Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-09-17
From Kansas..Address to tho
People.

From Kansas..Address to the
People.
The Address to the people of Kansas
by the Committee appointed at Grasshop-
per Falls Convention, is calm and well
considered document. 1t briefly recapitu-
lates the past, defends the old policy and
expresses continued faith in il and thus
speaks of the new policy of voting and its
prospects:
We acknowledge that our chief incentive
to the adoption of this measure, was the
urgent appeals made in favor of it by
many-of those who stood by US in the Free
States in all our struggles. But we frank
ly ayow ourselves nat 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 impartial judges; but, with
our past experience, we find it difficult to
indulge any hope ofjustice 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 excluded from the polls. The system
of districting and apporionment for MEM
bers of the Legislature, shows an unques-
tionable determination TO introduce voters
from abroad. Sixteen counties strongly
Free State. containing nearly one half the
entire population of the territory are not
allowed single representative in either
branch. Of the thirteen members of the
Council all but three, and of the thirty-nine
members of the House of Representatives
all but ten are to be elected in districts
bordering on the Missouri line. Topeka is
connected with Fort Scott, and Lawrence is
attached to the Shawnee Mission adjoining
Westport. The Lawrence district is also
made to embrace an indefinite extent of
country having NO geographical connection
whatever with it, away off in the region of
the Rocky Mountains, occupied only by an
Indian trading post here and there, at
which fictitious precints may be made, and
from which fictitious returns may be sent
in, at any time after the election to over
come the Free State vote. Besides these
things, our enemies have complete posses
sion of all the machinery of the election
Establishing the places for voting, appoint
ing the judges, canvassing the returns, de-
claring the result of the election, and all
other matters of detail, are in the hands of
the county commissioners, who were them
selves elected by fraud and violence from
Missouri.
Mr.. Able, partner of Stringfellow, says
that "Kansas must be given up, and Gen.
Atchison sounds the note of renewed prep
araticn to South Carolina, and declares
that "with one more effort the work is
DONE" With the administration virtually
against us, with one half the six months
voters virtually disfranchised, with an cleo
ton law framed expressly to keep the new
ly arrived emigrants from the polls, with
the hellish system of districting and ap-
portioning staring US in the face, with most
of the officers of the election border ruffians
of the deepest dye, with the slave party in
Missouri boldly avowing through Gen. At
Gibson their determation to invade us, with
only the already violated promise Of Goo.
Walker to rely on; we do not feel at lib
erty to cherish any very lively expectations
of favorable result. But we yield to the
solicitation of our friends. We wish JUS
tice and freedom, but we will do our best
to secure them without imperilling the
peace. We have fearful odds against us ;
we must try to overcome them. But
should we be overwhelmed, will the federal
government still regard with disfavor our
application for admission as State into
the Union? In that event will not all
good men sustain us in giving effect to our
State government at all hazards? At any
rate this may be regarded as the only at
tempt which will ever be made TO adjust
our great difficulty under the territorial
government. What may be done after
that, however, it is not our province to de-
clare.
The address concludes with strong ap-
peal to the people of Missouri not to inter
fere in the approaching election-argues
that the interests of Kansas and Missouri
are Identical the prosperity of both
depend upon peace and good neighborhood
and that if they remain at home the
Kansas question will be peacefully settled;
the agitation of slavery will cease; and
Kansas and Missouri will 60 on prospering
together.
In publishing the address, the St. Louis
Democrat with pertinence remarks:
IA more dignifed, truthful, or patriotic
appeal TO the Judgment of the country we
have never perused. 1t breathes the spirit
of truth, long suffering, and manly resolu-
tion from beginning to end, and we much
misjudge the citizens of this broad Union,
if it does not command their heartiest sym
pathy; and still more do we misunder-
stand the honor and courage of the masses
of the people of Missouri, if it does not re-
ceive their sanction. The wild and ultra
proclivities of few misguided men, should
not be permitted again to tarnish the fair
fame of our State; and those who have
the welfare of this community at heart,
and who recognize the rights of adjoining
commonwealth, should step forth to put
down the first attempts at a new invasion.
The press, likewise, should exert its inf1u-
ence for the right, and above all Others.
such as have lately been vociferating peace,
laao, order, should seize this opportunity to
prove by their works, the sincerity of their
professions.
One other thing we ask. 1t is that
those who read this address will, after do
ing so, turn back to the Presidents letter
published by us yesterday, and contrast
the two. How solemn is the rebuke that
thus comes with crushing force upon his