Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-10-24
Letter Of Governor Grimes, of Iowa, to
President Pierce.
Executive OFFICE, Iowa,

xcLLcE Oh OUvcTuOI WITNESS, OF IOWA, II
President Pierce.
Executive OFFICE, Iowa,
BURLINGTON, August 80, 1856.
To has Ercellency Franklin PIERCE, Presi
dent ofhe United States;
.. SIR During the last twelve months,
have been constantly receiving letters, me
MORALS and afhdavts, from former citizen.
ofIowa, now residents Of the Territory o
Kansas, alleging that they are not protected
by the United States officers in that Terrific
nv, in the enjoyment of their liberty and
property They charge, and the evidence
fully supports the charge, that at 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
right of suffrage and perpetrated gross out
RACES upon such citizens as professcd politi-
cal sentiments disagreeable to the invaders.
BY threats and lawless violence. they secured
the election Of majority of the members of
the Legislative assembly-many of whom
were then. and are now, citizens of another
/ State. BY this assembly code Of laws was
enacted, unparalleled in the history of legis-
laton; laws palpaby unconstitutional and
which no man with the spirit of a freeman
/ could obey without personal dishonor and a
violation Of his conscience.
4 In this condition of things, and without
any attempt to repel violence by violence
the people of Kansas soughta peaceful rene
DIV for the wrongs that had been perpctrated
! by forming State Constitution, electing
State officers, and asking admission into the
Union as a sovereign State.
+ Although the Constitution of the United
States declares that treason ..shall consist
ONLY in levying war Vet man holding
commission under the seal of the -nited
States, and exercising the office of chief jus
tee in that Terri cry. has decided that the
persons who aecep.ed office und,r the State
Constitution are guilty of treason. Under
his instructions the State officers have been
indicted. arrested and hail denied them -
nder the preteRee of judicial proceeding
+ hut without trial ar hearing Of any kind an
armed posse has invaded the town OF Law
renee and destroying printing presses. private
lw lIings and hotel Human lives have
been sacrificed. property to Il large amount
has been destroyed. citizens have been driven
from the Territory by violence. anarchy. and
dis rider everywhere prevail
4 Among the sufferers have been MANY form
or citizens of Iowa. who went to Kansas in
NJ spirit of propasandism. but with the in
tntien of becoming permanent residents of
that territory. hfee oil them nave been
siam ny arms said 10 nave been placed ny a
federal ofhcer IN the hands OF band OF out
laws from remote state some nave been
compelled to flee from the Territory for no
offence save that OF having emigrated IRON a
tree state whilst Others remain there, strip
ped OF Their property. and appeal to their TEL
low citizens OF Iowa Tor sympathy and pro-
tecsien.
: In my convection, their appeal should not
be in VAIN lhey went to Kansas relying
upon and had right to expect the protection
OF the General Government. In this expect
alton they have been disappointed. Citizen
ship has been virtually denied them. Their
right to defend themselves. ana ito ke'pand
+ bear arms, has been intrlnged by the act OF
the Territorial officers. who have wrestcd
from them the means OF defence while put
ting weapons OF offence INTO the hands o
their enemies They have been oppressed by
, code of laws unequalled in atrocity in mod
ern times The character and conduct Of
the Territorial Judges have shown that AT
appeal to the judicial tribunals is worse than
useless.
100 A'"'AN~ ~
perform it's duty by protecting the people o.
Kansas in the enjoyment of their rights it i,
manitestly the right Of each of the States tc
adopt measures to protect its former citizens
If the people of Iowa are not permitted tc
enjoy the rights OF citizenship in that Terri
tory, they retain their former citizenship ir
this State, and are as much entitled to pro
lection from the State while upon the pub
lie domain, as they would be If the Genera
Government failed to protect them in for
eign country.
Whilst | write, an army, raised in tht
State of Missouri, is marching into Kansas
with the avowed purpose of driving out al
those citizens OF the Territory who emigratec
from the Free States, and who express pref
ercnce for Free State constitution Anoth
on the emisrant route from the State of Iowa