Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-09-16
Correspondence Of the Missouri Democrat.


LAWRENCE. Sept. "a committee of tw en-
ty were appointed, at the Grasshopper Falls
Convention, to prepare and publish an ADJ
dress to the people of the United States. It
is prepared. Although not yet submitted for
the approval of the entire committee, there is
no doubt but that it win be adopted, without
alteration, given below.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
The people of Kansas, at their recent Con-
vention. held at Grasshopper Falls, adopted
resolution to participate in the election for
members of a territorial Legislature and dele
gates to Congress- in October next, and
appointed a committee to address the people
at large, with respect TO this important action.
Two years and half ago, portion of the
people of Missouri invaded our Territory,
took possession Of our ballot boxes, and estab.
lished the oligarchy, which has since claimed
to exercise the functions of a government
among US. A short time after that event, our
people metin convention, at Big Springs, to
| determine the course they should pursue.
Two plans were suggested; one to resist the
execution of their laws by force, the other to
| avoid the extreme measure by the adoption Of
new State government. The latter alterna-
tive was preferred, and the following resolu-
tons adopted:
ResolUed That the body of men who for the lsst two
months have been ming laws for the people Ter
rtoy moved counseed and dictated by the demagogues
of Missouri, arctic us foreign body representing only
the lawess invaders who elected them and the peo
pie of h Terrtory that repudiste their action the
monstrous contamination Of act of violence usurpa
ton, and fraud, unparalleled in the history Union
and worthy only Of men untitled for the duties, and
| gardless of the responsibilities of republcanism.
ReSOtU5d That this Convention in view Of its Tepudia
tion Of the called Kanzas Legislative Assembly,
spond most heartily 10 the call made by the peoples
venton of the 18th uimo, for delegate convention Of
Of 70 ha oia
the nth ins to consider the proprety oil the formation
of State Constitution, and such other matters may
| leg imately come before it. v
ResolUed, That setting aside all minor issues Of par
tzan politics, it is incumbent to profer
ganzaion Calculated 10 dearest rights and
into which democrats and whgs native and nauraized
citizens may freely enter without any sacrifice of their
respective political creeds but without forcing them as
test upon others and that when shall have achieved
political freedom indicated right of self govern
ment, and become Independent State Of the Union,
when those issues may become vital they DOR
mant it will be time enough divide organization
by these tests, the importance of which fully recog
| nize in their appropriate sphere.
1t is well known, that these resolutions
passed at Big Springs, September, 1885, have
constituted the basis of all subsequent polit.
cal action of the people of Kansas. They
there-unequiyocally. disavowed the authority
of the territorial Legislature, and have main
tanned that position ever since. They there
committed themselves in favor Of a State
organization, and have maintained that posi-
ton ever since. Upon these two measures,
they have rested their hopes, from the COM
mencement of the struggle; and, upon their
ultimate success, they still continue to rely.
In adopting this course of action, the people
of Kansas were not impelled by either a
fanatcal zeal or wanton Observation-Disclosures of
purpose. They proceeded gravely, and with
delberaion, to decide upon the ground they
should occupy. 1t was said, that they could
not proceed to effect State organization,
without authority previously given, by act of
Congress, or of territorial Legislature. But
they knew, that no such principle as this had
ever been established. On the contrary, they
knew, that the very many instances in
which States had been formed under acts of
Congress were exceedingly few; and, as to
acts Of the territorial Legislature, they knew,
that these had been ruled by The highest au-
thoiity, to be invalid and of no effect 1t
was also said, tnat, although the people had
been prevented from electing their Legislature
as the organic act of the Territory required,
yet, while the territorial government remained
technically intact, a State government would
be rival, revolutionary movement, putting
the authority of the United States govern,
mentin dispute. But, the people knew, that
the Constitution of the United States con.
tanned no provision whatever for territorial
government, anywhere; that the trainers Of
that instrument did not contemplate the ac-
QUESTION of new territory to the Union; that
the territorial government was, therefore, the
creature of temporary necessity, a mere
protectorate of extra constitutional legislation
thing incident to transient sovereignty,
and, that, when the State government, the
normal and recognized statutes of the COM
munity, came into existence, the territorial
4. ~ 4
created it. The people of Kansas knew, that
the government of the United States. itself,
had proceeded, upon these principles, in the
admission of States into the Union; and, had
thus given them its highest sanction, and
rendered them authoritative. They, therefore,
assumed this ground, after duly weighing the
objections urged against it, with the most
perfect assurance of its correctness as matter
of law, and established governmental policy.
The opposition made by the administration
at Washington, ana its party throughout the
country, to this course of the people of Kan
zas, has not in the slightest degree weakened
their confidence in it, or lessened their deter
mination TO adhere to it to the end. They
are satisfied that its propIiety would never
have been called in question as a matter Of
serious moment, had not the federal admins
tration sought, by so doing, to serve a special
purpose in behalf of slavery. 30 confident
are our people in the stand they have thus
taken, that they would be perfectly willing to
permit their State government to proceed to
the regular performance of its functions, with
out any regard to the territorial government
were it not for a settled wish on their part to
do nothing which may subject them to the
charge of ultra views, or desire to incur
violence, even in the assertion of their rights.
They have preferred to turn aside for the time
being from their State organization, and to
make an effort to secure, through the terrific.
rial ballot boxes, peaceful possession of the
territorial government; and to this end they
have determined to try their chances in the
October election. sa
We acknowledge that our chief incentive
to the adoption of this measure, was the ur-
gent appeals made in favor of it by many of
those who stood by US in the free States in all
our past struggles. But we frankly avow
ourselves not sanguine of success, 1t is true
that Mr.. Walker, our federal governor, has
declared that he will afford us, to the best of
his ability, full and fair election before i'm.
partial judges but, with our past expert
ence, we find it difficult to indulge in any
hope of justice from the agents of the federal
administration. By the law of the election,
all but those who have resided six months or
more in the territory are excludedgfrom the
polls. The system of districtng and appor-
tionment for members Of The legislature shows
all unquestionable determination to introduce
voters from abroad. Sixteen counties, strong
ly free State containing nearly one half the
entire population Of the territory, are not al
u. \ ~ ~ u 80 -. . g a