The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-10-11
EXEC urlvE OFficE. Iowa, !

ExEeurvE 0FficE, Iowa,
BugLtSSroS, Aug. 80, 1886. \
10 HIS Exceljcsey. FaAssttN ptgRcE, Pres |
iSeni Of tas Usstsd Nasss.
Sis:-During the last twelve months, |
have been constantly receiving letters,
memorials and aifidavits. from former cit.
isens of lows, now residents Of the Terri
tory of Kansas, alleging that they are not
protected by the United States officers In
that Territory, in the eale,ment Of their
liberty and property. They charge, aad
the evidence fully supports the charge, thai
at the trst, and al each subsequent terrific
rial election, armed bodies 81 men from en-
adjacent State invaded the Territory, took
pcss sssion Of the polls, deprived the actual
settlers OF the right OF Suffrage sRd perpc
trsted gross ouuages upon such citizens az
prolessed political sentiments disagressele
10 the invaders, By threats aad law less
| violence, they secured the election Of ma
jorily OF the members Of TIL Legislative
| Assenely,--many 81 whom were them and
are nov, eittzena Of another State, b. this
| assembly code oil Law was enacted, ua.
| psralleled in the b STORY u lssisstion; laws
| palpsbly Unconstitutional, and which no
| man with the spirit 81 q freeman could obey
| without personal aish0aGr and a violation
/ oil his Conscience.
| Ia this condition OF things, and without
any suempt 70 Fspel violence BY violence,
| the people VI Kansas sought peaceful rem.
edy tor the wruags that had been psfpe-
| trsted, by iorm az 4 State Constitution
| electing State officers, and asking admis-
sion into The Uaion as sovereign State.
| Although the Constitution OF the United
/ States d clares that treason "shsll consist
ONLY in lsyyiug war" yet man holding
/ commission under the seal vi the United
States, and exercising the eEice Of chief
Justice in that Territory, has decided that
| lne persons VINO accepted ogi-e under the
State Constitution are gail'Y OF trssson.--
uader his instructions the State officers
have been ind led, arrested and ball denisd
then, under The preteRee Of judicial pro-
eeedings, but without iria! or hearing OF
any kind. An armed posse has invaded the
town OF Lawrence and destroyed printing
presses, private dwellings and 8 hotsl.--
| Human lives haye been sacrificed, property
| TO 8 large amount has been destroyed, cit
| liens have been driven from the Territory
| oy violence, snd ansrchy and disorder every
! where prevail,
/ Among the sufferers have been former
| citizens Of loRs, who went TO Kansas in
no spirit Of propagandisE, but With the IN
| tention of becoming permanent residents OF
that Territory. Three oi them have been
slain by arms said to have been placed By
federal officer 10 the hands OF band Of out
laws from remote State. Some have been
compelled TO dee from taa Territory for no
ofFeace s4se that Of having emigtated tT0m
$ tree State, whilst others remain there
stripped Of their property and spPeal to
their fellow citizens al iaTG zoe sympathy
and protection
In my conviction taelr appeal should not
be in vain. They went 10 Kansas relying
upon and had right 70 expect the pFotec-
ton Of the Genera Government. Ia tbs
expectation they hare been disappointed.
Citizenship has been virtually denied them,
Their right - defend themselves, and "to
keep aud eear arms" has been in!rinsed By
the ACT Of the TerrisoFis officers, who have
wrested from them the means Of defence
while putting weapons Of offence into the
hands OF their enemies. They have been
oppressed BY code OF laws unequgIled in
atroeity ia modern times. The character
and conduct Of ne territorial judges have
shown that an appeal 10 the judicial lribun
ais ID worse than useless.
| The Central Government having failed
to perform Ire duty By protecting the people
OF Kansas 10 tae enjoyment OF their rights,
It IS maaIfesgiy the right Of each OF the
States u adopt measures to protect its for
ner citizens. i the people 81 Iowa are not
permitted 10 ENJOY the rights of citizenship
is that TeulL-ry, hey retain their former
citizenship IN tgis State, sud are as much
entitled 10 protection from the State while
! upon the Pobilc Domain, as they would be
ii the General Government failed to protect
them in tureign country.
Whilst l write, sa army raised ia the
State Of Missouri, is marching into Kansas
With the sVowed purpose Of driving out all
those citizens OF the Territory who emigra
ted fr0m the tree ; ates aud who express
preference for free State Goa .ti,ution -
Another armed body of men have placed
themselves on the emigrant route iron Ia
state Of Iowa, 10 prevent Ct the point Of The
oayonet any further EN- grafton from this
State,
The State Of Iowa cannot be an indiE -
ept spectator Of these acts Of lawless vic.
ienee. She Demands that her cilizens al. Ii
DC Protected ia Kansas, and stand upon ar
4
States. She viii moi Il bn.t 10 The closing
tue immigrant route through her domain in
TO that Territory.
AZ the Executive Of Iowa. demand FOR
her eiIizens in Kansas, protection il the en-
JoYment Of Iheir properly, their lbsrry arc
their po.ltica! rights, ask that the militia
iorce on the line ofemisrat.on into the Ter.
riLory be dispersed.
A compliance with these reasonable re,
quests viii tend 10 restore peace IN Ransa-
! and quiet the public mind Of this Stale. H.
the event ofa non-com giIauCe, 10 my view
case will have arisen, clearly Within the
! principle laid town by Dir. Madison 10 the
Virginia resolutions ii 1898 when il vii
be The duties Of the States ''to interpose Il
arrest the progress Of the evils" IN that Ter.
! | nt0ry. ! AN very respectfully
fUur obedisDl servant,
JAMES ~ GRIMES