The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-03-26

100000 10 protect the rights of emgrants
from that State to the territory of Kansas
Petitions are being showered in upon the
New York Legislature for similar spProPri-
atior.
With these precedents, and feeling that the
lat. decision Of the Supreme Court, the In
aupusl Address, and the resignation oil
Governor Geary, all indicate continuance OF
the border ruffian cuwages, w. V. WAY, Esq
one Of our Oldest and best ctif ms, a demo-
crat who had not sufficient confidence in Bu-
chsnan to vote for him, and therefore did not
vote at all, drew up and circulated Petl'
tion to the Ohio Legislature, asking that hon.
orable body to take measures for the protee-
ton Of ohio's sons in their rights as citizens
Of the United S a.cs and residents in her ter
,itories. We insert below COPY Of that Pc
,ition, taken from the original draft. The Ian
ruags may slightly vary from that used in
the COPY forwarded to the Legislature, hut
the substance is similar
To The LEGISLATURE Of Tho STATE Of Ohio;
The undersigned, citizens OF Wood coun-
~. in the state of Ohio, represent that by
the organic law establishing the territory u
Kansas. and also bv a common right with the
other states Of this Union, the people oil ohio
have a right to emigrste to and settle in the
territory Of Kansas and epj y all the rights
Of freemen. That the settlers in Kansas have
a clear right to enact the laws for their own
government subject to the limits provided oy
said organic law. ;,
Your petitioners have been informed and
believe that the citizens Of Ohio and other
free states, through a combination OF persons
in the state of Missouri and other slave hold
ing states, are deprived Of the privilege oil
settling in said territory in the enjoyment OF
tho common rights belonging o them as ciii-
zen. of the United States. They are deprived
of the privilege Of discussing political ques'
tions affecting their dearest rights. .
Thst by reason of unconstitutional test
oa.hs, imposed upon them by legislative
BODY elected By an invading mob from the
state of Mis- ouri without the auth oiity OF lsw,
they are deprived Of the exercise OF the elec.
tive franchise and are subjected to cruel and
oppressive laws forced upon them against their
will and in violation Of the constitution OF the
United States and the organic law creating
said territory. Our citizens have been mut-
dered by these Missouri mobs for no other
reason than that they have uttered sentiments
hostile to the introduction Of slavery into
Kansas, which sentiments were insllled mo
them by the provisions Of the ordinance of
1897 and by the liberal and enlightened ed.
ucation given them by the free institutions OF
our state. There murders go unpunished-
the most cruel expressions in the form 't le-
gal prosecutions are imposed on them without
the power of getting redress. The General
Governneot has been appealed to in vain. 1t
has witnessed these expressions for long
time without interfering to stop them. II
gives as a reason for not acting in the mat
ter, that Kansas is under Squatter Sovereign
ty, and therefore out Of the reach OF congress
and the President. That the Supreme Court
has decided it so, and the General Govern
ment has no right to interfere.
We therefore ask your honorable body TO
consider the extent of your powers to relieve
the General Government in its embarrass-
ment, and to afford protection to our people
in Kansas against the apparent unlimiIedPow-
er of Squatter Sovereignty.
We believe Ohio Emigrants in Kansas are
entitled to enjoy there the protection gularan-
teed to the people Of the United States by the
constitution, because Kansas belongs in
psrt 10 Ohio as one Of the states of this I'm
ion. We are friends of freedom and therefore
appeal 10 your honorable body to use the
power of the state u maintain the rights Of
its citizens in Kansas.
Since Sauatter Sovereignty has superce ded
the powers of the General Government in
the government Of the territories we believe
there is resulting power left in the non.
slave holding states to regulate them, and
protec: citizens therein.
This petition was circulated in our streets
but few hours, yet it was signed by 9s OF
our citizens, of all political parties. When
we last saw it, quite a number Of democratic
names were attached to il, prominent among
which we noticed the fine autograph OF our
worthy Post Master. A number Of German
democrats sigled it. This is manly and right.
These men voted for Buchanan under the de-
lusive hope and misguided belief that he
would chan se the position Of affairs in Kan
sas and favor It's introduction into the Union
as free State. Feeling that they have been
imposed upon by party tricksters- that they
have been made TO partake Of the crimes OF
the Border Rufiians by supporting their al
lies-ss honest meu they can do no less than
appeal to their sovereign State to protect their
brothers, sisters, sons. and daughters from
the peris of government squatter ruffianism
II the administration persists in the course
which it has seemingly marked out for it,
government in less than twelve months il
will have to 60 begging for men TO hold Off
ees under it in the free States.
OK Dir.-Itis stated that Judge fancy is
revising his decision in the bred Scott case
and adding a sunnlement de6ninp the legal