The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-01
Kansas Notwithstanding Historical Mes
sage Of Governor Gerry

sage OF Governor Gerry.
We transfer to our columns this morning in
eaeaso, the interesting historical message of Go
vernon Geary to the Kansas Legislature Such
of our honest readers, especially Of the demo-
cratic faith, as have continued incredulous con-
corning the doings Of the administration and the
border ruffans during the Presidential campaign,
will now be convinced in relation both to the
Infamous transactions and the atrocious laws
which, under the trucking imbecility of poor
Pierce made Kansas for 80 many months the
theatre Of all the horrors of civil war;
Take, by way of illustration, tbe following
paragraph, which Governor Geary officially as
suIes US 90 is but faint outline of the fearful
condition OF things which ruled Kansas and con-
vulsed the nation,n when, last fall, he entered
upon the administration Of the affairs OF the Ter
ritory. Hear him.
The Territory declared by the a,ng Governor 70
be IN state OF rsurrestsn the civil authority po
losentrely without capacity 10 vndicate the maety
OF the law and restore the broren peacs; the existing diff
heues Of far more compile Ated character taan
had ANTICIPATED predatory bsnds whose sole aim,
leved by TIE p cation OF political Causes assassaa
ton arson plumber ard rapns had undsturbed posses
sion of some portions OF the Territory, whie every part
OFT Kept 10 constant alarm aud terror BY the advo
caes Of political tments uniting according 10 their
respective synpsthes. 10 formidable bodies o. armed
mtr, completely EQUIPPED with manIt!ors OF war AMI re-
solved upon mutual determination the only hops OF
peace; unoiendng and peaceable citizens were driven
from their homes; others murdered 10 their dwell
logs, which 10 the flames that sacred pect
for woman which has characterized oil cisizad nations
seemed in the ho-r Of mad excitement 10 be forgotten
pirisao feeling or al 'des, intensely excited by CUES
ZION wheh iptsred the entire nation almost closed the
minds OF the people against lille aud mendac
mors, well calenlssed 10 produce evaporation and de-
sroy confidence, every where rife; the uafor
tuna.e picons prevailed In isolated csuatty places
mans life wac RATE rob5eriee and murders we're Of daily
occurrence nearly every farmhouse deserted ana
traveller ooud safely venture the highway wilnou
escort This state o. affairs was greatly aggravated
by the iuererence OF prominent politicians outside OF the
Territory.
The full picture" of zhich this lis but a
faint outline will, says the Governor, be
drawn by the iron pen Of impartial history, aud
the actors in the various scenes will be assigned
| their true positions" We have no doubt of it
in fact. the duty Of assigning some of the princi
| pals among these actors "ther true positions =
has already been accomplished. Poor PIERCE has
been driven into an ignominous retirement,
scorned by the best men of his own party be-
| trayed by his toadies and tatterers aud pited
only by the most generous minds. JEFF. Davis
has been moved to back seat: Atchison has been
repudiated even by the Missouri democracy:
Strinefelow has turned moralizer; Shannon has
mysteriously Disappeared Lecompt has been
dismissed, and Col. Titus has retired in disgust
and gone to the rescue of General Walker. Tue
general result is, on the par: Of Governor Geary
"a profound gratitude TO Almighty God, the
bounteops giver Of all good, for the peace, law
order and prosperity WHICH have succeeded
through the length and breadth of the Territory.
This is something--it is much; bui it is not
every thing Much yet remains to be done to
secure the people of Kansas the common CO. =,
stituiiona rights of citizens of the United sates
Those odious bogus Territorial laws still renal,
in force: and the Governor calls -.con bogu
/, Legislature Qor want of s.s,ne.hine bctter) t
abolish thee abomiua.dons. lie specifies quite
chapter Of them. lie proposes to take the cleo
ton of quite a number OF local officers from th
Legislative Assembly, aud to give them TO tn
people he urges the abolition Of those horri
test oaths Of chapter &C, on elections; tn
restoration OF the right to vote by ballot; th
security Of the elections against balot-stuiiers
registry law puuishments for false voting; tn
Limitation Of the elections 10 one day. aud th
election Of jurors by lot. lie proposes TO abb
lish that rufian arrange ment which provides fc
general militia training on election day; I
abolish those whskey drinking ruilian patrols,
and to wipe away those bogus presumption Law
which squander the school fund in violation
The organic law. The Governor further says th,
chapter ijl, relating to slayes"-(that is, u
Imprisonment Of free white men for ten year
attached to a ball aud chain. for speakir
against the institution Of slavery. &c.)-"attsc
the equality which underlies the very theory
our Territorial government destroys the FIRE
dom Of speech and the privilege of discussi1,
essential TO uncloak error and enable the Poop
properly TO mould their institutions in their ov
way. The freedom Of speech and of the press
be urges. "anJ the right Of public discussion u
On all matters affecting the interests Of the pc