Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-04-24

and thereby prove that from the first to the
last it has been the movement of the people
and not of party, faction or section; but
few opposing it except those holding Office
under Executive appointment, or by virtue
Of an election by a foreign and hostile
people. The movement has been as unani-
nous as any important movement in the
history of the country; and in it has been
manifest determination strengthened by a
unanimity which cannot be baffled by the
assaults of our enemies.
On the I'd day of October last the Ter
ritory was invaded for the fourth time, and
about fifteen hundred votes polled by non-
residents. This Infringement upon the
ballot-box was under the operation of laws
passed by the self-styled Territorial Legis-
lature. But the invasion at the several E.
lections for the purpose of voting are not
all. At the election for ratfving the Con-
stitution bands OF armed invaders, not wish
ing to vote themselves, and determined that
h, actual settlers should lot, destroyed the
ballot-boxes and prevented voting in
Leavenworth, Kickapoo and the other places
this being one cause Of the smallness of the
vote on the Constitution. Also, at the
election for State officers and members of
the General Assembly, the settlers were not
permitted to vote in Leavenworth, and the
Judges of Election. having authority, post
poned the election-a few of the voters
going to Easton. Our enemies, determined
that the right of elective franchise should
not be exercised by our people, assailed
the ballot-box. and when the citizens re-
solved to protect themselves in this sacred
right, an engagement ensued. On their re-
turn to Missouri; from Easton, the invaders
captured R. p. Brown, member of the
House of Representatives. of the State Of
Kansas, one of our citizens, man of -un-
impeachable character and unfnching
courage, and brutally murdered him with
knives and hatchets. But other invasions
than those for the purpose ofvoting has been
made upon this people. -
Late in November, about two thousand
armed men, with seven pieces of artillery,
made an attack upon Town of Lawrence,
and held it in state of seige for about two
weeks. They made the attack withs6t
any provocation or illegal act on the part Of
the inhabitants of lawrence. The enemy |
declared their intentions to destroy the
town and slaughter many of its inhabitants:I
and nothing but the ferceness and patriotic |
courage of those who rallied to protect the |
town, saved it from destruction.
The facts herein set forth by your men,
orialists will show to your honorable bodies
the grievances which compelled the State
organization, and the principles which gu-
ded them in effectng it.
The principles of self-goverhment inher-
ent in the people constitute in them, and in
them alone, the right to establish their own
Government.
The wrongs inflicted upon the people by
the Slave Power in total disregard of the
Constitution and organic act, having become
too grevous to be borne, it was their duty |
to provide such a government of their own
as might rid them of this oppression, and
make them free and prosperous.
Believing that the past outrages will be
repeated; knowing that the Territorial |
Government has, thus Far, proved failure,
and expecting no relief from the Executive
department, there was left one course to
pursue.
The foregoing are the reasons for the
State organization.
The wrongs which they have endured and
the outrages yet threatened, have compelled
the People of Kansas thus early to assume
the burdens of State Government.
We come to you in neither the spirit Of
servility nor of arrogance, but as American
citizens knowing our righ's and asking
them at your hands; and in transmitting to
your honorable bodies cory of the Con-
stitution adopted by the citizens of Kansas
at State Convention, held at Topeka on
the 23d of October last, and ratified by the
people on the 18th of December following,
we respectfully pray for the admission o
Kansas as State into the Confederacy
upon an equal footing with those States
which have preceded her.