Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-05-16

The Kansas Commission.
A long report of the evidence given before the
Committee Of Congress now in Kansas to get
the facts connected with the various distur-
Dances there, appears in the n. Y. Times, as
taken by a reporter on the rrot. Judging
fr ON the testimony Of men who were them
selves engage in the outragcs, the enormi-
ties committed were not a whit exaggerated
in the newspaper statements at the time.
The whole evidence is astounding in ITS
character. Mr.. Jordan Davidson says he
came with others from Missouri to yote--is a
member of secret society instituted to OK
tend slavery into Kansas, -was told that it
exists in other States as well as Missouri it
has rituals, passwords and signs for recogni.
ton. " The society was used as a means to
concentrate body of men on the both of
March, 1s55-was good chance to come to
vote" Mr.. Lyons saw hundreds coming from
Missouri armed with guns and kniyes,-who
SAID they were from Missouri and were going
to vote was himself appointed by the pco-
pie one of the officers of the election after
Benson and Ramsey left, on election day
the official books are lost or destroyed, Mr..
Murray was at Douglas at the same election.
Mace, a free State man, tried to vote
" Several men took hold Of him by the
collar and pulled him away, he took hold of
me and we were both pulled away together
from the poll they erred out, " Cut his
throat - tear his ID heart out of him -
saw one man draw knife upon him saw a
man with lever, trying to pry up corner
of the cabin, othe rs cried out, - Don't do it
until you hav orders - saw Ellison come
out the cabin with the ballot-hox in his hand
and cry out, " liurrah for Missouri :" Eli
son was one Of the judges; heard Jones (now
Sherii) say he would give the Judge five
minutes to resign or die; Jones gave one
more minute, and they then left these judges
were Ramsay and Benson, both free State
men the crowd then commenced voting
saw no free State man vote.
The violent conduct of Jones, and the
threats made by the Missouriaus to murder
the free State men, are testified to by others
also Blanton, originally appointed one of
the judges Of election, was threatened with
death If he should refuse votes from the in
yaders-rcsigne on the morning Of election
knew many of those who voted to be resi-
dents of Missouri. The invaders. as many
testified, swore they meant t. makc''a legisa.
ture to suit them, and to make Kansas Il
slave State. The great outrages committed
on persons and property by the invaders in
the fall was testified to by the Inhabitants
especially by Mr.. Jessie, and that their own
military organizations were got up to pro.
tcct themselves and not to resist any United
States authority whatever-ncther was it to
resist the territorial laws, but to protect
their own lives and those Of their families,
and their property from destruction they
did not mean to resist Shannon if he came
with territorial militia. They were deter
mined to resist the Missourians
The evidence Of Winchel and Prather re-
spccting the conduct Of those who gathered
to attack Lawrence, on Shannon's call for IA
posse-shows up the outrageous conduct of
the invaders and the imbecility Of Shannon
in far more striking light than any of the
hurried reports OF that day do. 1t is evident
that only the resoute determination of the
settlers to do nothing to provoke an attack,
but to resist one to extremity with all the
means in their hands, joined with the fact
that they had arms 10 resist wHh, prevented
an extraordinary scene Of devastation and
bloodshed at that time.
Beyond question there is a fixed purpose by
the officials of the Bogus Legislature and the
United States functonaries in that region, to
harrass the Free State men at this time, in
all possible ways, under the prctense of law;
to provoke them to commit overt acts which
can be used against them. Hence the getting
up of farcical charges Of treason against Rob
inson and Reeder and others and there are
indications of an attempt to put forcible
end to the investigation, if it cannot be stop
ped by other means, This body of evidence,
under the sanction Of judicial oaths and in
face of cross-examination, is likely to produce
effect on many men who would be ready
to shuttle aside as mere newspaper party slang,
all that has been said on the side of the Free
State men for months past For the this
reason if possible, the pro-slavcry powers
that be will shut it off
1t is impossible to avoid the belief that all
these harrassing acts, committed under the
existing circumstances, are encouraged or
conniyed ut by the highest authorities now
in power in the nation, They would not
take place, if there was any fear of moesta-
ton from head quarters. No man of sense
can believe they would, All the quibbling in
she world cannot convince candid people that
an Executive, who can in II moment find au.
thority, and men, and money, to any extent,
where fugitive slave Is to be sent back, but
is helpless as a child when either of them is
needed to protect the free settlers in Terri
tory from violence and murder, who is
ready enough to turn lovers of freedom out
Of office, and to keep the worst Of men in
Office. so long as they work for slavery, is in
auenced by an impartial spirit of justice and
humanity. II he pretends to be, he deceiyes
himself or intends to deceive others