settlement and the institutions of
every part. of the United States If lawful
means so extensive as to be elfectual used to
people !, with majority Of inhabitants oppos-
ed 10 Slavery, is now considered as a violation
Of, or an opposition 10 the law establishing the
territory, then the declarations and provisions
of that law we're but premedtated delusiun,
which not only allowed such measures, but ac-
tually invited them by enaciing that the largest
number of the settlers should determine the
condition Of the country; thus inviting efforts
for numbers. Such an invitation must have
been expected TO produce such efforts on both
sides.
1t now becomes necessary to inquire what
has in fact taken place. II violence has taken
place as the natural and perhaps unavoidable
consequence Of the nature of the experiment
bringing into dangerous contact and collision
infiammabe elements, it was the vice of mis-
taken law, aud immediate measures should be
taken by Congress TO correct such law. If
and vfn
peaceful measures there, legal provisions should
be made and executed TO correct all the wrongs
such violence has produced, and to prevent their
recurrence, and thus secure a fair fuldllment Of
the experiment by peaceful means as originally
protested and presented In the law.
succinci statement of the course and prog
ress of the material events in Kansas, is this
After the passage Of this law, establishing the
Territory of Kansas, large body Of settlers
rapidly entered ntu said Territory with view
of permanent inhabitancy therein. Most of
these were from the Free States Of the Yves,
and North, who probably intended BY their
votes and influence, to establish there Free
State, agreeaby to the law which invited them
Some part of these from the Northern States
had been encouraged and aided in this enter
prise, by the Emigrant Aid Society, formed in
Massachusetts, which put forth some exertion
In this laudabe object, by open and public
measures, in providing facilities for transporia-
tion to all peaceable citizens who desired to be-
come permanent settlers in said Territory, and
providing therein hotels, mills, &c, for the
public accommodation of that new country.
The Governor of Kansas having, in pursu-
ance of law, divided the Territory into districts
and procured a census thereof, issued his proc /
lamaton for the election Of Legislative As |
sembly therein, 10 take place on the 30th day
OF March. 1855, and directed how the same
should be conducted and the returns made to
him, agreeably TO the law establishing said Ter
rilory. On the day of election, large bodies of
armed men from the State of Missouri appear
ed at the polls, in must of the districts, and by
most violent and tumultuous carriage and de-
meanor, oyerawed The defenceless inhabitants.
and by their own votes elected large majority
ofihe members Of both houses of said Assembly.
On the returns Of said elections being made 10
the Governor, protests and objections were
made 10 him 10 relation to part of said dis
trleis, and, as 10 them, he SET aside such, and
80" N''Jt NSt " wv ictuInSt uppedTcu 10 he |
bad. In relation TO others, covering maiori- |
~ of the two Houses. equally vicious in fact,
but apparently good by formal returns, the in
hablianls thereof, borne down by said violence,
and intlmidated, scattered and discouraged. and
laboring under apPrehensons of personal vio-
lence. RETAINED and desisted from presenting
any protest TO the Governor in relation thereto
= and he, then uniformed in relation thereto,
issued certificates 10 the members who appear
ed by said formal returns to have been elected.
In relation TO those districts which the Gov
ernor so set aside, orders we're by him issued
for new elections. In some of these districts The
same proceedings we're repeated by men from
Missouri, and in others not, and certificates were
issued to the persons elected.
This legislative assembly so elected assem-
bled at Pawnee on the 2d day Of July, 1855,
that being the time and place for holding said
meeting, as fixed by the Governor by authors
" OF law. On assembling the said houses pro-
ceeded to set aside and reject those members so
elected on said eoconI .,la.t;on