The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-31


by which the people of the Territory have
been prevented from exercising the rights
secured to them by the organic law.
Second. That the alleged Territorial leg
islature was an Illegally constituted body
and had no power to pass valid laws
and their enactmentS are therefore null
and void.
Ttird. That these alleged laws have not
as general thing, been used TO protect
persons and property, and to punish wrong,
but for unlawful purposes.
Fourth That the election under which
the sitting delegate, John w. Whitfield,
holds his seat, was not held in pursuance
of any valid law, and that it should be
regarded only as the expression of the
choice of those resident citizens who voted
for him.
Fifth. That the election, under which
the contesting delegate, Andrew Il, Reeder,
claims his seat, was not held in pursuance
of law: and thatit should be regarded only
as the expression of the resident citizens
who voted for him.
Sirth. That Andrew Ii. Reeder receiv-
ed a greater number of votes of the resi-
dent citizens than John w. Whitfield, for
delegate.
SeUents That in the present condition
of the Territory fair election cannot be
held without new census, stringent
and well guarded election law, the selec-
ton of impartial judges. and the presence
of United States troops at every place of
election.
Eighth. That the various elections held
by the people of the Territory prelimina-
~ to the formation of the State government,
have been as regular as the disturbed con-
dition of the Territory would allow and
that the Constitution passed by the con-
vention, held in pursuance of said cleo
tions, embodies the will of the majority of
the people.
As it is not the province of your COM
mittee to suggest remedies for the exist
ing troubles in the Territory of Kansas,
they content themselves with the forego-
ing facts.
All of which is respectfully submit
ted. WIN. A. HOWARD,
JOHN SHERMAN.
When the Pro-Slavery party found
that Congress had determined to examine
into the Kansas outrages, so far from be-
ing shamed into quiet by an anticipated
exposure of their foul deeds, they were
maddened to rage. They enlarged their
plans and intensified their prosecutions
They exhibited all the fierceness of the
plantation overseer, with the resolution of
men unaccustomed to the restraints of
law and reason. They were frequently
heard to curse the government under
which they lived, and express determin-
alton to break it up, unless they could
bend it to subserve the interests of slavery.
They gloried in the name of Border Ruff
fan, and aimed to fill the character thus
designated. They met the action of Con-
gress early in the spring by a resolution to
bloc kade the Missouri river, one of the
highways of the nation, and to prevent
any more Free State strength from reach
ing Kansas.
This order was first promulgated sug-
gestively, by the Squatter Sovereign, the
semi official organ of the Blue Lodge in
Kansas, as follows -
"We suggest the propriety of the Bor-
der Ruffians establishing a quarantine
somewhere between st. Louis and Kan.
sas City, where all steam boats may be
searched and the infectious political pau
pers be prevented from tainting the air Of
Kansas Territory with their presence
We see no improperly in this, and should
they not do it, they will have the name
of having so done. Have they not beer
branded as 'Ruffians,' 'Cut-throats,' Rob
bers,' and Traitors ? Ifthey are to beal
such names, let them do something, We
say, that will entitle them to the homer
We suggest Lexington as suitable place
for the establishment of political quar-.
antine'
Immediately quarantine was estab
lished at Lexington, cannon were planted
on the shore so as to command the river
large body of armed men was kept il
readiness to examine each boat as it pas
sed up or down the river Passenger
were insulted, in some cases taken pris
oners; freight was overhauled, and i
found Objectionable, taken from the boat
The contemp; felt by the Pro-Slaver!
party for this Congressional Committee
was shown in various ways.
On the arrival of the Committee il
Lawrence, "She'IT Jones" appeared agail
with writs. for the purpose of arrestin:
the principal citizens. Nearly all wht
had shown resistance to the Missouri
usurpation, or had been in any manne
active in forming peoples gnvernmen
were marked men.
On the 23d of April, he came int,
Lawrence, accompanied by large mum
ber of his friends, from the South; also
small detachment of United State
troops to give his proceedings the appear
ance of being sanctioned by the Fedora
Government
! During the day he became partially in
toxicated, as did many of the crowd, an
attempted to arrest several citizens, in on
or two instances drawing his revolvel
and by insults and menace infaming th
populace. In the evening the streets wer
full of excited men, Sheriff Jones among:
them. He was shot at once or twice
the crowd, but without injury. About
O'Clock he retired to his tent and as
entered with only one other person pre-:
emf, was shot through the tent in the bacl
Il was never known who committed th
eowardly act. He was carried to th
Free State Hotel, where his wound Wa
| examined and dressed The hall ha