Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-07-24
MR.. GROWS SPEECH.

We give our readers this week Mr. GRow's
admirable Speech closing the debate upon the
bill admitting Kansas into the Union, as a
free state, The statements and arguments
| contained in this speech will satisfy every in
telligent and candid reader of the entire law
fulness and propriety of the action of the pco-
pie of Kansas in calling a Convention, adopt
ing State Constitution, and applying for ad-
mission into the Union
1t will be observed, that in the cases of the
Territories Of Arkansas and Michigan, the
state constitutions were formed, not only with
out the authority of Congress-, but in opposi-
ton to the wishes of the Territorial govern
ment that in the case of the former state,
the then National Administration fully recog-
nized the right of the people TO assemble and
form for themselves state organization, pre-
paratory to admission into the Union. There
is nothing in the history of the country, nor
any provision of the constitution, nor any con-
greSSional enactment, which forbidS the people
of Kansas from performing what they have
done-and yet tyranny more odious and dcs-
potic than ever ruled under the sun, has dis
persed the legislature, indicted the active men
of the Territory for high treason, DESTROYED
the freedom of the press, and burned their
towns
In the days of General JACKSON, the right
of the people of the people OF territory to
take the preliminary steps for admission into
the Union was fully recognized 1t was a right
inherent in the people, and not dependent up
on the action of Congress, nor of the Terrific
rial legislature Indeed, the latter could con-
fer no authority for such action So long as
the people confined themselves to what might
be considered petitioning for redress of griey-
ances-so long as they peacefully assembled
to consider measures and take steps for admis-
sion into the Union, though they were but a
small proportion of the people of the territory,
yet they were engaged in lawful and legiti-
mate enterprise, and their action not treasona-
ble but worthy the consideration of Congress.
In like manner, the people of Kansas, over
powered at the ballot-boX, by inyasions of Mis-
sourianS, suffering under monstrous and unjust
laws, enacted by Legislature elected by
fraud and violence, saw no way to redress their
grievances but by revolution, or by the forma-
tion of State Constitution and bv admission
into the Union. All the steps taken to form
that constitution were perfectly proper and lc-
gal. In doing So the people were but eXer-
cising their natural and constitutional rights,
as recognized in the formation of many State
governments previously, and as particularly
specified by General JACKSON, in his instruc-
tions to the territorial Governor of Arkansas.
But now the fell spirit of Slavery assals the
birthright of freemen and denies to them the
exercise Of the rights and liberties guaranteed
to them by the Constitution. Not content
with the enactment Of the worse than barbar-
Gus code of Kansas laws, with the brutality
which has been perpetrated upon peaceable
citizens under pretence of enforcing those laws,
it denies to Freemen the right to assemble for
the purpose of a redress of grievances. To
what lengths will not this arrogant and intoI-
Grant power presume If its dictaton is snb-
mittcd to, what will remain of our liberties
worthy of preservation? If successful in its
present assumptions. tyranny will be inaugu.
rated upon the country, more odious and en-
acting than exists upon the earth-one which
will deny to Freemen the exercise of anv of
their rightS-dcnying the people the right to