The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-06-11

say one thing and exert themselves to 90
another, and as- men in whom we can
place no confidence whatever; therefore,
we, the citizens of Ossawattomie, have
Resolved, That a committee of three
be appointed to wait upon such persons
ss have accepted Office from the so-called
Kansas Legislature or their appointees,
and request of them as the unanimous
wish of this community that they at once
resign their commissions to the anthorl-
ties from whence they were derived
Resolued, That in the event of their
refusing we must consider them as spies
set over US by our oppressors and as dan
gerous to our cause, and that we will
avoid them in a social and political re!a-
ton, and that we discountenance in our
community all men who acknowledge and
uphold the supremacy Of Border Ruthan
power.
The above, Sir, are some of the coa=
siderations which induced the citizens at
the above named Convention to take the
action they did; and now you having re-
quested of US as a Committee to set forth
the reasons which should move YOU to
resign any and all Offices you may hold,
we have to say in connection with the
above,
Etrst, The so-called Legislature which
assumes TO legislate for Kansas, and whose
enactments you are to enforce, and which
we are called upon to obey was elected
By an armed mob from a neighbaring
State, amidst scenes of blood and violence,
and in direct opposition to the wishes OF
a large majority Of the actual residents Of
the Territory and the body of people
which are, and have been opposed to these
acts of fraud and mobocracy, always have
been, and still are in vast majority in
Kansas Territory, and if the people of
Missouri were to Withdraw their support,
and the General Government the coun-
tenance it sees fit to accord them, they
would scarcely be heard Of in the remQt-
est corner Of Kansas,
Second, The so called Legislature and
laws being thus fraud, and being thus op-
posed by the majority of the people, who
alone have the right to govern, we deny
that any one is under any moral obliga-
tion to obey the eGactments Of the So
called Legislature.
Third, The assumed Legislature, being
thus fraud, it proceeded at once to dis
play the spirit of fraud and virulcnce, by
passing such enaetments as are oppressive
and tyranical; by making all the offices
that are usually elected by the people,
and alone responsible to them for their
powers and continuance in Office, depend
ant solely upon the will of the so-called
Legislature, by imposing test oaths upon
voters, thing unheard of among civil
lied people; by giving Sherifs, and their
other minions of power, the selection Of
jurors, thus virtually depriving the peo-
pie Of the right of trial by jury, by de-
creeing the death penalty against any one
who shall eqtice away slave from bon
dage, though one may steal fifty times
his market value, and escape with term
Of years Of imprisonment frequently short.
Chapter l51, Sec 4, 5, 6, Page ZIG"
TThe fourth resolution is on freedom of
specch.]
"The assumed Legislature passed many
other acts, especially designed to deprive
the majority of the people of the right of
governing, and calculated to perpetuate
their own infamous power of tyranny and
usurpation; and we hold that any man
claiming to be Free State man, should
crimson with shame when he proposes to
enforce the epactments of the so-called
Legislature, in view of the source from
whence they all emanate, and the enormi-
ty of their assumed laws.
Fifth, We consider that the aoknowl-
edgment Of such fraudulent authority is a
dangerous precedent which should be
guarded against most vigorously and es-
pecially by magistrates or persons holding
Office,
iSiacsh, We consider that you are in
debted to the Free State settlers Of this
community for the comfortable home you
now occupy, and for the bright future
prospects you have, and one inducement
they had to interest themselves for you
was, in relation to the so,called laws, your
express declaration that II hare nothiug
to do uih hene."
The above we urge as reasons for the
request we now make, that you forthwith
resign any and all Offices you may hold
derived from the assumed Legislature of
Kansas.
If you see fit not to comply with our
request, we shall expect your reply in
writing.
We have the honor to be your humble
and ohedient servants,
GEO. o. ENGLISH,
LEANDERE MARTIN.
OssAwATToHE, Kansas, April14, 1857.
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p9~The Philadelphia SEN is entitled
to the hearty support of all friends of