Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-29

Y ~~AAS1o
February, and the election was in the following
March BY the census there were but about
three thousand legal voters Yet, at the eDec.
tlon about six thousand votes were polled,
| while large number of residents did not vote.
owing to the threatened violence of the elec-
tion and every member elected to the Legis-
lature at that time, save one, belonged to the
pro-slayery party. Is it to be supposed that,
at fair election in that Territory, but one free
State man would be elected to the Legislature
ont OF thirty-nine members, and that ne should
be in the district furthest removed from Mis-
souri, But passing by the election for mem
bers OF the Legislature desire to call atten-
ton to their official acts for these are the first
fruits OF popular sovereignty, as established by
the repeal of the Missouri compromise. With
out inquiring into the validity of that Legisla-
ture on account of the mode of its election. or
by reason of its changing the seat of govern
ment to Shawnee Mission, the legislation itself
is sufficient justification for the free State men
OF Kansas to appeal, in the mode they have
adopted, to Congress, to secure to them their
rights and privileges
This Legislature, imposed upon Kansas by
non-resdents, has disfranchised large class of
its citizens, and deprived them of the right of
holding Office, or of practicing as attorney at
law in the courts, by imposing as o condition.
unwarranted oaths to support particular laws
of Congress or of the Legislature, thereby de-
stroying freedom of opinion and the right of
private Judgment as to the consttutonalty of
the laws OF the country, which is the birthright
of an American citizen
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia. Quote the acts.
Mr.. GROW. That is what / propose to
do The voter if required must swear, in adj
dltlon to other things, to sustain the fugitive
slave law before he can yote-an unheard-of
requlsltlon to require voter anywhere under
our form of government to swear to support
any particular law as condition to vote for
in most cases the very object of his going to
the polls is to secure the repeal or modification
of such laws as he considers unconstitutional or
unjust. And every person elected or appoint
ed to Office in the Territory must take the same
oath. 10 be admitted to practice as attorney
in the courts the applicant must swear to "sup-
port the Constitution of the United States and
to support and sustain the provisions of an act
entitled an act to organize the Territories of
Nebraska and Kansas, and the provisions of
an act commonly known as the fugitive slave
law" and to which understand the court has
added all the laws of the Territorial Legs-
lature.
The Legislature has appointed or provided
for the appointment of all officers not already
appointed by the General Government, for
terms OF from two to five years, including sher-
ms, conStabies, Justices of the peace, county
commissioners, and election boards. So that
there is not an officer in the Territory of Kan
sas to-day, of any kind or description, civil,
military, or judicial, except the thirteen mem
bers of the council who hold their Offices for
two years, in the selection of which the peo-
pie of the Territory have had any voice, nor
can they have under present regulations till the
fall of 1851. The Legislature has prolonged
its own existence by legislative act till the lst
of January, 1858, so there can be no change in
the laws till after that time This is the pop
ular sovereignty that leaves the people "per-
fectly free to form and regulate their domes-
tic institutions in their own way" And under
these circumstances the people of Kansas are
are assured by the President that the con-
stitutional means of relieving the people of un-
just administration and laws by change of
public agents and by repeal are ample"
But, i'll addition to invading the right of
private judgment, and of deprvng the people
of all voice in the selection of their rulers the
Legislature has struck down freedom of speech.
freedom of the press, and the inalienable rights
of men, and enacted into law despotism as
CALLING, if not as odious, as that of the House
of Hapsburg. The rights of freemen are tram
Piled under foot, while the right to slave pro-
perty is shielded and protected by the highest
sanctions of law. The penalty for advising or
assisting an apprentice to run away from his
master is fine of not less than $40, nor
more than $500 but for enticing or carry
ing away a slave, death, or ten years imprison-
ment.
For harboring or concealng an apprentice,
one dollar for each days concealment but for
harboring or conceaiing slave, not less than
five years Imprisonment at hard labor.
For advising or pcrs~ading an apprentice to
rebel against or assault his master. not less
than $40, nor more than $500 but fer adri-
sing or persuading slave to rebel DEATH
kidnapping free man and selling him into
slavery, an offense that should receive the Sc
verest punishment known to the criminal calen-
dar, unless it be for taking life-and / know
not as that should be excepted for what gra-
yer offense against the laws of civilized COM
munity could be committed than to seize
peaceable citizen reposng upon its protection,
and place upon him the chain and the manacle,
and then consgn him to hopeless bondage
yet the penalty for such an offense under the
laws of Kansas is not 10 creed ten years. inn
prisonment while death is the penalty for aid
iug or assisting IN pcrsudding slave to obtain
bis freedom
For decoyng and carrying away child un-
der twelve years of age, in order to detain or
conceal it from its parents, Imprisonment not to
exceed Eve years, or six months in comfy Jail,
or fine of $500, at the discretion of the court.
Even the innocence and helpIessness of child
hood finds less protection under the sanction of
these laws than is given to the right Of pro-
perty claimed in the souls and bodies Of men.
A. MEMBER. They do not sell the souls.