Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-10-25
STATE ACTION IN BEHALF OF. TIE,
KANSAS SUFFERERS.
LETTER OF GOV. GRIMES TO PRESIDENT PIERCE.
Erecuiire Office, ioDa.
DnrlinRfON. AuN. 20. 1886

LGectfire UHtce, foic0.
burlington, dug. 20, 1856
To his Excellency, FRANKLIN PIERCE, President Of
the United States:
SIR: During the las. twelve months / have been
constantly receiving letters, memorials and nfida-
Wits, from tormer citizeus Of Iowa, now residents
OF the Territory of Kansas, alleging that they are
not protected by the United States officers in that
Territory, IN the enjoyment of their liberty and
properly. They charge, and the evidence fully
su ,ports the charge, that ut the first, and at each
subsequent territorial election, armed bodies Of
men from an adjacent State invaded the Territory,
took possession Of the polls. deprived the actual
settlers Of the sight Of suffrage and perpetratcd
gross outrages upon such citizens as protested pU-
litical sentiments diSagreeabl5 to the invaders
BY threats and lawless violence, they secured the
election of u majority Of the members Of the leg.
lslatiye Assembly, many of whom were then and
are now citizens Of another State. By this As
Nembly a code of law was enacted unparalleled
in the history Of legislntion-laws ~palpaLly uncon-
stilutional, and which no man with the spirit Of n
freeman could obey with ,ut personal dishonOr and
II violation OF his conscience.
In this condition Of things, and without any ut
temptto repol violence by violence, the people of
Kansas sought n peaceful remedy for the wrongs
that had been perpetrated, by forming q State Con-
st'tution, elcctlng Sta,e officers and asking aimis-
sion INTO the u MON rs q sovereign State.
Although the Constitution Of the United States
declares that treason "slall consists only in levying
war" yet n man holding n commission under the
seal of the United States, and exercising the office
OF Chief Justice in that Territory, has decided
that the persons who accepted Office under the
State Constitution are guilty of treason. Under
his instructions, the State officers have been in.
dicted, arrested and bail denied them, under the
oretence OF judicial proceedings. but without a tri-
al or hearing OF any kind.
An armed POSSE has invaded the town of Law
renee, and destroyed printing presses, private
dwellings and a hotel, Human lives have been
destroyed, citizens have been driven from the Ter
ritory by violence, and anarchy and disorder every.
where prevail.
Among the sufferers have been former citizens
of Iowa, who went to Kansas in no spirit of pro.
pagandlsm, but with the intention of becoming
nernnnent residents Of tina. Territory. Three of
them have been slain by arms said TO have been
placed by a Fedal officer in the hands Of a band
OF outlaws from a remote State. Some have been
compelled to flee from the Territoritory for no of.
tence save that Of havit g emigrated irem n free
state, while others remain there, stripped of their
property, and appeal to their fellow citizens Of
Iowa for sympathy and protection.
In my conviction. their appeal should not be in
vain. They went to Kansas relying upon, and
had a right to expect the protection of the general
Government. H. this expectation they have been
disappointed. Citizenship has been virtually de.
MED to them. Their right to defend themselves
and ITO keep and bear arms" has been infringed
by the act of the Territorial officers, who have
wrested from them the means of defense while
outings weapons of ofense into the hands Of their
enemies. They have been oppressed by a code Of
laws unequaled in atrocity in modern times. The
character and conduct of the Territorial Judges
have shown that nm appeal to the judicial tribunal
is worse than useless.
The Central Government having failed to perform
its duty by protecting the people Of Kansas in the
enjoyment of their'rights, it is maniiestly the right
OF each OF the States 70 adopt measures to protect
its former citizens. If the people of Iowa are not