Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-10-23
Kanaaa RIonAinn

Agreeably to proclamation of Governor
Geary, an election for Delegate to Congress
and members of the Legislature, was to be
held inKansas on the 9th inst. Gov. Gearv
had taken efficient measures to prevent any
disorder or obstruction at the polls, and there
can be little doubt that everything passed off
quietly. But would it be believed, that the
very men who have made the whole country
ring with complaints that at former elections
they were invaded by Missourians, and the
full and free exercise of their rights prevent
ed or embarrassed, are now equally dissatis-
fed when all their rights are secured to them?
There is no doubt in our minds that the Free
State men of Kansas, or rather, those of them
who sympathize with the Topeka Conven-
ton usurpation, are moved by wires touched
at the East and that their movements are
regulated with view to affect the Presiden-
tial election. Accordingly, instead of avail
ing themselves of the ample protection pro-
vided for them by Governor Geary, and elect.
ing men to the Legislature who will repeal
those Territorial laws of which they Justly
complain, but which, we believe, have never
been enforced in single instance,-what do
they do? Why, they resolve that they will
not attend at the polls, and, in short, will
/ II.
stated in a recent circular of one of the Kan
sas Aid Committees, that the Free State pop
ulation of Kansas is not less than thirty thou
sand, and that the pro-slavery population is
not more than 5000. And yet these 10000
suffer the election to go by default, and re-
solve that they will have nothing to do with
it. If this does not show their unwillirgness
to have quiet restored in Kansas, and its af-
fairs to move on harmoniously under such
laws as the people may choose to enact, then
we do not interpret their conduct Alright. The
! ground they take on the subject, is expressed
in the following preamble and resolution
adopted at meeting held in Lawrence, K
T., on the LIST inst:
Whereas, expediency and principle alike en-
join the people to ignore the coming election fo
members of the Assembly, and whereas Con
gress rejected our Delegate on the ground of tb.
inyalidity of the election law another applica
ton identical in fact and principle with the on,
just determined, will doubtless 6e refused :
Therefore,
ResOlped, That the people of Kansas. regard
ing the 50 called election law as invalid, refus
to participate in any election held by virtue O
its enactments."
"Expediency and principle, that's it ex
actly. "Expediency;' because if month be
fore the Presidential election, the people O
Kansas should elect Legislature which wa
sure to repeal whatever is amiSs in the pres
ent laws, and make all other needful and prop
: er laws for the well being of the Territory,
would be difficult to keep up the ''shriaks;
or if still kept up, the voters for Presiden
would laugh at them; and so Monsieur Frai
mong might lose his election. Principle,
because when a man has determined to b
: naughty, it is, in his view, violation of HO
principle to return to duty as a good citizer
!. By "our Delegate" they of course mean A
III. Reeder. But it is not true that he wa
rejected on the ground of the invalidity G
: "the election law.' He was rejected becaus
: he was not elected under any law, but in vic
: lation of all law. If by "our Delegate" Ger
$ Whitfield is intended, then we have to sa
that most of the same men who voted to II
ject him, voted to admit Reeder, who the
r freely admitted was not elected accordldg I
, law. Therefore they must have had otht
reasons for the rejection of Whitfield, than bt
cause he was rot elected according to law
S Besides, the people of Kansas are not respor
# sible for the action of Congress. The electio
is ordered by the chief Executive of the Tel
ritory, whose authority they do not call
question; and this is presumptive evidenc
5 that the election would be legal. But at an
u rate, if the person elected should be rejecte
by Congress, he would do no great harm
anybody.
We repeat, then, that as we construe ii
g action of the Topekaites in ignoring tt
'r ceming election" it is part Of game, planne
:, and directed by Black Republicans at ii
a East, with view to prolOng the troubles
Kansas until after the Presidential electio
>, They don't want peace-they don't want
of Legislature elected which will repeal the ba
% laws-until the grand object of all the kal
d sas troubles is accomplished, viz: the electiC
of Black Republican President and Coz
gress. When the people of the United Stat
ia understand the game it will be losing OF
,r to the shriekers, and the party who emplc
them.-M y. Journal Of Commerce.