Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-02
KANSAS AFFAIRS.

Wilson Shannon, appointed by the Federal
Government at Washington; and another, c.
Robinson who derives his gubernatoriai powers
from the Free State Convention, which assem-
bled at Topeka. This is the same body that
selected Messrs. Recder and Lane as U. S.
Senators. Shannon bears among the Free
Soilers the appellation of ssBorder Ruffian
Governor;'' and Robinson is stgmatized by
Douglass as q traitor, who ought to be hanged.
On the 9Th of March, the members of the Free
State Legislature met and were sworn into
office. Gov. Robinson's message is lengthy,
occupying over eight columns of the Herald
of Freedom. We subjoin a few passages
ssIt will be remembered that skeleton of a
government still exists in our midst under the
Territorial form, and, although this was but
the foreshadowing ofa new and better cove
nant, collision with it should be carefully
guarded against. A Territorial Government is
transient in its nature, only waiting the action
of the people to form a Government of their
own. This action has been taken by the peo-
pie of Kansas, and it only remains for the
General Government to suspend its Territorial
appropriations, recall it's officers, and admit
Kansas into the Union as sovereign State.''
Amongst the reasons given why the Terrific
rial Government should be suspended are, that
it is not Government of the people, and that
it is still an in strument of oppression and ty-
ranny. 1t is alleged that every election has
been carried by armed invaders from an adjoin-
ing State. The message proceeds:
:sNot only is the Territorial Government the
instrument of oppression and subjugation of the
people, but under it there is no hope of relief.
The organic act permits the Legislature to pre-
scribe the qualification of voters, and the So
called Legislature has provided that no man
shall vote in any election who will not bow the
knee to the dark image ofslavery, and appoint
ed officers for the term of four years to that
this provision is carried out. Thus nine -tenths
of the citizens are disfranchised and debarred
from acting under the Territorial Government
if they would
The settlers Of Kansas have suffered severe
losses and injury from repeated invasions from
a neighboring State, and it is highly proper
that Congress be memoralized upon this SUBJ
ject. Especially should the General Govern
ment repair the injury it has inflicted. All the
invasions have been permitted by the officers
OF the Government, without any opposition,
while at least one was invited by them. 1t is
the duty Of the Federal Government to pro-
tect infant Territories in their rights, but Kan
has not only not been protected, but it has
been actually oppressed by those whose duty
it was TO defond it.
1t is unjust to any community to send a
mong them officers, with government patron
age, whose political sentiments are opposed to
the sentiments of the people, particularly
when those officers mount the stump and shoul-
der the rife, for the purpose of crushing out
all who differ from them. Some of the feder-
al officers of Kansas are charged with undigni-
fled conduct, and one of them, at least, with
high crimes, and il is the duty of the Legisa-
ture to memorialize the President, that our
citizens may be protected in their lives and in
aiienable rights, and from unwarrantable in
reference of officials in the management Of
their internal affairs. 1t is manifestly improp-
er for the federal officers to dictate into out
of Kansas an institution over which Congress
professed to have no authority.
1t is understood that the Deputy Marshal
has private instruction to arrest the members
of the Legislature and the State officers, for
treason, as soon as this address is received by
you. In such an event, of course, no resis-
tance viii be offered to the officer. Men who
are ready to defend their own and their coun-
try's honor with their lives, can never object
to legal investigation into their action, nor
to suffer any punishment their conduct may
merit. We should be unworthy the consttu-
ency we represent, did we shrink from martyr
dom on the scaffold or at the stake, should
duty require it. Should the blood of Collins
and Dow, of Barber and Brown, be insufficient
to quench the thirst of the President and his
accomplices, in the hollow mockery of ssSquat-
ter Sovereignty they are practising upon the
people Of Kansas, then more victims must be
furnished. Let what will come, not a finger
should be raised against the federal authority
until there shall be no hope of relief but in
revolution.
M RRIE