Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-04-02

tion of exercising the right of suffrage a2d
person to speedy and public trial by an
impartial jury has been denied; cruel and
unusual punishments have been inflicted
upon the innocent, while murders, robber-
les and arsons have been instigated and
encouraged, and the offenders have been
allowed 10 go unpunished; the right of the
people 10 be secure in their persons, hou-
ses, papers and effects against unreasona-
! bic searches and seizures, has been viola
ted; they have been deprived of life, liber-
ly and property, without due process OF
law; the freedom of speech and of the
press has been abridged; the right TO choose
| their representatives, has been made Of no
effect; That all these things have been
/ done with the knowledge, sanction and
procurement of the Federal Government,
! in violation of the plainest mandates of
/ the Constitution; That the usurpa'ion by
which spurious Legislature was imposed
upon Kansas, and It's people subjected TO
code of laws unparalleled for cruelty in
| the history of civilized nations, is still in
full force, and the people are denied the
right peacefully to assemble and petition
i0r redress of grievances; the National
Executive has permitted two Governors Of
his appointment 10 be driven from the Ter
ritory under fear of assassination, and has
not dared TO exert its power for their pro-
lection against the lawless mnions of Sla-
very, while Judicial monsters and men
whose hands are red with innocent blood,
IRE retained in office, to carry on The work
of subJectlng free territory To the cause of
Slavery. Kansas has been denied adms-
sion under a free constitution, and fraudu-
lent means are now in progress to secure
lis admission as Slave State at the next
session of Congress. Against this stupen-
dous wrong, we protest, in the name of
Con AND HUMANITY-by all that is gIori-
Gus III our history, and by The memory of
the great and good men who established
our liberties.
RGS0ired, That ii is fraud upon our
laws, and lraught with danger to our in.
shlutlons, 10 admit to full participation
iii their Lenetils, any man who acknowl
edges foreign supremacy, which he can
not conscientiousiy and without mental
reservation, allure and forever renounce;
whether that supremacy be civil or spirit
ual.
Res0'Ced, That The suupendous frauds
by which our popular elections are swayed
against a majority of the legally qualified
voters, strikes at the foundation and life Of
our system OF government; and unless
speedily corrected, will lead to violence
and anarchy; aHd we urge upon all good
cnizems TO unite for the suppression of this
evil: and we call upon our own Legislature
10 guard 10y effective and stringent laws
'he purity of the ballot box.
ResOiced, That The sale of the Main
Line OF our Improvements, is demanded
by every consideration that should weigh
with intelligent and honest men. As
source of revenue, il is wholly worthless
To the State, " hIe 1t is notoriously used as
j means OF pccula ion and plumber, there
by inn!cting upon the Stale pecunlary loss,
aud also lrreParable injury, il the almost
universal dumoraIzelioA and political
pro1igacy engendered throughout lis entire
extent.
Res0iUsl, That we invite the aili.iatiol
and cO.opsrA!ion OF men of all parties,
however differing with lis in other respects,
III support oi The principles herein declar
cG; and believing that the spirit of our in
stiiuiions, as well as The Constitution Of
our country, gnlrantees liberty of con-
science and equality Of rights among Gill
zene, we oppose all legislation impalrinE
their security.