The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-06
address OF the Kar sac Pro- Slavery Conven-

sentng almost every portion OF the territory OF kansas
held at the city Of Leavenworth, the l4th inst the
undersigned appointed . committee 10 address the
citizens OF the Uniei states and the Territory Of Kan
sas, and lay before them true statement OF toe past
and present state of things .ritory THIS
ing composed entirely of citizens of the Territory,
without regard 10 former party names or dstiuc IONS
Wings and democrats pro slavery and free State
all met and harmonized together. and forg their
former differ in the common danger that eemed IN
threaten the peace good order and prosperity of this
community The great object Of this meeting was
mants law and order in the Territory, and adopt
such means as in their Judgment seemed most advisable
prejudice existing In the public mind In relation to
affairs in Kansas. II cannot b denied that mis-
representation and tssehood unscrupuously COM
msr ced, and pertinaciously adhered to, assuming
all the holiness and crcumstandauty OF truth, has
created pubic opinion in the NORTH and also
cal condition Of this Territory To these
and unounded prejudices Is alike due to the Anne can
people and ourselves Unfortuuatsly this distant Terri
tory selected by Northern geographi party
the most susble place for the fabrication u all kind
mind array section Of the country against the
other and to keep up party excitement Tor mers party
purposes Newspaper have been estabi.hed aud
the Territory filed with corps Of mendacous letter
tiers whose sole business, it would seem has been tn
mssepresent and iasy everything That occurred in the
Territory, and TO ths erossest fsseh RODS
agSns. these Of the slave States at the expense OF
the harmony Of the people and perhaps tine very sx
istence of the Union itself. Our distance from the
10 be ope, ated en-, and the Length OF time
quifed before the most monstrous lalseho2ds be
KNOWN mere, corrected, Tee GERS ioTrfr0ry
most CONVEX lent point from which to send forth to the
abolition press Of the country whatever material may be
desired TO produce the results snd the objects
they have in view. We fully that the heavy
drafts recently made the credulity Of the public by
these papers and letter writer's have nearly not
trels destrt yed their power mischief would
be derct in our duty ii We cid bot cali on t,e Amsri
people to pause 1T least hereafter before making
up their opnio the condition Of things ia Kansas
ups testimony eninating from such source.
In discharging tie duty assigned desire To adj
dies the reason and patriotism Of the Ameii people
and correct opinion can be formed crisis rs arisen
in this tory which must Dot only be met here but
in the halls Of Congress- Indeed we have no hest aaoa
exp essing our belief that toe mov.m 'nts made
in this Territory have been mainly with the vi-w
OF making issues 10 be submitted to Congress,
tor the purpose OF keeping up sectional excite
nent and party strife the slavery ques-
ton The Difficult les in which We are involved
here tave been fl, M the frst, made to assume
ticLa character, arc sun at this than any
former tin e. Under these circumstances ADDRESS 10
the American people trust, will not be considered
shortly after the removal OF Governor Reeder from
Office the o. action adopted by him and his party
ns in The East ard the people of this Territory
advises 10 deneunce he Legislature Illegal body
wa pr claimed in advance thst he would be for
delegate 10 Congress by the people and ud obtain his
SEAL and that free state tttion would be formed
by he ee State party and admission into the Union,
under would he demanded These fees furnish very
satisfactory evidence hat the movements here, made ia
cor foi nifty with the programme laid down in Eastern
laIe :, had their ADVISERS ana crigicators, in
this Territory, but else .hee. In pursuance to theae
suggestions, a few individuals comm need the or
gaLnsti'n of party this Territory haviog for
tier avowei Object the nuifca,ion of the Legisa-
and The Law of the Territory the election OF their
celtgae To Congress- and the formation, by them
selves party, Il free state constitution, with the
view OF demanding admission into the Union under IT,
This party aite preliminary meeting IN 4 in conven
lien the 5h Of October last at what is called the Big
SpriI gs and proclaimed open rebellion and hostility to
the passed by The gislature and bid defiance to
