The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-07-25

his wife and family Of five or ten minoI
children. The irjustice Of this provision \
too glaring to need comment, and us oe,ec'
too plain 10 he misunderstood.
VII. The enumeration OF voters Is liked
at tune when many Of our citizens have
been driven from their homes and from the
territory, and when an armed mob, nnre-
buked by government, has blocknded nil the
avenues 70 the country, not only preventing
the return of the few who might be able
and who might feel an inclination to return
from doing 50, butrobbing and driving back
all new emigrants from the free States who
are seeking homes in the tcrritory-thus
forcing upon the people finality in most
inauspicious time, and proposing to estab-
lish the institutions Of q State when the
country Is under the government of an
armed and irresponsible mob. What q
mockcry of popular rights! And what q
fraud upon people who were induced to
cmigrate to the territory under pledge
from the government that they should be
left perfectly free to establish their own
institutions. 40. -.
VIII. In addition to this, the bill, as far
as it il intended "to authorize the people OF
the territory Of Kansas to form constitu-
ton and State government" is gmtuitous.
We have asked for no such authority. We
contend, rs democrats, that we have author
ity whenever majority Of the people may
so determine to call convention, from q
constitution and State government, and to
apply for admission into the Union rs free
and sovereign State. Wehold that the peo-
pie are better judges Of when this shall be
done, than Congress can be, and that to
judge of, and to do this Is one Of the rights
expressly reserved to the people by the con-
stitution of the United States, and therefore
we have not asked of Congress an authority
that expressly belongs to us under the con-
stitution but what we do ask, is, that Con-
gross should fulfil all the requirements of
the constitution and extend over us the pro-
tecting hand Of the national government.
We ask Of Congress no impossihilities-
nor unconstitutional Modelling with our do
nestle affairs. Congress cannot "girc us
back our dead" but It can wipe ont legis-
lative government established by fraud and
violence, and institute another that shall re-
fleet the will Of the people. 1t can refund
to our people all the losses and damages
they have sustained by reason of this fraud,
and restore and secure TO them what Is moro
valuable than gold, and swceter than life,
The free enjoyment Of all their political rights
as .fmerican citizens. We ask nations
disapprobation of fraud unparalleled in the
history of our country; let the nation wash
her hands of thedisgraceful act, and let the
history of 1t go down to posterity with a
nations condemnation indelibly engraven
upon its forehead.
Let Congress, in the place of repeating
certain laws of the territorial legislature,
because they are inherent defects, set them
all aside because of the inherent defects in
the power that made them. Let this be
done, and tho whole subject is open to Con-
gress-the wrongs Of the people may be re-
dresse'l, their constitutional rights restored,
and peace restored to the country and to tho
territory, and the constitution itself yindic-
ated, the theory Of non-intcriercnce saved.
The great principles of popular sovereignty
and SELF government re-established, nm UNI
fraud upon tho sacred ballot.box
branded with marked disapprobation, the
of our free institutions preserved
untarnished, the confidence Of the people in
the pcrpetuity and strength Of free govern.
ment stimulated and confirmed, and tho
bonds Of the Union strengthened and estab-
lished upon the rock Of eternal justice; but
refuse to do this and all these propositions
are reyerred.
If the bill was designed to effect these OBJ
iects il will most certainly fail of its pur-
pose, but on the other hand tend most dir
Getty to the reverse of all these desirable re-
suits, and therefore, finally, as n democrat,
4 citizen and friend of Kansas, one who
YES the Union, and the harmony and peace
Of all sections Of the country, must earn
rstly protest agrlinst its passage into law.
Very truly, &C.,
W, Y, ROBERTS.