Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-06-11
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
KANSAS DLFFIC ULTIES FAIR
LY STATED-THE IA CTS IN
4 VUT-SHELL.


AT the first regular election in Kansas,
the Law of the territory enacted by Congress
was violated by Missourians who took forci-
bic possession Of several of the polls and vot-
ed Of course illegally. This rowdyism was
unlocked for and consequently uprovided for.
Nobody was to blame but the ruffians them
selves for this first act of lawlessness. Ger
tifcates were denied to many thus elected
and new election was called at which the
illegal voting was nearly suppressed. Had
Gov. Reeder anticipated such interference
from Missouri or Massachusetts,, he could
have had the aid of Government troops to
resist it. He asked no such aid, and the
President had no knowledge of such proceed
ings until they were all over. A majority
of the members of the first Legislature, how
ever, were legally elected and all save three
or four were duly commissioned by Reeder
himself. This was the Government of the
Territory fully and legally organized. 1t was
not until this Legislature removed to Shawnee
Mission that Reeder ceased to regard it as
legal and not until it passed some foolish and
tyranncal laws that the Free State party re-
pudiated its acts and resorted to resistance
instead of repeal, the latter the only legiti-
mate remedy for bad laws known 10 our
Government.
1t was then resolved by Reeder, Robinson,
and Lane to institute government of their
own, and set at defiance the Territorial Gov
ernment as established by Congress. They
called a meeting of their followers held a
mock election in violation of law, sent the
returns to their Executive Committee, and
attempted in this way to put down the en-
tire government of the Territory, which had
been lawfully established. Of course such
revolutionary and dangerous scheme could
not be tolerated, and the General and Terri
torial Governments at once took measures to
prevent the acts contemplated by these viola
ters of law, and to enforce due obedience
to the laws and the Government against any
revolutionary and violent movement.
1t is certain that the Government will be
sustained-that the violence at the polls will
be repressed-that armed resistance will be
overthrown-that the people of Kansas, in a
lawful way, will control their own Govern
ment and their own affairs, and that the Alb
olitionsts will not make any political capital
by the use of Sharpe's rifles and breastworks
in Lawrence, against the lawfully constituted
authorities of the Territory. These things
appear to be quite reasonable and certain.
The Proclamation of the President was is
sued at the call of Lane, Robinson, and 9TH
ers, and it forbid all unlawful interference
from abroad in the affairs of Kansas. The
President was bound to recognize the gov
ernment established in accordance with the
law of Congress organizing said territory,
and to see the laws of said territory faithful
ly executed He is left no discretion in such
matters The constitution imposes this duty
upon him. He cannot be presumed to know
that said government is illegitimate. Even
a Fusion House of Congress dare not act up
on such presumption, and have sent an In
vestigation Committee to ascertain and re-
port the facts in the case.
The President has done nothing more or
less than his duty, as the Chief Executive of
the Nation. He could have known nothing
of the first invasion. When second one
was threatened, at the call of citizens of the
Territory, Robinson, Lane, and Others, he is
sued his proclamation, and it was prevented.
He is ready now to stand by the people of
that Territory, and protect them in all their
rights as citizens, and furnish force to bring
to punishment illegal voters wherever they
may come from.
The whole difficulty will be settled in this
way. The present Territorial government
will be sustained, and its laws enforced until
repealed or pronounced unconstitutional by
the proper court. The revolutionists will
surrender, the leaders will leave the terrific
ry, and the rank and file will submit to the
laws until they can elect legislature that
will amend or repeal them. There will be
no pitched battles in Kansas mark that
nor but little fighting. The worst is already
over, and order will soon reign in Warsaw.
There will be desperate effort by the Fus-
onists to keep up the turmoil until after the
Presidential election, but it cannot be done.
The Federal authorities there will bring mat
tiers to head very soon, and the leaders of
the opposition must either fight or run.-
The latter seems to be their forte. In either
case, peace will follow, emigration will re-
commence, and by the close of the very next
Congress Kansas will be admitted as FREE
STATE.
As an old woman was lately walking thro'
one of the streets of Paris, at midnight a
pa rola callod ont &c Wbo,, +boro ~