Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-08

caused no surprise. -AIIer -naVlHg seen
our people trampled on, oppressed and
robbed, on the one hand by the invaders
of their soil, and on the other by the in
fuence, the authority and the officers of
the present Administration after having
witnessed the cold-blooded murder of an
unarmed and unofending citizen by an
officer of the Administration, who is not
only unmolested by the laws and unre-
buked by the President who appointed
him, but who has, perhaps, strengthened
his official tenant and enhanced his chances
of promotion by the act; it is not at all
surprising that we should, by the head of
that Administration, be misrepresented
and perverted: After having seen the
Chief Magistrate. during five organized
invasions of our Territory, unmoved by
single sympathy in favor of an unof-
Tending people, innocent of all wrong,
aed laboring only to carry out faithfully
for themselves the doctrine of self-gov-
eminent, and to build up and extend the
greatness Of our country-after having
seen our invaders coming upon us armed
(without reproof it not not with official
permission from the contents of the ar
senals of the United States, establishing
a system of martial law over life and
property regulated only by the ucon-
trolled will Of vindictiYe and irresponsible
men; system under which life was ta-
ken and property destroyed; the high
ways INSTRUCTED; travellers seized, search
ed and detained; all the pursuits of life
paralyzed, and the destruction and ex-
termination of whole settlements threat
ened and evidently ntended-backed up
by the sanction and authority of the Fed
eral officers, who pledge publicly the CO.
operation Of the President, and all based
upon the fact that man encouraged, per-
haps aided by his friends, had made his
escape from arrest on a constable's peace
warrant-after having thus seen our nat
ural and legal protection joining in the
most atrocious measures Of oppression
and wrong, it is no matter of surprise to
see misrepresentation of our position and
our objects emanating from the same
source.
This is not tile mode nor the time in
which to discuss the themes of this mes
sage. Expecting, as l have right to
expect from the clearness of the exclu-
sive title am prepared to show, that l
shall enjoy seat and voice on the floor
of the House, I am willing patiently "to
bid my time At the proper time and
place, however, 1 pledge myself to meet
and expose the mis- statements of facts and
the errors of law and logic which it con-
tains. I will show that there is nothing
but cold cruelty and insult in the request
OF an appropriation to pay an army or a
posse to prevent the people Of Kansas
firm the commission of outrage and trea-
son. Twill show that the movements
for State government is mis- stated as
to the facts of its origin and progress.
and all that we have done in this direc-
ton has been under the sanction of the
precepts and examples of all the great
men OF the country for the last fifty years
of the Legislation of Congress and the
action of the Executive on repeated and
well-considered cases, and of deliberate
opinion of high and distinguished At
torney General of the United States. and
which, as it is part of the archives of
the Executive Department, it is to be
regretted the President did not consult
before the delivery of the Message.
If 1t is illegality and incipient treason
for new State to be formed without an
enabling act Of Congress, Twill show that
fourteen Senators of the United States
hold their seats, and seven States stand
in this Union by virtue of illegal and
reasonable proceedings-that Congress
has sanctioned revolution, illegality and
treason, again; and that the rank and
nOxious weed has even fourished in the
White House and the Executive Depart
ment; and having indicated my people,
l will also, with the utmost confidence of
success, proceed to the minor and second
airy task of indicating myself in such a
manner, trust, as to show the attack to
have been ill-advised and unfortunate.
As to the discussion in the MESSAGE of
the points involved in the contested seat.
L shall meet them when the case is heard.
and as the House is the sole constitutional
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