The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-09-18
NEW SERIES. VOL. 3, NO

nehce. u'keptyour forces there, trst,
to control the election in Iowa by fraudulent
and illegal votes, and then to be marched
across the river to murder the inhabitants
and burn the towns in Kansas, Your men
were Kept there for that purpose, eceiving
telegraphic Information from their eaders
here, and the moment they were informed
that the army bill had been defeated. the ci
vii war instantly commenced in Kansus.-
Houses were burned. buildings destroyed, a
post office Consumed, innocent inhabittnts
shot down in cold blood, Without the slight
est pretCxt or pruvocatIon. a.a as
For weeks previ1usto that time--yes, Tor
months previuus-there had been peace,
quit t, and order in Kansas. There was no
disturbance there. The people were happy
in the security that surrounded them and
there would never have been another telc
graphic de>p ,tch or Communication convey
ing the sad Intelligence Of bloodShed aud
murder, il L ne had not been sent there by
the free soil party to get up civil war as u
rurty movement. The facts Of the case are
too clear to allow any man to deny them,
and there is no one of you who does not re.
ioice when the news of new conflagration
or OF new murder reaches you. 1t is no.
torious to every man in Washington thet il
you see the free soilers with their eyes gIis-
teuing, and congratulating each other, it is
when they have heard Of murder, OF robbery,
of larceny. of house burning in Kansas by
their agents for political effect. This is a
part Of the political campaign. l confess
that it is sad spectacle to behold; it is II
mcurntul thought, that the blood of innoccn,
men can be shed, for party purposes, in Pur'
suance of caucus arrangements, in order to
control the presidential election, yet the
fact is too glaring for any man to deny or
doubt it. This invasion Of Kansas is unpro-
voked; the murders are of the most barba
rous and cruel character; the Territory is
being ravaeed for the purpose Of compel
ling citizens there to rally in their defence
and bring on pitched battle, in order that
you may show some of your own men as
martyrs sacrificed to freedom ... ...
Your daily prayers and nightly invoca.
tinns are that battle may take place, il
which some men from the North may be
murdered, that you may play the part o
Mark Antony ocer the dead CG>ar,. l. a
pro slavery man is killed, it is II gloriou-
triumph IN your stmation. l. : irce soile'
is killed. it is s. mach political capital ioI
the stump ana iur t'le newspapers. l. is OF
such an ISSUE that the senator rom Massa
chu@et.s challenges aud dlres Us to 20 be
fore tha country. Sir, it is an issue ron
which every feeling Of my heart recoils.-
The idea that blood shall be spilled anC
murder% pcrpctratcd for political effect, i:
revolving to every sentiment y! humanity
Yet, sir, il it must b. So, let us curry this
issue to the country, and Ch1rge these crimes
on the heads of the men in this city who ge
lhcm up and the party Mho sustans them
| Sir, in my heart believe that every drop
OF blood shed in Kynsas rests upon the soul.
ofth2 Ielders Of that political party which
j. organizing this civil war with view to
the presidential election. II they can rejoice
in the prospect of concentrating their plan
of the campaign, their feelings are very dit.
ferent from mine. -..,..
What is the excuse for all of this organi
zation of military force, this invasion of O
peaceabIe people, this burning OF houses
and numbering of citizens! The excuse is
that certain laws, which have been read tc
the Senate several times to day, and on ma
ny previous occasions also, are cruel and ty
rannical, inhuman and barbarous. That is
the only excuse which is offered for all this
crime. You say that you are not willing
to allow the President Of the United States
TO use the military force for the enforcement
Of these barbarous laws. When did he eve
propose to use it for that purpose! Wher
has he ever used it to enforce one of them
You know very we'll that up to this hour nj
one prosecution has ever arisen under any
one of those laws of which you complain. By
common and universal consent in Kansas
these laws remain unexecuted, and no NOR
tai man has ever made complaint to
court Of justice, SO far as ] can learn, for
writ or process for violation of any one 0
those obnoxious laws. You know that they
have never been executed. You know tina
the very officers Of fwhom you complain il
Kansas do not pretend to enforce them
Hence you have no right to suppose, and
undertake to say you do not believe, thai
these particular laws are to be enforced b.
this appropriation; and, therefore, the ex
cuse which you give for the defeat Of the ar
my appropration'bill is not sustained by tn
facts. tits Il mere pretext, and has no Ioun
dation in truth. ... ,-.g..T ma-u.
, Whenever find man saying to me OF
the stump that his vote agaihst the arm
t bill was in order 10 prevent the Presiden
from enforcing those particular ohnoxipu
laws, shall say to him that he knows tha
/ pretext is not true; that there is not a
honest man living who does not know tha
, it is mere excuse. You know that tn
appropriation bill is not for the enforcement
, OF those particular laws. You have beel