The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-07-18

ked BY government has biockaded oil the
avenues to the country, and not only prevent.
ing the return ofthe few who might be able,
and who might feel an inclination to return
from doing so, but rohbing and driving back
all new emigrants from the free States who
are seeking homes in the territory. Thus
forcing upon the people q inality at q most
inanspicious time, aud proposing TO establish
the instiia, ions Of a State when the o Y
try is under the government Of an armed
and irresponsible mob. What a mockery
Of popular rights. And what a fraud upon
a people who were induced to emigrate 70
the territory under a pledge from the Gov-
ernmeat that they should be lett "perteotiy
Tree to establish their own institstlons'
VIII. In addition to this, the bill, as Tar
as 1t is intended ato authorize the people OF
the Territory OF Kansas to form a consti'u-
ton and State government is gratuitous'
We have asked for no such authority We
contend as Democrats, that we have author
ity whenever a majority Of the people may
so determine to call a convention, form a
constitution and State government, and to
apply for admission into the Union as a free
and sovereign State. We hold that the
people are better judges OF when this shall
be done, than Congress can be, and that to
nudge OF, and TO do this is one of the rights
expressly reserved TO the people by the
consultation osthe United States, and there
fore, we have not asked of Congress an
authority that expressly belongs to US IN
der the constitution; but what we do ask,
is, thai Congress should fulfill all the re.
Quirements Of the constitution and extend
over US the protecting hand of the national
government.
We ask of Congress no impossibilities-
| Tor unconstitutional intermeIdling with our
domestic affairs. Congress cannot "9ipe
US back our dead," but it can wipe out q
Legislative government established by fraud
and violence, and institute another that
shall reflect the will Of the people. 1t can
| refund to our people all the losses and
damages that they have sustained by reason
! of this fraud, and restore and secure to them
| what is more valuable than gold, and sweet.
er than life, the free enjoyment Of all their
political rights as American citizens. We
ask a nations disapprobation OF a fraud I'M
paralleled in the history of our country; let
| the nation wash her hands OF the Disgrace
| full act, and let the history of it go down to
posterity with a 1 nations condemnation in
delibly engraven upon its forehead.
Let Congress, in the place OF repeating
certain laws Of the Territorial Legislature.
because OF their inherent defects, set them
all aside because oil iaherest defects in the
power that made them. Let this be done,
and the whole question is open to Congress,
the wrongs of the people may be redressed,
their constitutional rights restored, and
peace restored to the country and to the
Territory, the Constitution itself vindicated,
the theory of non-interterence saved. The
great principles Of popular sovereignty and
self. goyernment re-established, al unniti-
gated fraud upon the sacred ballot box
branded with marked disapprobation, the
| character of our free institutions preserved
untarnished, the confidence of the people
in the perpetuity and strength OF free gov
eminent, and the bands Of the Union
| strengthened and established upon the rock
OF eternal justice; but refuse TO do this, and
all these propositions are reversed.
If the bill was designed to effect these
objects il will most certainly fail OF Its pur-
pose, but on the other hand tend most d.
rectly to the reverse of all these desirable
results, and therefore, finally, as a Demo-
crat, a citizen and friend OF Kansas, one
who 10 yes the Union, and the harmony and
peace Of all sections of the country, | must
most earnestly protest against its passage
into a law. Very truly, &c.
w. Y. ROBERTS.