The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-10
THINGS In KANsAs.-oRIMEs AND PARDoNs.


verbatim the same and possessing superior advantages
Is rapidly filling with useful inhabitants and fast rising in
Importance because politicians have lei her alone Kansas
would have been her equal in the elements Of prosperity
and in peace and happiness had the bghtng hand of
waning politicians fallen upon and withered her hopes,
finally bathing her soil with human blood Aid societies.
protesting devotion to her interests, like the proiered
assistance Of a professional pugist involved her in
difficulties multiplied her misfortunes and covered
her with bruises and Gripping her with broken limbs
In fatal hour portion of her people yielded TO the
advice OF disappointed spectators in lands and decay
ed politicians set the laws of Congress at defiance and at
tempted to erect government in hostility to and in def
OF hem while that established by national authority
was still in lawful operation and which the people
bound TO yield obedience. The contrvers OF this
unauthorized government including Reeder Lane Robin
son, and Others became its officers and made attempt
put ii ia operation by force For this attempt to sten
upon Kansas spurious government by overpowerng the
one established by authority of Congress- Lane Reeder
and other leaders opposing the laws, were indicted.
Other offences also became the subject Of indictments
Having committed these offences under the advice of lead
ing republicans" Lane Reeder and Others claimed of
them protection for the past and security for such future
aggressons they might commit Yielding to sense of
their obligations the republicans" in Congress sought to
accomplish both by passing bill in the House to repeal
all the criminal laws in Kansas This falling in the Sen
they attached provision to the appropriation for the
payment Of the governor secretary and judges in Kansas
prohibiting compensation to either until the judges should
dismiss all pending criminal prosecutions This assault
upon the independence of the Judiciary, by endeav-
orng starve them into screening criminals, also
failed in the Senate. third effort protect these
volators of law made by attaching the army bill
proviso violating the constitution. They sought to con-
troll the President in the command of the army and re-
quire him, to the laws faithfully executed but to
aid in rampIng upon them The provision forbade the
employment of the army to aid the civil authorities
in executing the criminal laws of Kansas until they
should be approved BY Congress, and required its
employment against the posse eonitatus assisting the
marshal in executing criminal process 1t also required
the President TO employ the army regulate seizures
and searches upon the highways leading 10 Kansas
thus usurpng duties devolved solely upon the civil au
thorty 1t also imposed the impossible duty of wrestling
from the people which the government had author
lied to be distributed to them Those voting for this pro-
vision must have known that neither the army any
else without proof under OATH could determine which par
ticular private and which public property and
that freeman would fail to assert his constitutional priv
lege of bearing lawfully in his hands Why did the
republicans persevere in their attempt repeal all Grim
innl laws in Kansas Why attempt to disrm the people,
Why try to prevent the army being used aid in the
ecution Of her criminal laws
1t was apparent at first that the republic in Con-
gress wished to those whom they deuled into the
commission Of crime Their Interior objects are now de-
veopsd Lane has entered Kansas with large military
force levied war; and thereby committed undsputed rea
son. All engaged with him guilty OF like offence
and many OF them OF murder arson rape and larceny 1t
is now apparent that the republicans in Congress- knew
of Lanes intended bostilities and purpose TO commit
crimes Hence the effort to repeal all criminal laws in
Kansas and to parayze the OF the marshal and the
power Of the President in enforcing the criminal law
Hence the attempt to dsarm the people, that Lans vic
tory might be easy and complete and hence the wish
dsband the army could not be rendered powe ress to
protect the people and the laws and instrum
cripple instead Of aiding the civil authorities 10 the
cuton of lawful process Could the army have been dis
banded It's efficiency and usefulness destroyed by stai-
tory provisions civil might rage and the question OF
supremacy in Kansas involve only her whole popula
ton, but perhaps every State in the coufederacy dis
solution Of the Union might have resulted from armed
conflicts there The motive OF these attempted legislative
provisions was TO protect those crmnay engaged in this
treason-n these murders rapes arsons and other feo
MES Can human skeptcism doubt that this was the real
motive7
Lanes army not from Kansas but collected
from various free States to the number Of some
fifteen hundred They were not settlers, nor did
they in good faith, propose settle there He had
them on the borders of Kansas for weeks. Where did
Lane procure arms provisions &c for such an army lie
had no means OF his The expense Of such n force
must be very great Where did the necessary means come
from No one fail to believe they were derived
from the republican party in the different Sta ties Some
was openly contributed by Gerrt Smith and others in
New York We cannot doubt that the lenders h, "a levied
heavy tax upon their party to deay these expen s Is
that man guiluess Of crmensy, trrasonwho has con-
toued money to aid this stupeudous treason Of IL mes
Nosound win deny their legal much less their
moral guilt Before Lane entered Kansas in hostile array
that Territory was quiet and the people were corome ncng
to be prosperous and hoping for peace and ppes
The army had separated the combave and protec ted
peaceabe and the courts open Tor the admns ration
Of justice Our feowcitzens anticipating the re
Penance OF the erng and hoping that they had ente
upon career Of obedience the laws and life OF usei al
ness as citizens that would render It compatible with dut
for the Executive to extend Gle mepcy to those who had
been deuded into the commission OF offences The public
feeling was tending in that direction and the friends OF