Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-03-07
VOL. L, NO. l5.....wHoLE NO. 2577.

gion. Sir, the President of the u
nited States has arraIgned before the
country these emigrant aid societies.
The organs of the Administration
have assailed them, and now the
Senator from Missouri here, on the
floor Of the Senate, renews the as
sault. Sir, call upon, defy any
supporter Of the Administration, any
apologist Of Atchison, Stringfelow,
and their followers, to give US one
act Of the directors Of the New Eng
land emigranl aid society hostile to
law, order, and peace. | know most
of these gentlemen thus wantonly
assaied, and know them to be
law abiding, order-loving, conserva-
tive men. defy the Senator from
Missouri, the Senator from Connec-
cut, or the Chief Magistrate at the
other end Of the avenue, to show
here, or elsewhere, that the cmigrant
aid society ever violated law Of this
country or performed an act which
could not receive the sanction of the
laws Of God and man. Sir, they
have sent no paupers or criminals to
Kansas They have simply oragniz-
ed a system by which persons wish
ing 10 90 to Kansas may go in small
companies, and, by going together
and starting at a particular time and
place, may have the cost of their
fare reduced about thrty-three per
cent. This company has built hotel
in Kansas, has sent some saw-mills
there, has aided in establishing
schools and churches. That is the
ex ent Of their offence-no more, no
less.
Mr.. President, on the 29th Of July,
1854, within sixty days after the
passage of the Kansas Nebraska act,
meeting was called at Weston, Mis-
sour, by the Platte County Self
Defensive Association Resolutions
were adopted declaring that the as
sociaIion, whenever called upon by
any of the citizens of Kansas Terri
tory, will hold itself In readiness TO
assist in removing any and all emig-
rants who go there under the auspi-
ces of the northern emigration aid
societies.
Before the ieet OF the hrst emig-
rants who went there under the au-
spices of the emigrant aid society
pressed the soil of Kansas, this
Platte County Sel-Defensive Asso-
ciation,' under the guidance Of B. F.
Stringiellow, proclaimed TO the world
its readiness 10 cross into Kansas and
remove actual settlers from their new
homes. Under the lead Of this law
less association, other meetings were
held in western Missouri, and reso-
lutions adopted in favor of carrying
slavery into Kansas, and in denun-
citation of emigranls from the free
States who should go there under the
auspices of the emigrant aid socie-
| ties.
On the oh Of August, more than
two months after the Kansas Nebras-
ka act was passed, a few persons
went into that Territory from the
East. They went there under the
auspices Of that society referred to
the other day so uniustly by the Sem
ator from Missouri. Early in the
autumn Of 1854 the Missouri guar
dams of Kansas crossed over into the
Territory, and, by force OF arms,
endeavored to drive from their homes
the few persons who had begun the
little settlement at Lawrence. But
these Platte county association heroes
found little band Of about thirty
New England men, under the lead
of Charles Robinson--lhe Miles
Slandish of Enthusiastically to meet
the issue with powder and ball, and
they relrealed TO their homes. prefer
ring 10 live TO fight another day.
The Senator from Connecticut re-
lerred with an air of triumph TO tho
election which took place on the
29lh day of November, 1854. On
that day Mr.. Whitfield was elected
land trlumphanily elected-a De-
legate from that Territory. No one
ever questioned the fact tina, he had
a majority Of the legal VOters Of
The Territory on that day y but,
ia addition to that fact, men familiar
with the Territory declare that he re-
ceIvod the votes Of more than one
| thousand inhabitants of Missouri,
who crossed the line aud voted on
that occasion.
hold in my hand, sir, a paper
drawn up signed by General Pome-
roy-a gentleman of intelligence, Of
personal honor, whose veraclty no
man who knows him can ever ques-
ton. From this memorial, address
ed to Congress, | quote the follow
ing words concerning the election of
the 29!h of November, 1854:
The Gt,, bdot boH that was opened upon our vir-
GIN 'o was easae to as by ovetpowenng nu nbsrs aud
impending force So hold aud reoklsss in
yYders, that they cared GOT 20 cuncetl their attack
They came upon 10 the gnse of voters, TO steal
away our franchise, but boldly and openly, snatch Il
With suoag hand They cane directly from THAR
ava homes and IN compact and organised bands, with
arms IN band ani provisions oI the expedition march
cd oar poi, aai, when their work dona. re-
turled whonce they came. II Il unnecessary 10 enter
into the Do ais Il IL enough say that in three dis.
In which, by the most ineifagablo evidences there
we're not ono huadIed and dty yotefs, Of whom
Ioised % participate Ia the mockeiy Of the elective
franchise, 'hs'e invadon polled over thousand voies
An examination of details will re-
veal the extent Of this fraud. In the
seventh election district of Kansas
six hundred and four votes wero cast
on the 29Ih Of November, 1854
or these, Whitfield received five
hnndrcd md ninelu u-sevnn-nll hut