The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-08-28

THE CONDITION OF KANSAS.
Report of the Buffalo Convention Com
mittee.

10 the National Committee for aid Of
Kansas.
NIAGARA, Monday, Aug. IL. SO.
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned respect
fully report as follows:
Their mission had the double purpose
of ascertaining by personal observation
the actual condition and wants OF the set
tiers in Kansas, and also Of the several
bodies of Free State emigrants supposed
to be on the road thither.
They learned at St. Louis and else
where that no Anti-Slavery man who
scorned to deny or conceal his sentiments
could attemptto enter Kansas by the Mis-
souri, River without great risk OF being in
suited, abused and turned back.
1t has been said that men going quietly
about their business, and not proclaiming
Anti Slavery sentiments would not be
molested. This, however, is not true in
any just sense !; at least Of men having
strong convictions and iEdisposed to deny
them when called for. Any traveller to-
ward Kansas is liable to be reported by
spies to Vigilance Committees, or bands
of bullies, who take law into their own
hands (eowing the honest inhabitants of
Missouri who accost strangers, force
them to declare their business and their
sentiments, and maltreat them and turn
them back if such sentiments are displeas-
| ing to the inquisitors.
Some travellers, indeed, may escape, but
this is because the system of fspying is not
complete, and the vigilance of the ruff
ans is sometimes dulled by whiskey or by
sleep; but the fact is patent, that Anti
Slavery men are prescribed hunted for,
and their free passage barred by bullies
so patent, indeed, that it has been COM
mon for Eastern men (even OF Pro- Slave
ry tendencies to erase marks from their
Luggage, and destroy papers, before en-
tering Missouri, lest their place of resi-
dence should be known. To system OF
espionage which apes the Austrian, is ad-
ded system of brigandage which excels
the Neapolitan,
When it is considered that the inquisi-
ton and terrorism prevail upon the great
thoroughfare of our country and that men
are subject to it solely because they will
not deny their love of Freedom and ha-
tired of Slavers-solely because they can.
not pronounce shibboleth, and be de.
clared "alt right on the goose'-ther
must Americans hang their heads, anc
confess the existence of a tyrany which
puts down free speech in a large part o
their boasted Republic.
1t is an untruth and bitter mockery
to say that travellers can have redress b,
appealing to the courts of justice. Th
peaceful and just citizens of Missouri il
the infected district, dare not protect stran
gers who are denounced by the Borde
Ruffians as ..5lue 6ellied A6ol nionists;. =
and victims who have tried to appeal t
court have been subjected to renewed in
suit. to violence, and some even put t
death. These are painful truths, Th
undersigned therefore, preferred to max
a tedious journey around Missouri, b
Iowa, though it led through three bur
dred miles of sparsely settled country
: unproyided with coaches, hotels, or til
ordinary facilities for travel, but whel
the scattered settlers in their log cabil
enjoy and permit free speech.
:, :, During this journey the undersigne
passed several parties of emigrants fro
:, the Free States, toiling slowly along c
= foot toward Kansas and Nebraska-the
: families and furniture drawn by oxen.-
= Some were forced to take this circuit b,
, = cause they dare not follow the rou
: through Missouri. Other parties We
I met etreturning Eastward, disheartened /
: the difficulties of the way and by the da
gers ahead.
: The tendency of Americans to emigra
= Westward and fill up new countries
:. : too strong to need any. assistance fro
y Emigrant Aid Societies under, ordina
: circumstances, or to be entirely check
- by any common difficulties; but what
:, comment upon the practical workings
= our system is found in the fact that m
:. must dodge and skulk through Nilsson
or make this long, roundabout, tedio
- and costly journey through Iowa to {
: into Territories which the law declal
{, open to all!
,at One test Of the power and justice o
Government is its ability and dispositi
\. to shield its humblest subject. To S
80 81 am Roman citizen" was once S
oh password the world over; but the Anne
h q can Government cannot, or will not G
Ad its citizens the protection at home VIII
,te the Roman Government, even when /
ras ministered by tyrants, gave to Rom;
n. abroad. ~
yht Having passed through Iowa, the
,ad dersigned crossed the Upper Missouri