Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-10-22
The Election in Kansas.

The Election in Kansas.
We are glad to learn that the Ere
State citizens Of Kansas have determines
20 take no part Whatever in The election
which was to take place. on the 16tl
inst, in thai Territory. They have BEEF
ostricized, prescribed, and disfranchiset
by the edicts of a mock Legislature
The Council, which is the superior
branch of the Legislature, was a~ppointet
by the Missouri invaders on the 30th O
March, 1855, and is composed wholly
d pre-slavery men, and by its own law:
has perpetusted its existence until 1858
If the citizens vote now, under the laws,
and at the time appointed by that Coun.
ell. they recognize the validity of its en-
actmerts, and virtually declare their al
4egiance to it. Gov. Geary with pre-
denied kindness tells them they may
change these laws If they can, when he
knows that so long as those laws are in
force, they are disfrsnchised. This is
mere mockery. He tells them his in
structions are to enforce the laws, which
he win do, although those very laws
make American citizens, the actual SET
tlers of the Territory. aliens and out
casts.
The citizens Of Lawrence at a public
meeting he'd on the list of October,
passed the following preamble and reso-
lutions:
"Whsre0s, Expediency and principle
alike enjoin the people to ignore the
coming election for members Of the As
sembly, and whereas Congress rejected
our Delegate on the ground of the inva-
iidity of the election law, another appli-
cation incidental in fact and principle
with the one just determined, will doubt
less be refused. Therefore
Resoleed, That the people Of Kansas.
regarding the so called election law as
invalid, refuse to participate in any elec.
lion held BY virtue of its enaciments.'
Here is the section of the Kansas laws
which depriFes every lover of freedom
intbe Territory of the freeman's dearest
right that of voting, and which would
~aisfranchise more than one half of the
voters in Ohio if the same laws were in
force in this State.
SEC. IL. And provided
fustder, That if any person offering to
vote shall be challenged and required to
take an oath or affirmation, to be ad-
ministered by one of the judges of the
election, that be viii sustain the provis-
ions of the above recited acts of Con.
gress, and of the act entitled 'tAa act TO
organize the Territories Of Kansas and
Nebraska" approved May so, 1854. and
shall refuse to take such oath or afirma
ton, The vote of such person shall be
rejected.
Here is another of the acts which are
a part of this code, and which each cit.
zen mu.t xea to support, before he
can vote.
Sec. II. If any person print, write,
introduce into, publish or circulate, or
eause to be brought into, printed, writ
sen. published. or circulated, or shall
knowingly aid or assist in bringing into,
printing. publishing. or circulating within
this Territory, any book. paper. pam
pliet, magazine. handful or circular,
containing any statements, arguments,
opinions, sentiment, doctrines, Gdvice, or
inuendo, circulated to produce a disor-
derby, dangerous, or rebellious disaGec-
ton among the slaves in this Territory,
or to induce such slaves TO escape from
the service Of their masters, or to resist
their authority, be shall be guilty of fel.
.ony, and be punished by Imprisonment
and hard labor for a term of not less than
five years.
Henry Clay, in his famous letter to
the citizens Of New Orleans, said:
"Slageyy Is a piratical sUur against the
rights Of mon." He also said =" No
earthly posesr could induce me to Uots for
Ae introduction Of Stauery where IL had
not before eristed, either South Dr. North
of the Missouri Compromise line."-i;
IN Kansas nor Nep Mezico.
II he had uttered those words, or pub
1ished them in Kansas under these pres
ent laws, he would have been a ffelor,
and anendable to imprisonment, and hard
labor for a term Of not less than two gears
Here is the section which would have
convicted him. !
SEC. 1e. If any free person, by
sPEAKING or by WHITING, ASSERT, OR
MAINTAIN hat persons have not the RIGHT
TO hold slaves in this Territory, or shall
INTRODUCE into this Territory, print, :
publish, write, circulate, or cause to be
into this Territory. written, :
published or circulated in this
Territory. any book, PAPER, MAGAZINE,
or circular containing ANY
THE RIGHT OF PERSONS TO HOLD
SLAVES IN THis TERRITORY, such person
shall be deemed guilty of felony, and
punished by imprisonment at hard labor
for a term of NOT LESS THAN TWO
YEARS.
In a letter written by Washington to
Robert Morris, (see Sparks Washing
lon. he says:
81 can only say. THERE is o A MAN
LIVING WHO WISHES NOPE s~IkcERELT
THAN I DO. TO SEE A PLAN ApoRTEp FOB
raE ABOLITION Dr. IT (SLAvERF.) but
here is only one proper and ~effeetual ,
mode in which it Gan be accomplished, Z
and that is By Legislative authority; and S
his. SC far as nay suffrage viii go, shall s
never be waning" c
George Washington. himself, for writ b
ng those words. and publishing them in !