The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-04-01
HILLsDALE, MICH, TUESDAY, APRIL ]. 1856.

and subsequently the admission of Arkansas
into the Union. BY the Kansas and Nebras-
ka bill, this prohibition was declared to be
"inoperative and void," and the intent and
meaning Of the the bill was further declar-
ed to be, "not to lcgislate Slavery into any
Territory or State, nor to erciude IL there
from; but to leave the people thereof per-
fectly free to form and regulate their DIMES
tic institutions in their own way, subject only
to the Constitution of the United States."-
Thus, without single petition for such ac-
tion from any quarter of the Union, but
against the earnest remonstrances Of thous-
ands OF our citzens,-against the settled and
profound convictions of the great body of the
people in every portion Of the country, and
in wanton disregard of the obligations of
justice and of good faith, the Missouri CON-
promise of 1920 was repealed, and the seal
which had guaranteed Freedom to that vast
Territory which the United States had pur-
chased from France was snatched from the
bond, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico,
Deseret and the new S,;;.~ -r--;,
who might first become the inhabitants there
tablishment and perpetuation. i
INVASION OF KANSAS AND ACTION OF THE
GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
Nor did the Slaveholding interest stop here
in its crusade of injustice and of wrong
The first election of members for the Terri
torial Legislature of Kansas was fixed for the
30th of March, 1866, and the law of Con-
nod hot M hot al
but "actual residents of the Territory" should
be allowed to vote. Yet, to prevent people
of the Territory themselves from exercising
the right to prohibit Slavery, which the act
of Congress had conferred upon them, the
Slaveholding interest sent armed bands Of
men from the neighboring State Of Missouri,
who entered the Territory on the day Of cleo
tion, took possession of the polls, excluded
the legal voters, and proceeded themselves
to elect members Of the Legislature without
the slightest regard to the qualifications pre-
scrbed by law. The judges Of election APP
pointed under authority Of the administration
at Washington, aided and abetted in the per-
petration of these outrages upon the rights
of Kansas, and the President of the United
States removed from office the Governor
whom he had himself appointed, but who re
fused to acknowledge the Legislature which
the Saveholding invaders from Missouri had
thus imposed upon the Territory.
That Legislature met on the End Of July,
1866. It's first act was to exclude those
members, duly elected, who would not con-
sent to the enactment of laws for the admis-
sion of Slavery into the Territory. Having
thus silenced all opposition to its behests, the
Legislature proceeded 10 the enactment OF
laws for the government of Kansas upon the
suiect Of Slavery. The laws of Missouri in
regard to it were first extended over the Ter
ritory. 1t was then enacted, that every per-
son who should raise an insurrection or rebel
lion Of negroes in the Territory every per
son who should entice away Slave with in.
tent to procure his freedom every person
who should aid or assist in so enticing away
Slave within the Territory and every per
son who should cntice or carry away Slave
from any other State or Territory of the
Union, and bring him within the Territory
of Kansas, with the intent to effect or pro
cure his freedom, upon the conviction thereo
should suffer DEATH. 1t was further enacted
that if any person should write, print or pub
lish any book, paper, argument, opinion
advice or inuendo, calculated to produce
disordcrly, dangerous or rebellious disaffcc
tion among the Slaves in the Territory, or Il
induce them to escape from their masters, h'
should be deemed guilty of FELONY, and b.
punished by imprisonment at hard labor fo
term not less than FIVE YEARS ;--and tha
if any free person, by speaking or writing
should assert or maintain that persons hav,
| Al. - Ill let
or should introduce or circulate any book pa
per, pamphlet or circular containing any sucl
denial of the right of persons to hold Slave
in that Territory,-he should be deemcC
guilty of felony, and be punished by MPRIs
oSMENT at hard labor for term not less thai
TWO YEARS. It was still further enacted b,
the same Legislature that every FREQ whit
male citizen of the United States and in
habitant of the Territory, who should pay
tax of one dollar and take an oath to supper
the Constitution of the United States, tn
act organizing the Territory of Kansas, tn
territorial laws; and the act for the recaptur
of Fugitive Slaves, should be entitled to vot
at any election in said Territory,-thus max
ing citizens of Missouri or of any other Stat
legal voters in Kansas, upon their presents
ton at the polls, upon taking the oaths pre-
scribed, and upon payment of one dollar
in direct violation Of the spirit of the act {
Congress, and in open disregard of the right
: of the people of the Territory. And havin
made these enactments for tho establishment
of Slavery, the Legislature appointed Shcl
ifs, Judges and other officers of the Terrific
ry for their enforcement,-th depriving th
people Of oil power over the enactment {
their own laws, and the choice Of officers fc
their execution.
That these dcspotic acts, even if they ha
been passed by Legislature duly elected b
the people of the Territory, would have bee
.. null and void, inasmuch as they are plainl
in violation of the federal Constitution,
too clear for argument. Congress itself
expressly forbidden by the Constitution
the United States, to make any laws abride
! ing the freedom of speech and of the pres
and it Is absurd TO suppose that TcrritoriI
Legislature, deriving all its power from Coz