The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1856-12-06
Kansas Affairs in vermont.

Mr. EDIToR:-A deep and constantly
increasing interest in the affairs of Kan
sas, is felt in the Green Mountain
State. Many of her most valuable
sons and daughters have become resi-
dents of Kansas, and others are on the
way there. Some of them have died
in the endeavor to rescue its fertile
plains from the blight of slavery. The
thought of Kansas neryed US up to give
majority of "a, 900 for Fremont, and
when we were compelled to believe that
he was defeated, it was for Kansas that
we mourned, rather than for him, or
the Republican party.
At the opening of our Legislature,
(still in session., Gov. Fletcher, in
his message, called special attention to
Kansas. After speaking of the rapid
extension of slavery, its exhorbitant
demands, and the danger with which
it is threatening our free institutions,
he proceeded to remark as follows:-
"The Imprisonment of foreigner,
who had simply declared his intention
of becoming citizen of the United
States, was recently considered, by our
Government, an insult to the majesty
of the nation, and on remote sea our
ships of war opened their frowning
port holes, and sternly demanded the
release of the prisoner. But citizens
of this and other States Of our confed-
eracy, who have emigrated to Kansas,
portion of our country under the di-
rect authority of the federal govern
ment, with the intention of making
that. Territory their home, relying on
the assurances of that government that
they should be cleft in perfect freedom
to form and regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way" have,
by lawless and repeated invaSions of the
people of another State, been deprived
of the dearest rights of freemen; their
lives and property have been threaten
ed and destroyed, and they have been
subjected by those invaders to the most
cruel and tyrannical enactments which
have characterized modern legislation
and yet, Notwithstanding their frequent
appeals to the President for relief, none
has been afforded them; their robbers
and murderers remain unpunished,
some even in official positions under
the federal government; and obedience
to the pretended laws of the Territory
is enforced by the armed soldiery of the
United States. t.s... aszs-
''The recollection of our own early
history as a Commonwealth, should
awaken in our breasts the liveliest
sympathies for our brethren who are
struggling for freedom in Kansas. Yer
mont was once the scene of similar dep.
relations, hardships and cruelties. Hel
early settlers were elected from theiI
possessions, and were denied all law
and Justice, by the emissaries of gov
ernment which wrongfully claimed do
minion over them. / earnestly sug-
gest to your careful deliberation the
question whether, in view of the great
wrongs to which our citizens in Kan
sas are subjected, and the utter neglect
of the general government to protect
them, some action is not required OF
you, equal to the importance and emer-
gency of their cause"
So much of the Governors Message
as relates to slavery and affairs in Kan
sas, together with numerous petitions,
memorials, and resolutions on the same
subject, was. referred to a selecfseoEfl-
mittee of five, at the head of which was
r. V. Marsh, Esq, for many years a
leader in the party of Freedom. This
committee made long and elaborate
report, copy of which | send you here
with. The committee also reported a
bill, appropriating not more than twcn-
ty thousand dollars, to be expended al
the discretion of the Governor, in fur
nishing provisions, clothing, and means
of shelter to the suffering poor in Kan
sas. This bill met with objection in
the House of Representatives, where a
substitute was proposed, which, recog-
nizing the obligation of Vermont to
afford protection to its citizens who
may be in Kansas, so far as is practi-
cable, and consistent. with the rights OF
the federal government and of the
States, authorizes the Governor to
take such measures as may be neces-
sary to ascertain their condition; and
if he ascertains that action by the gov
ernment of this State is necessary for
their protection, to correspond with
the Executives of other States that may
have citizens in like condition, and,
either in concert with such Executives
or without, as the case may require, to
take such measures, not inconsistent
with the rights of the general govern
ment, as may be required IN order to
afford the protection that is justly due
from this State to its citizens. The
Governor is further authorized to draw
on the State Treasurer for such sum,
not exceeding five thousand dollars, as
shall be found necessary to carry into
effect the provisions of tho act. This
bill passed the House by large ma
jority, and is now pending b:fore the
Senate, which viii doubtless concur,
and the Governor will very hastily
carry ont all its provisions. p. II. w.
st. Jobnsbury, Vt. Nov.12, 1856.
We stated, last week. that this be-
nefeent movement was defeated. in the
Senate of Vermont.
Claims.
Several young men who have come
here lately, took claims this week
on Washington Greek, about eight
miles from Lawrence. Most of the
claims had no timber on them, bat ali