Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-10-03
mRihe Beecher."

An angel IN 8 child
That leads him to her mothers chair,
And shows him how she smiled.
"Rifle Beecher."
Our readers may have little curiosity to
see how "Rihe BEEcHER" can shoot; if so,
let them read the following article which is
one of his contributions to the New York
Independent:
THE ONLY QUESTION.
Every Northern man has been taught to
abhor slavery. Scarcely one could be found,
who would not say that slavery ought not
to be allowed to 90 into Kansas. Why?-
Because it is an evil at any rate; because
our territories ought not to be consumed by
a blight; because this territory has been
solemnly made over to freedom, by the
agreements of North and South-a COM
pact more sacred than law, because founded
upon mutual honor and trust, because it will
make agitation fercer and more bitter than
ever between the north aud the south. There
ought to be public rebuke, administered
by the whole North, to those men who have
wantonly violated long-settled compact;
who have invaded Kansas with robber bands,
destroyed the freedom of elections, erected
a foreign legislation upon its soil; enacted a
system of laws such as were never known
before in any territory of this Union; de-
Istroying liberty of the press, the right of
free speech, the right to establish truth and
combat error by the dissemination of argu-
ments and reasons; ordaining punishment
for the use of speech and the press, odious,
cruel and disgraceful.
The laws of this spurious legislation of
Kansas ought to kept before every Chris
tan mans eyes as he revolves the question
of duty to the three parties before the public.
Sec. II. If any free person, By speaking
or By Uriting, assert or maintain that per-
sons have not the right to hold Slaves IN this
Territory, or shall introduce into this Ter
ritory, print, publish, write, circulate or cause
to be introduced into this Territory, written,
printed published, or circulated in this Ter
ritory, any book, paper, magazine, pamph-
let or circular, containing any denial of the
right of persons to hold slaves in this Ter
ritory, such persons shall be deemed guilty
of felony and shall be punished By inpris-
onment at hard labor for term Of not
less than tlOo gears.
This is the law which every man votes to
sustain who votes for Mr. Buchanan.
Sec. IL. If any person print, write, intro
duce into, publish, or circulate, or cause to
be brought into, printed, written or circula-
ted, or shall knowingly aid or assist in bring
ing into, printing, publishing or circulating
within this Territory,an book,paperpamph-
let, magazine, hand-biIl, or circular, contain
ing anv statements, arguments, opinions,
sentiments, doctrine, advice, or innuendo,
calculated to produce a disorderly, danger
Gus, rebelIious disafection among the slaves
in this Territory, or to induce such slaves to
escape from the service of their masters, or
to resist their authority, he shall be guilty
of felony, and be punished by imprison-
ment and hard labor for term not less than
five years.
Sec. I3. No person who is conscientious
ly opposed to holding slaves, or who does
not admit the right to hold slaves in this
Territory, shall sit as juror on the trial of
any prosecution for any violation of any of
the sections of this act.
Chap. %: Sec 2. Every person who may
be sentenced by any court of competent ju-
risdiction, under any law in force within
this Territory, to punishment by CONTINENT
and hard labor, shall be deemed a convict
and shall Immediately, under the charge of
the keeper of such Jail or public prison, or
under the charge of such person as the keep
er of such Jail or public prison may select,
be put to hard labor, as in the first section
of this act specified, Ito wit, "on the streets,
roads, public buildings, or other public works
of the Territory"-Sec. l: page 146, and
such keeper or other person having charge
of such convict, shall cause such convict,
while engaged at such labor, to be securely
confined by chain sir feet IN length, of not
less than four-sixteenths nor more than three
eighths of an inch links, with round ball
of iron, of not less than four nor more than
six inches in diameter, attached, which chain
shall be securely fastened to the ankle of
such convict with strong lock and key;
and such keeper or other persons having
charge of such convict may, if necessary,
confne such convict while so engaged at
hard labor, by other chains, or other means,
in his discretion, so as to keep such convict
secure and prevent his escape; and when
there shall be t,Co or more persons, such con-
victs shall be fastened together by strong
chains, with strong locks and keys, during
the time such convicts shall be engaged in
hard labor without the walls of any jail or
prison"
All the grievances complained of by our
fathers against Great Britain were but as
the little finger on this gigantic hand of ty-
rany. There is not at this day in any Eu-
ropcan despotism, code more outrageous
and utterly wanton. If it stood alone, if it
had no antecedents it would be a memorial
of shame, fitted to excite horror. But when
it is regarded in its historical connections,
words failed to express the outrage and wan
tonness of it. The territory was made over