all legal au nolity denounced oIity If the jadges Of
the IN Ihe
raj COVE nmen assumed that the Legislature
illegal 'dy, and that their acts void sni that
the least CT two evils they would rest the legislative
enhctnents to a bloody issue they should
ascertain that peacease Iemedies should fail ami they
recommended to their fiencs throughout Territory
he Organization Ct volunteer lea and the
ment and prepai alton of arms' they also in
favor CT taking steps for the formation Of Ice State
stitution
and followed up by public meetings and conventions
with the view Of carryidg them out, that have ir-
Of This community the belief that crisis of real
dar ger to the peace and good order Of society has
arrived and that it was necessary to take all proper
illegal acts having in view revolutionary movements
always seek to disguise their motives under the pre-
ten OF serving the people, or Justify themselves
by claiming that their rights and liberties have
been rutblessly invaded. and that they are crushed
oy the hand OF despotizm. Such was the case when
the Hartford Convent met during the war Of
1872 to plot treason against the Union, and such is
the case now with the party fin this Territory, who
Ftek W uuDuy LglsIdtulo anu tuelr euBctHeutS,
and propose TO resist the execution of the laws by
violence and force We propose on this c,asoe tn
inquire into the ruth and justice of their various
causes and complaints embodied in their public
rei olives pssed a. the Big Spring Convention. In
these resolves among ether things they that the
Legislative Assembly Of thus Territory Illegal
tooy and that their acts have binding
ice. The grounds which they predicate this
ton are two frs: that the members composing the Ie
gisalive Assembly elected oy Illegal votes and
concly that the sba Mission where the Legislative
Assembly he'd their session. and nearly all their
laws OF place where valid laws could be made
ia other words il legal legislative body staying
at the Slav Mission If neither OF tacse grounds
well taken those wNo propose to est the laws are left
without shadow OF defence for the steps they have taken
Ct propose to take.
As to TIE FIST objection, that the members of the
legislative As bly, elected by illegal votes tits too
surely with had grace from Governor Reeder
and bis party. Afer the members have received
Teen cnvened by him as legislative body,
into office ard tien thir seats and after they have
organized as legislative bedy at place admitted
70 be legal having been named by the Governor hmsef
ana after having received the inaugural message Of the
Cover enacted laws and ali their official
business and adjourned without day, it that
by which the men bers elected There is, and Of
hind TIE law usually provides the mo by which the
tihcates and seats II members may be ested and
the polls purged Of Illegal
Ia rbe under sheraton Governor RseCer him
self prescribed t. mode in which the right TO certif
cate Of election might Re eontes ed This mode, pre-
ana rubE-neu IN DIS
ton ordering the election, constitutes the law of the
and parties bourd to conform to ii and falling
to do they hs remedy excep. contest he
ofthe member before the body to which he belongs.
What rig hit has Sow Reeder and his party 10 claim
this Ia day. that the Legislative Assembly illegal
illegal votes resolved at of the pre-
cincts by the organic aT the Governor entrusted
With the entire super vision Of the first election. He IL
that had the census taken and apporoned the
cilmsn and representative He that designated
the election precincts and appointed the judges Of the
election Of each precinct and prescribed he form Of
oath 10 be taken BY the Judge and cek Of the election
and cir ed The mode 10 which the polls Lhond b. kept
certified and Ietu ell to HIMSELF and he IL rho pre-
SCI lied the mode in which elections should be infested
All this done 10y Gov Reeder, and ea,boded with
great art culsty in bis public proclamation and
read by every tefcIe the election fr IL the Law
by which The election was 10 be conducted.
We find The following mode pIescr5ed for contest.
ing elec'ions- In case any person shall desire ~
contest tie election of any duct Of the Territory,
hey shsll make written statement directed to the
Governor, setting forth the particular precinct dis
tIct they intend to contest the candidate whose cleo
tion they dispute, ant the specific Il COMPLAINT
in the conduct return fl aid election which
he Nv mt TAM al