The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-05-10
Original Correspondence.
Far the Aeraid q, I'ssdozs.
The Right Spirit
PoTAwAfAxIE, Kansas, !
knr;l 90 1856
kpril %. 1906.

| feel an interest in all Kansas matters, |
have concluded to send you 8 brief his-.
tory of some eEents. that haze lately
transpired in this vicinity.
Some time in March last, person
calling himself an assessor, sent YER
bal notice to the settlers of Osawatomie,
that he would soon call on them IN that
capacity, and would, before calling to
assess their property under the enact
ments of the so-called Kansas TeHitori-
al Legislature, send them a written no.
tice of the time he would meet .hem.
Whether such written notice was ever
sent or not cannot say. a
On the 18th of the present month a
meeting of tbs settlers of Osavatamie
and vicinity was holden to take into con-
sideration what measures should be
adopted in view of this notice to assess;
which meeting resulted in the adoption
and passage of the following preamble
and resolutions
t.WHEREAs, several iny.sions from the
border State have been made into this
Territory to subjugate and make it SUBJ
servient to slavery and whereas, said
inyasions were made for and resulted in
the prostration of our civil and political
rights, and the entire pollution of the.
ballot box, and foisted upon us set of
pretended and tyrannical Legislators,
who unlawfully assembled at the Shaw
nee Mission, on the Indian Reservation,
and there attempted to impose upon the
settlers of Kansas Territory cruel and
tyrannical laws, and appointed officers
contrary to the fundamental principles Of
our government for the term of six
years and whereas, we are credibly IN
formed that attempts have been made,
and are still being made, to assess and
collect taxes of us by men appointed for
this purpose by the so-called Territorial
Legislature of Kansas. Therefore,
'Resolued, That we utterly repudiate
the authority of that Legislature as bo-
dy emanating, not from the people of
Kansas. but elected and forced upon us
by a foreign vote and that, therefore,
the officers appointed by the same have
no legal power to act.
.'Resol0ed, That we pledge to one an
other mutual support and aid in a forci-
bic resistance to any attempt to compel
us into obedience to these enactments,
let that attempt come from whatever
source it may; and that if men appointed
by that Legislature to the office of asses
sor or sheriff, shall hereafter attempt to
assess or collect taxes of us, they will do
so at the peril of such consequences as
shall be necessary to prevent the same.
.Resolved, Thata Committee of three
be appointed to inform such officers of
the action of this meeting by placing in
their hands copy of these resolutions.
.Resolued, That copy of these res
olutions, with the proceedings of this
meeting, be furnished to the several pa
pers of Kansas, with a request to pub
lish the same.''
A meeting had previously been held
in Potowatamie precinct, at which SINH
lar resolutions were adopted.
| About the same time, learn that an
individual, purporting 20 be stranger,
making inquiry for claims, called on seY,
eral settlers, and conversing witLl ther,
abost tier circumstances, drew from
them such facts as ne could, and based
his estimate of the value of their prop
CITY on such statements as he got in this
round about way. lie, / learn, had
been appointedassessor underthe author
ity aboye-named. Soon after this a man
calling himself a marshal, or deputy
marshal, came into this neighborhood
and summoned persons to attend as iu.
rors at a place known as Henry Sher.
mans, or Dutch Henry's. Many Of
those who were summoned, appeared al
the time and place-others, however
did not.
On the morning of the 2fst inst, g
Court was there opened. Judge Cato pre-.
siding. This Judge Cato takes the
place of Judge Elmore, of Alabama
who was removed by the President or
the same, ostensible grounds upon which
Governor Reeder was removed. Priol
to the opening of the Court, Judge Ca
to was questioned in regard to his inten,
ton to enforce the enactments of said
! Legislature, or not but gave an indef
mite answer. On the same day volun
teer company, known as "Potowatomie
Rifles" met to drill about one mile and
a-half from the place where Judge Cate
vas to hold his Court, and this Compa
ny, composed of the actual settlers il
this region, feeling an interest in the pro
ceedings of that Court, were dismissed
for a short time, and went to hear The
charge of the Judge to the Grand Jury
The Marshal opened the Court, which
he styled a "United States District
Court for the county of Franklin" The
Judge. in swearing the Jury, and in the
charge which followed, did not at al
inform them whether they were to acI
under the laws of the United States OF
the acts passed at the Shawnee Mission
He did not even name those acts, nor the
body which passed them, but spoke fire.
quently of s'our laws" at the same time
laying his hand on copy of those acts
which was lying on the table.
Persons at all familiar with legal mat
tiers, could not for moment doubt what
his design was, when he spoke of certain
offences and penalties not named or pro-
vided for by the laws of the United
States.