Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-02-14
wAErxEssAaE OF sOvEAaOR CHASE.

communication herewith transmitted induces
me TO lay il before The General sse mbIy with.
delay.
1t is authenticated BY The sienstures Of
James H. Lane, Chairman Of the Executive
Committee Of Kansas Territory; OF Charles
Robinson, The Governor, sndGeorSe W. city
Ter, the Secretary. elected by The people under
the recently adopted Safe constitution.
II represents that an overwhelming force of
citizens Of Missouri is organizing upon ne Dor.
ders Of Kansas, with the avoxei nurpose of
invading the Territory, demolishing its owns
and butchering its Fee Slate citizens.
II appeals fot prompt assistance in terms
which cannot fail 10 command your most ear.
nest attention.
The object Of The contemplated invasions Of
Kansas Is to compel. lie Inhabitants 10 submit 10
the establishment OF slavery.
The progress Of siaveholding sggression 10
very remarkable.
In 1920 the slave power insisted on The ad.
mission Of Missouri as a slave State, and effec-
ted its purpose by migrating on the bill for lis
admission o perpetual prohibition OF slavery
in all the remainder Of the territory acquired
from France, north ofthc south line OF Missouri
extending westward to our frontier.
In 1854 the slave power demanded the re-.
- ~ ~ 1 iOblUAAiSh VI lO<Os oUu cUNEleU
It's object by migrating on the Nebraska. Kan
sas Bill, which provided for the repeal, an ex-
press declaration that the people OF the Terri.
tory should be left ''perfeclly free 10 form and
regulate their own domestic institutions, sub.
ject only 10 the provisions OF the Constitution
Of the United States"
In 1856 The slave power insists that under
this declaration the people of the Territory
have no power al all TO exclude slavery, until,
under an enabling act OF Congress, they pro-
coed 10 form 8 State constitution prepatory 10
admission into The Union.
That this prete nsion would he advanced was
~foreSeen aud predicted, when the Nebraska
Kansas Bill was under discussion; and il was.
indeed, indirectly sanctioned by the refusal Of
lis supporters 10 adopt an amendment to he
bill, expressly recognizing The right Of The
people 10 exclude slavery.
WI atever construction, however, may have
been Intended by The sIaveholding supporters
Of the bill, aud whatever counlenance 10 that
construction may be afforded by the phraSeol-
ogy Of The act itself il ls certain that, through
out the free States, tie conviction is nearly
universal that the people Of Kansas, deprived
Of the protection Of the Prohibition OF 1920,
have, and ought 10 have, complete right and
lull power 10 protect themselves ngains, the
evils Of slavery.
To prevent the people from exercising this
right and power, armed bands from The neigh
boring Stale ofMissouri invaded the Territory
al the time appointed for The first election of
members Of the Territorial Legislature, March
80, 1880 aud Having taking possession OF the
polls and excluded The legal voters, selected
themselves the persons who were 10 constitute
lhe Legislature, without regard 10 their place
Of residence, whether in Missouri or Kansas.
The acts Of this spurious Legislature were
worthy Of lis origin. Having excluded the
few Frce-Siate members who held certificates
Of election, they proceeded 10 promulgaie, in
The forms Of law, a serlons of pretended stat
utes which have no PARALLELS iifthe annals Of
legislative usurpation. the Governor Of the
Territory; who attempted, Intellectually, to re-
strain thelI excSses by his Executive veto. v rs
removed from Office by The Preside nj OF tie
United States, and thus full scope was given
10 the II utmost extravaganza.
As If disposing Of a conquered province,
they proceeded 20 decree tho establishment, of
slavery, an 10 secure it against popular oppo-
sition, by proviIing for the appointment Of
sherifs aud other Officers, by commissioners Of
their own creation, withou; allowing 10 The
people any voice whatever in their selection,
and by imposing OIL the exercise of the rlght TO
vote al luiure elections with which none but
the supporters OF slavery could comply.
1t was Impossible for men, not themselves
prepared TO be slaves, TO admit The validi v {
this spurious legiSla ion. The peupIr Of Kali
sas refused to submit to dlsfranchist mcnl BY
the usurpers. Lett without valid la VS. amt
RENTED 10 the original righ', Inherent 1T every
community, TO provide for lis own safety and
good order, they proceeded in regular coryen-
tioD to appoint a day and prescribe the man
ner of eIectlng a delegate 10 Congress, an 10
provide ior holding a convention TO frame a
constitution, PREDATORY 10 application for adj
mission into The Union as a state.
On the 9Th OF October last, The day designa-
ted Tor the election Of . delegate 10 Congress,
! Andrew II. Reedrr was chosen to that office;
aud on the 23d OF The same month n State con-
%Slitution was promulgated by the convention
elected Tor tina! purpose. On the 18th Of De-
cember This Stale constitution was ratified by
the people, and on The 18th Of January, Just
past, an election was held Cor State officers
and members of the State Legislature. The
Governor aud Secretary, whose signatures are
affixed TO the appeal herewith transmitted,
where chosen at this election.
While these things were in progress tho
Territory was again invaded, early in Decem-
her, by armed bands from Missouri, now called
lntoaction by extraordinary proclamation from
Wilson Shannon, who had been appointed
Governor Of the Territory, in place Of his re.
moved predecessor. The town of Lawrence
was actually beleaguered, and its destruction
f%erceIy threatened. The people of The Terri
tory rallied 10 its defense, and for many days
civil wa! was imminent. AT length, however,
The Governot became sensible Of The error he
had committed, aud succeeded in inducing The
invaders 10 retire.
There presence had been marked by ont
rage, rapine and murder. Their withdrawal
was angry and reluctant. 1t indicated a re-
mission OF hoslilities, not OF peace.
Hence it is not surprising that The election
Of its officers, under The new constitution, on
he 18th of January, was made the occasion of
further hoStilities. The Territory was again
invaded, and an actual rencounter took place
between the invaders and the settlers. Some
time near its termination, a Respected citizen,
m emigrant from Kentucky; of the name Of
Brown, who had been engaged in it upon the
Free, Stale side, was seized and inhumanly
murdered by The opposite party.
The communication which ira nsmit ex-
presses q strong apprehension that preparations
are now making for o new invasion with grea-
Ter numbers, and more ample provisions OF
implements Of destruction than any which has
preceded il. Information from other sources
confirms the opinion that this apprehension is
not groundless.
1t is impossible to contemplate these things
without deep feeling. They ore The legitimate
L fit. 81 Al. .....l FIJI AT.u.au.. n..ksI.