Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-22
HligrRIlQnGOuG.
Minority Report of the Com =
mittee on Territories.

AbNNt Ch CA AlllOl lbbs
On the Bin entitled " An Act to
Reorganiee the Territory Of
Kansas, and Ior other purposes"
IN SENATE, Aug. IL, 1856.
Mr.. CoLLAMER, from the Commit
Tee ON Territories, TO whom was re-
ierrod blIl from the House of Rep
resentalives entitled 4" An Act to re
organize the Territory Of Kansas,
and for other purposes" submits the
following Minority Report:
In ull legislation, the true actual
condition OF the country to which it
is TO apply should be and must be re-
garded, in order to ascertain what
will be the probable effect OF such
legislation. Who, is the PRESENT con-
dilion of Kansas for which leeisla-
lion is now proposed and what is
the legislation adapted 10 that condi-
uoni If ITS condition is peaceful
and prosperous, let it proceed under
The law which has produced aud is
advancing such prosperity. If, on
the other hand, 1t is conyulsed with
violence, confusion and blood. then
It must be equally clear THAI iu5iola
ton should change and correct the
measures aud causes which have pro-
duced this condition.
A brief and summary statement
Of affairs will be amply sufficient for
the present purpose. The Territory
on the Both March, 1855, the day
for the election OF the Territorial
Legislature, was invaded by armed
bands Of men from Missouri, who
dispersed themselves into the differ
eat election districts, and by violence
aud intimidation drove the inhabit-
ants from the polls, and by their own
votes elected members OF the Legs
lature IN all the election districts bur
one. This Legislature, so elected
by force aud fraud, by the people of
/ Missouri, convened and presumed to
legIslate for The Territory Of Kansas,
and TO appoint officers to execute
their laws. The object Of this afro
clous invasion and assumption was
open, avOwed, and well known to
all-that is TO establish and sustain
the institution Of Domestic Slave
~ in that Territory, thus ackucwl-
edging that, if lett 10 themselves.
the inhabitants would not receive and
promote it. The laws adopted by
this usurpIng Legislature were Gam-
ed in all their aspects to secure the
same purpose for what il had been
intended-to oppress, harrass and
exclude all those opposed TO Slavery
then in said Territory, 10 procure
their departure, and TO deter all 9TH
ers, enlcrtalnIug such views, from en-
lering the Territory for settlement.
Under the color of the laws thus
made, off the affairs of the Terrific
~ and people under their counlen-
ance and direction, have performed
acts Of violence and alrocity skock-
ing TO every sentiment Of lus,,oa and
purity. The Executive of the ma
ton declares that those laws shall be
enforced with the whole power oi
the Government, and the people are
informed by the commander of the
army there, that he cannot protect
them, even from the lawless acts OF
the Territorial militia and the Mar.
) shalPs and Sherlf's posse, because
they act under the color of law. Al
the same time it is insisted that il
they attempt 10 protect themselves
p it must be treated as a resistance Ia
lawful authority. A large part of the
people there Justly regard the acts o
that usurping Legislature as utterly
void, and they framed a State Con
stilution TO present TO Congress 70
70 admission as State, which wa
adopted by voles of large malorIt!
c of the inhabitants of said Territory
and measures were taken 10 organic
a Provisional Government under III
same, subject to the action Of Con
T. gres; thereon. Congress having y,
taken no definite action, when III
aI s' people again attempted TO hold
meeting, peacefully and unarmeC
further to forward lnat object, the
were forcibly dispersed by the Uni
= ed States Dragons. The men wi
to were most active in the matter of
State Constitution have been aue'