Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-07-11
Senator Douglas Kansas Bill.

tSAo~OoA DO0S AeSS A~esAAceS 1880
Mr. Collamer of Vermont has submitted the
following clear, forcible and conclusive minority
report against Mr.. Douglas new Kansas Bill pass
ed this morning in the US. Senate:
ssIt Is now proposed to pass the bill to enable
the present inhabitants of Kansas to choose dele
gates 10 form State constitution. 1t is well I'm
dsrtood that the only topic of difficulty there is
ssaeiect of domestic slavery. As there is not
tAs nunber of inhabitants there to entitle them
70 representative, according to our present an.
poriiohment it is entirely matter of Congress.
ional discretion whether State shall be formed
at this time.
II the state of circumstances there be sucb es
to furnish well founded expectation that a fair
just and impartial expression of the opinions and
wishes q the actual bona tide inhabitants of the
Territory cannot now be obtained, then this ex-
sesiment should act be attempted Mt this irpcture
u their affairs. A succinct statement of recent
events N relation to that Territory, its present
unhappy and unsettled condition, and the causes
which have produced it, will fully show that no
fair election of delegates, no just expression OF
opinion, no true decision can at present be there
obtained.
in 1854, when the bill establishing the terrific
rial governments of Kansas and Nebraska was
passed, It was enacted that they should, when ad
matted as a STATE, be admitted "with or without
slavery, as their constitutionmay provide This
however, was not satisfactory to the slaveholding
States and therefore that provision of the Missouri
compromise which forbid slavery forever north of
90 80 north latitude, that bill of repose for
which the slaveholding State had received and
secured their consideration, and which had been
sanctioned by thirty years of acquiescence, was
repealed, and the novel experiment was prof.ss-
eddy instituted of submitting the subject to the
people who should come into the territory. This
was done to admit slavery into the territory
which that compromise forbid. This breach Of
faith was Affected by making another blight of
faiths that Is, by providing that the settlers of
Kansas SHOULD be perfectly free to form and
regulate their domestic Institutions in their own
way"
helying on the last national assurance. uanv
people from Free States, as we'll as from Slave
States. settled in Kansas, and how has that as
surance been kept? Neither has the Executive
or Congress has redeemed that plghted faith or
executed that law. / state from information
which regard as entirely reliable. and as that
wniehl believe capable of the most unques ton
abe PROOF which can at any time be presented.
tnas Of the 1891 votes cast in March 1865 for the
election Of the legislative assembly of Kansas
4Szl OF them were cast by armed bands of tbe
inhabitants o. Missouri, who invaded Kansas f,r
shat purpose on that occasion; that only 141O
legal votes were cast, and majority of those
were for the Free State candidates. thoupb moot
Of the Free State voters were driven from, tbo
polls The invasion extended to all the cornell
DISTRICTS and to all the representative districts but
one, and elected and controlled large majority
Of both houses. The people of the territory have
not been left free, but have been invaded and
sub]ugated, and they are and their institutions
nave been controlled by the people OF Missouri
through and by the tyrannic laws. enacted bv
thnt assembly, and more tyranicaIly enforced bv
inc olncers by them appointed. These laws, so
made by usurpation, the Executive of this gov.
ernment hns aided to enforce, and in Congress no
relief has been granted The complaints and ron.
reservations Of this usurpation and perversion If
the orgsnic act have been represented here as
complaints OF "a mere Irreguhritv. and been
treated by the Senate with apparent indifference
ana neglect, as no measure, even of irouirv into
the truth has been instituted.
The people of Kansas thus onnresse5 mud s,,,,-
Jugaiea have complained and struggled in vain.
They have done as they understood the people Of
other territories had done before then. that &c
formed State constitution, inviting all to mr.
ticlpate therein, and presented the same to Com
gress for admission. All such attemrts have
brought down on them the report of being traitors
and subverters of authority.
abandoned 70 their oppressors, the Free State
people Of kansas have been pursued by them in
the same spirit which made the invasion. The
acts o. said'assembly have by their officers been
made the color for all forms of political persecu.
ton and oppression. Indictments for constrive
lreasoHs and pretended nuisances deprive them of
liberty and destroy their property Under the
form of sherif's posse, armed bands of neville
'f0n WITHOUT me territory prow over the territory
ana 'ake and destroy property and lives. and
n1'niaate and drive off the Free State people
tnese people have thus for several months nas+
osen harrassed and scattered, and anv attemnt
~ sen defence has been depressed by the army of
ne United states, or been declared constructive
reason ana treated accordingly. The settlers
s " mus ~ large numbers been driven from their
settlements and from the territory. This is but
ofei and feeble statement of the facts. A fnn
picture Of the public atrocities and private vic.
'ence, which have been committed with imnpnit,,
upon ue Free State people of Kan sas ,rorlL |
excite and arouse the deepest sentiment Of
y wonid seem to be demanded bv a sense of
common Justice, and by what this ma tion owes q,
wen @ the cause of truth as to its own cbarao+o
ana SELF respect that inquiry should be made and
nsurpaton be subdued, and the public faith h,
'eusenea' Dy redressing all the wrongs produced
" sucn means This is not proposed. nor is tbe |
aW on repose to be restored, Or the constitution |
Aiready formed to be allowed.
But, instead of this, it is now proposed 10 con-
'unale tne whole by leaving usurpation in possess
lOn Of us power, and provide no security for those
ney imprlson, Cypress and dispense, but provide
nas tnose now there, and those only. shall defer
iilne me definite condition of that Territory bv
noW forming State constitution. This is but to
encourage violence by rewarding it with success.
nas any result ofsuch an experiment will produce
national peace and satisfaction is to
'uppose the people of this country blinn to the
lover g ordinary discernment, or lost to every
eminent Of Justice and humanity.
j. COLLAMER.