Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-10


call attention to the fact, that the |
entire Democratic party are as much in
volved in the armed invasion of Kansas,
and the despotic seizure of the ballot
boxes there, and forcibly depriving the
people of their right of suffrage, as they
we're in the repeal of the Missouri prohi-
bition of Slavery. They are only diff
ferent steps towards the attainment of
one object.
The next step was, the assembling of
the fraudulent Legislature, and the en-
actment of a code of slave laws, worse
than those of Draca. Those laws could
impose no moral or legal obligation upon
the people. The same number of indi-
viduals of Maryland might as well as
semble, and profess to pass laws to gov
ern the people of Ohio; and their enact
ments would have the same moral force
upon our citizens as those enactments of
Missourians had upon those of Kansas.
Yet, these pretended laws characterize
the whole proceeding. By those laws,
the barbarous practice of wearing the
ball and chain, of iOgging men upon the
bare back, of fogging women, is at
tempted to be introduced into that Ter
ritory.
By those laws it is declared to be fel-
ony, punishable with death, for a man
to assist a fellow being to regain his
God-given right to Liberty. 1t is fur
ther declared felony, punishable with
death, for a man to write, or publish, or
speak words of Freedom, which shall in
duce Gods enslaved image to strike for
Liberty. By these enactments, the
freedom of speech and of the press is
prohibited, and the Constitution of the
United States is repudiated. Men are
prohibited from exercising the right of
suffrage, unless they, swear to support
these laws, which trample upon the Con-
stitution-thereby binding themselves
by an oath to violate that charter of
American Liberty which we are sworn
to support. These enactments consti-
tute the third step in the revolution which
commenced in this city by the two Sen
atorial conspirators.
Here, sir, at. this point, arises the great
issue of the hour. The Republicans
meet the revolutionist at this first prac-
teal point. We hold the invasion of
Kansas, and conquest of its people, to be
treason. The election of a fraudulent
Legislature, a most arrant despotism !;
their laws, disgrace 10 the age in which
we live-fraudulent, barbaious, and
Void The people of Kansas. having no
voice in their enactment, ought not to
recognize or obey them; that no consid-
erations should induce obedience TO such
tyranny. That for Americans 10 submit
10 such despotism would disgrace the
American name, and bring a reproach
upon all Governments claiming to be
free.
Here, sir, the Republicans take their
position. We wish the opposite party,
and the whole country-aye, the civil
lied world-to understand that we dis
card, hold in contempt, and wholly re-
pudiate, the invasion of Kansas, the
Oft Government, the Legis-
lature elected by those foreigners, togeth-
er with all their enactments. We can
not draw this line of demarcaiion between
us and the advocates of Slavery too dis
tinctly, too wildly. 1t has already been
marked with violence and bloodshed,
both here and on our western border.
And now we are called on to make
appropriations from our national treasu-
ry, to enable the President to use the
army for the purpose of enforcing Obe'
1ience to these laws, which patriotic
men detest. l wish it known to the
country, that portion of this body, ifnot
l majority, stands on these doctrines
and will maintain them 10 the extent Of
,ur moral and political power; and it /
hese fail, we will then determine on our !,
'uture course.
If we pass this bill without the provi-
10, and make the appropriation in gene
al terms, the President will be at Eber;
y TO employ the army for the coming
rear in the same manner he has for the |
,ast year. Indeed, by passing the bill
n that form, we shall tacitly approve |
he action Of the Presidens and the pur
,oses for which he has recently employed
he army in Kansas. BY the use and
'ower of the army, he has taken from
he people of that Territory their arms
nd when the citizens were thus left
Without the means of defence, they have
'een set upon by rufians, by Missouri
Democrats, friends of the President,
nd robbed of their property, their per-
ons insul;ei, their dwellings burned,
nd in some instances individuals were
murdered.
The second article in the amendments
( our Federal Constitution declares that
the right Of the people to Keep and bear
rms shall not be intiiHged." Bu' in that
Western Territory the Constitution is
upon by our army, acting un-
er the Presidents orders; and we are
allied on to give the President money
D support the army, while thus engaged