Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-04-25

thew have sent one battalion after anothe
as they can get them ready. Who has al
objection TO II? do not mention It as be-
ing in the least degree reprehensIble, or az
calling for any ccnsure Ia the world. NJ
doubt those cmigrants who 60 there go io
the purpose o. settling, and are mghmindet
men did not cite the fact with the we"
Of censurinr any body, but merely 20 show
that, IN the south az well a. m the North
persons were assisted TO 90 To kansas-iol
what purposef To advance the one side OF
the other Of this great question. IL Is some
thing that commends itself to the accoptanc,
of everybody in the United States. They
have done j, and they will do il. Lectures a.
bout the improperly Of helping a man 10 DC
that which he has a moral right to do, are
entirely misplaced. and will never amount To
anything.
Again. The operations Of the emigranl
aid society have nothing whatever to do with
the question before Congress- That ques-
ton Is, whether the settlers and inhabitants
have been injured and abused ~ such man
ner as to call for redress at our hands. II so,
il is our duly, as we have the power TO cor
rect il. Suppose 1t should turn out that some
Of the inhabitants have been aided there by
O society, even, as some think, Improperly,
arc they not settlers there; Does the fact
of their having been aided 10 60 there by
somebody whose purposes you do not like,
Justify violence upon them by people from
Missouri? Not at all. The President ofthe
United States says, expressly, that though
he censures the acts Of the omgrant and So
ciety, they formed no jusufcauous for tae
proceedings against them. Then why talk
about III The subject Of discussion Is the
proceedings Of the people Of Missouri IN re-
laton to Kansas, and to that now propose
to address myself
It's insisted by the honorable Senator from
Illinois, Mr.. Douglas, chairman OF the Com
mree on Territories, in his speech, that in
point of fact, the invasion which was made
m the Territory Of Kansas at the period Of
the election in March, 1855, was confined 10
seven representative districts, entitled TO nine
members Of the Legislative Assembly. Be
cause stated ~ my minority report, as say
now, that think the invasion extended 10
all, or very nearly all of the Territory, he
called on me Tor some sort OF proof of The
assertion. Sir, never had any power TO
send for persons and papers, nor had the
committee. Gentlemen who make reports,
must make them on the best information
which they have. There are many things
stated IN the majority report as matters OF
fact, Of which have never seen any ey-
dence, but suppose they were 80 stated be
cause the majority Of the committee from
the infonnluon which they had deemed
them to be facts. On my information, have
made The statements contained III the nnnor-
ty report
The Senator from Illinois admits that there
was an invasion IN seven districts itseems
60 me that that confession Is an end TO the
question. The Legislative Assembly was
only entitled to twenty-siX members ~ all.
Is It possible that any gentleman IS prepared
to say that Legislature may admit men
without any title, who have been elected by
force and violence, to the extent Of more than
one third of the whole number, provided a
majority were legally elected Mr. Presi-
dent, one third OF Legislative body Is a con-
trolling power in any Legislature. There
was an armed invasion of the Territory OF
Kansas on the Both of March last and 1t Is
admitted that the invaders, IN seven districts,
chose nine of the representatives. by force
and fraud. That beng an acknowledged
fact, and the Legislature having admitted
those nine men-morc than one third of the
whole number--we are told It did not vltlate
the whole proceeding As have said, the
admission Of snch a number a. that into this,
or any other legislative body, is controlling
power. BY their action in regard to this
number, they got the power to override the
veto of the Governor The law organizing
the Territory reserved to The Governor a We
to power for the security Of the people and,
by admitting this number Of men who 1t Is,
IN substance. acknowledged, were illegally
elected, they entirely deprived him Of all
power.
II seems TO me that the very granting O.
this fact is an end of the question. 1t Is tC
be remembered that all the members elected
by the invaders, even IN the seven districts
were granted their seats, and this the Sena
tor in no way censures. Now, who ever be-
fore heard OF a burglar being defended OF
the ground that he did not take as many
goods as Is charged against him; and that
as he did not he shall and ought to retain a'
his own the amount he did take ? do no
mean TO be understood, however, Az IN an
measure taking back my statement that Tn
invasion extended to the whole Territory
The Senator from Illinois asked INC to pro
duce proof; aud am perfectly willing on
tins, as on all other occasions, To render
tell why ! entertain and express this view
The proof of the extent of the violence, O
course, rests in the proof of the violence IT.
self. The proof of the extent OF the VIC
lence consists in proving its existence. Yol
cannot prove It's extcut independently OF pro
wing its existence. We cannot separate tn
Two. There are proofs Of violence an,
those proofs show not mefely that 1t existed
but that 1t extended through the whole Ter
ritory. desire to call attention to som
things, which make me think that Il extend
ed beyond the seven districts.
In the first place the invasion is matte
of history, which no man can rise here IN IN
place aud dispute, The Senator from ILL
MOTT does not dispute It. In the next plac
we must consider the object OF the invasion
II was perfectly understood that men wen
into Kansas from Missouri IN g6eat numbers
into different parts OF the Territory -fo
what purpose Undoubtedly for the purpls
OF voting. They succeeded by force IN vot
ing, aud then returned home.
| am not m the habit ol thinking that bod
les of men, holding respectable positions b
society, ever assemble together IN this cuun
try, IN considerable numbers, for any grea
purpose, and publish talsehoods TO the world
Let us see what was sald on the ground d
relation u this matter II gentlemen vii
turn to the proceedings of the people OF Kan
sas, whenever they did assemble, It will b,
found that they declared IN all their public
meetings what hey considered to be the ex
tent OF the invasion. There was meeting
at Topeka, IN September, held in pursuance
ola call made by meeting which took plac
at Lawrence IN August At the Topeka
meeting Il was declared;
HAsreas the Constitution Of tho United State
guatanes 10 the people OF his Republic the right ,
Assembling together in peaceful mauaor for the con
moo good ~ establih Justice Insure domestic usnqul
~, pfOyiue for tho deiuuso, promote the gene
al welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty then
selves AID their po-toy and nAsrcas, ihr citizens
Kansas IerUiory we're prevented ofn oeciing menhei
OF Legislative Assembly, IN pursuance Of The procla
Nation of Hvvefnof Reedef the Jptn OF March las
~ aFadng ilfces from ofeigu States coming inro th
Territory and iufeiug upon ihn people ig.sltute
uonfefidents and olhei tnmica 10 the inatosts OF 20
people OF Kansas roru,oy," &C
The same thing was asserted in all thei
other meetings, and published to the world
OF what were these people complaining (?
They complained that DersOus from Mig.our