The Richmond palladium., 1856-05-08
From the Indiana STATE Journal. April 80.


General J. II Lanes speech.
It T-as late before General Lane arrived q.
! the Court House on Saturday night; and the
large meeting convened to hear him had al
ready become somewhat impatient II is due
to him TO say. that the delay was oecasioned
by no fault on his part. He had spoken a,
Franklin during thedav, and could not get
to his place until the srriyal Of the Jefferson
vile tram
He began biz speech BY stating that he ap-
peared among us as the agent of The People
of Kansas, 10 make plain statement of their
wrongs. their wishes, their hopes; and to as k
US for our sympathy and aid in maintaining
their right TO admission into the Union on an
equal footing with other States. Their right
TO be admitted. rested upon solemn compac.
between the Government of the United States
and that Of France; the practice OF oar
Government IN similar cases. on the professions
OF the Democratic party, made everywhere
in 1854; on what was then declared to be the
true intent and meaning Of the Kansas Ne
braska Bill; and upon the Constitution itself
! He not here for the purpose of deba-
/ ting distractions; but to discuss the real con
dlton and circumstances Of an oppressed
people. The Admi istraion had told the
people of Kansas, that they should have the
+ right 10 make their own laws: frame their own
{ " -
Constitution. That i, was oppression for the
General Government even to control them in
the free exercise Of this right. and ought not
TO be tolerated. In the belief OF these liberal
views and principles many of us, said be- cut
loose from old associations left our friends
and homes in the States. and sought new as
soca.ions new homes, and a new govern
ment TO be instituted bv new organization
of free men; free from the foreign dic'aton or
control, in Kansas We sought to carry out
the Kansas Nebraska Bill practically. in the
virgin soil of the Territory, as il had been in
terpreted and enforced by Douglas and the
Admins: ration both before and after its pas
sage. We believed them sincere in their pro
fessons of love for popular Sovereignty-the
right Of the people TO make their own laws
b cause we were sincere ourselves. But mark
the result
The election for Delegate TO Congress came
on. All seemed 10 b. proceeding fairly until
the day before the election, when it was Seen
that thousands of the people Of the border
counties of Missouri were in Kansas. These
foreigners. armed each with gun bowie
knife. and a brace of :evolvcrs, had come
into Kansas to elect car Delegate to Congress,
to say who should represent us. And accor-
dagly on the next day they took possession OF
the polls. and elected Whitfield whom the
people of Kansas never would have chosen;
and now this creature of the people of Mis-
souri, sits in the House OF Representatives as
Delegate from Kansas.
What did the people of Kansas do? Hu n
bly--as humblv the words of the English
language would permit--petitoned the two
Houses of Congress 10 correct this great out.
rage upon an unofending people, and take
steps to prevent its recurrence in future Four
Sayera1 "a. III,
effect?
When the election for members to the Gen
eral Assembly came, with it came again the
hordes of Missourians. and again swept the
election. The Legislature was not only chosen
by M'ssourians. but some of them citizens of
Missouri. But i, might be asked: Why did
Recder give certificates to those who were
thus elected? The answer is plain one
Soy Reeder did not give the contents sufficient
lime to begin proceedings The time allowed
was only five days; and il that time had been
extended but single day longer, the whole
character OF the Legislature would have been
changed Wherever there was a contes, it
was successful. and would have been SO in
nearly every ease, had sufficient time been
Alo.ed for that purpose.
But who is Governor Reeder9 What have
he people Of Kansas TO do with him? Is he
iot the dppoih'ee OF fank Pierce? And are
he people Of Kansas to lose their right of
elf government BY his act-bccause he gave
of election to men chosen by the
oeople of Missouri to make laws for tbem9
And does it law in the mouth of Frank Pierce
o say the people Of Kansas are 20 be s,opped
" the oversight. or Illegal act of his own
gent? Yet this IS the ground occupied by
he Administration. Frank Pierce appointed
r. >*eTIcr Reeder, and lie gave certificates of
lection 70 men chosen by the people Of Mis-
ouri, 10 make laws for The people ol Kansas:
nd when these complain. they are told that
hey are essopped TO deny tie r5h, OF this
because Reeder gave certificates
Q lis mem bers.
The people OF Kansas again resorted 10
umble petitions. But their petitions were
gain unheard, Or, at least, unhe-dad. and This
legislature, elected by he people OF Missouri,
or purposes wholly foreign 10 the interests
nd wishes OF The people OF Kansas. permitted
make and publish code OF laws. CO nparei
. which there Is 10 parallel in The legislation
i the world. from \ lam till it. in atrocious
ruelsy. Why. death is the punishment of
ffen>es for which N any other civilized coun
~ five hours in the county jail will be looked
n severity. His treatment of this internal
ode muss have been heard to be appreciated
te pursued II through all is atrocious bar
arism in vein of irony. and lefs upon the
minds OF all who heard him. impressions not
. be forgotten
He said he had the Code with him. and
would be glad 10 show ii 10 any gentleman
Who questioned is contents or its oriaip. One
triklng feature Of ii was. that il wa. almos,
literal copy of the Missouri Code; and these
iissouri legislators forgo, 10 adap. it TO the
,erritory by erasing the name of the Safe of
ilSsouri' and inserting instead thereofth Of
the Territory Of Kansas
This was observed toward the close OF the
ession, and this grave body Of Solons passed