True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-03-26

bic case of these Kansas people. un-
derstand that the present aching Governor
of Kansas has recently entered into a
treaty, offensive and defensive, with the
people of that Territory, known as the
Lawrence Treaty Il is the only treaty
that know Of which has been negotia-
ted within the memory Of man, where
there was hut one sovereign party assent
ing 10 il. In the case Of this Lawrence
treaty believe The only sovereignty
known as party to it was the people Of
this Territory. What right the Cover
nor had to slipulate BY treaty with them
| leave 10 him and his friends to find out
at their leisure.
But, sir, stop not further to inquire
into the extraordinary provisions Of this
election enactment. Ii is enough To know
that it conlers on courts and sheriliis the
power TO legislate over the people, and
on Indians the right of suffrage in viola
lion of the organic law. But, sir, we are
referred to all the legislation oflhis famous
body as evincing the fact that a legally
constituted Legislative Assembly was
there convened. We are told that bv all
this legislation the petitioner here is es-
topped from inquiring as 10 its legality
and that is only modest way Of telling
us that this House is in like manner es.
topped by it from inqurng into the legal
ity of his Assembly, because il is conce''
dcd thai, if this question be cognlzable by
the House at all, it is so on the memorial
of any citizen Of the United States, and
also that the House may Of its own mo-
lion raise the question. We are told, as
already stated, that all the legislation Of
this Territorial Assembly works e$toppe.
And such legislation! Has the world
seen anything like it since Draco wrote
his laws in blood! Consider it, and then
tell me whether there are not upon its
face proofs as strong as Holy Writ that
it never emanaled from a Legislature clio.
sen by lreemen 10 represent freemen-
that such aIrocious Legislation never was
enacted by the mere servants of a f. zee
people for the government Of their mas
lers, by creatures for the control of lhcil
creator.
find on pages 7l5, 7i6 & ~ Of this
volume If Kansas laws, passed by lhi.
Territorial Assembly, an enac,men. by
the fourth section Of which il is made 4
felony puri,ha5ly with death, for any
person TO carry away out Of that Terri
tory any slave belonging to another, will
intent To enec, the freedom of such slave
And by the fifth Secion of which it i:
made felony, punishable with death F.; Il
aid iR pursuading to send any slave be
longing to another out of said Territory
to effect his iccdnm.
That by the seventh section il is felo
ny punishable with five years impriSon
ment for any person to aid a slave in es
Gaping from The service of his master, o
to aid or harbor any slave who has cscap
ed from his master.
That by the eleventh section thereo
it is made felony, punishable by five
years i'm arIslument, 10 print or circulate
or publish or aid in printing ciruating o
publishing within said Territory, AN
book paper, pamphlet, magazine, fond
bill or circular, sona'ning any srm'imrr
calculated 10 induce slaves to escap
+ from the service Of their masters;
Thpt' by the twelfth secion thereof
is felony, punishable with impris'n
menl for two years, for any free person
by speaking or writing, to assert that pei
sons have not the ri ght 10 hold slaves i
said Territories, or to circulate there an
book containing any denial Of the reh 4
any person to hold slaves in said Territory
These, sir, are provisions Of tho eglsIi
tive enaclments of this Kansas Assembly
2 10 which gentlemen point AS The evidenc
, that the body which enacted them was tn
legal and duly constituted Legislature {
Kansas.
i We are told more than that, fur, il ! VI
dcrstoud the Distinguished gentleman rroI
!, South Carolina. Mr.. Boyce Alright, !
. argues that we ave to abide BY that lrgi
lation. We are to recognize these law
: as obligatory, and 10 bow to their supr
macy-thal TO do less were treason.
n sir, repel the suggestion; !, for one, clai
the right as an indspenden, Represent
tive OF a free and Independent conslit
? ency 10 question the validity Of lhaIle
r isIatiop. | claim the right to Inquire in
rs it, end to know whence it emanaled al
|. in this place.
- by whom it was enacted. But, sir,
~ makes no difference to me who enacl
y these Infamous statutes, or who chose Il
te Legislative Assembly which so assume
,e to legislate. insist upon it that it is
nc plain as any fact in nature that this leg
- lation is void by whomsoever enacted.
~ And why! Simply because it cont
ld venes The Constitution of the Unit
re States, which CONSTITUTION, by the {
ed press terms of the ORGANIC act. reslri'
Nc the Legislative power Of the LegisIat