New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-04
TIE MANIFESTO OF FREE KANSAS.
AN ADDRESS
PEOPLE OF The UNITED STATES AND KANSAS,
FREE.sTATE CONVENTION.
TO THE
Fres TA ST. Lsgis DesNrraE

charge Of preparing an Address 10 the American
People, have prepared and respectfully submit the
following:
The Pro-Slayery Convention, which assembled at
Lecompton January IL, 1857, have issued an "Ad-
Dress which has been spread broadcast over the
States. Iu this pamphlet an attempt ls made 70
paate the crimes and excuse the outrages OF which
the Pro-Slavery party-saihng under the coiors OF
democracy have been guilty in the Territory.
Nay, more. II is sought 10 throw the entire blame
and responsibility Of the Affections which have oeen
visited upon the settlers and residents OF Kansas on
the Free-Stste men, and those active and earnes,
patriots who have labored with an energy that
knows no defeat and will that knows no faltelng,
in behalf of Freedom and Free-Labor.
The burden of the Address is that the rec.
State party initiated and naugurated revolutionary
and incendary proceedings, that they rallied against
the enforcement of legal enactments, laughed TO
seorn the authorities, and beat back the ofcers oil
Justice thereby necessitating the A" Law and order
men, to take up arms for the preservation OF peace
and for the punishment of traitors. They brand
Lane. Robinson and Rceder, aud q host OF other
good men and true, AS hired emissaries animated by
a flibusterng spirit, hostile to the Constltu.
ton,l foes to the Union OF the States and
enemies to the welbcing ol the Territory. They
represent Themselves to have been innocent, law
abiding and inOfensive, earnestly in favor OF peace
and repose in Kansas and end their Address with
great rhetorical flourish. and bOmbastic assur-
aDces of patriotic devotion 10 their country their
party and their God.
To unmask the hypocrisy, to expose the false
hoods and reveal the contradictions and incon-
sstencies of this Address, would be superhuous, for
the throes and the anguish the indignlties and the
expressions which the Free-State men have
suffered, are written in characters of blood and
burned into the memory OF every honest citizen OF
our country. Subterfuge and deceit, brazen false
hood and base perjury, can avail nothing; Tor the
great truths, in the gigantic wrongs OF Kansas me-,
tory have been and known and pondered OF all
men and will stand like the Egyptian pyramids to
the surprise and wonder of coming generations
The free-state have violated no law, for that
which is Just is not law and that which is devoid
of Justice should not be obeyed. The code attempted
10 be forced upon them was not enacted Tor proper
legislation for the regulation and protection OF society
or for the development Of the resources OF the country
but to ensave the body and soul of every citizen, and
TO rivet the institution If Slavery upon soil conse-
Grated TO Freedom No honest man could lndorse or
subscribe 10 such code, and the free-State men DID
NOT. Yet they raised arm, neither committed any
violence against their oppressors. But when they
were driven from their homes and their families
treated with unheardof cruelty by this self-styled
" Law and Order" party, then it was that all the
higher voices Of their nature appealed to them TO rise
and protect their rights and liberties sink to the
level of serfs The blood and the manhood and the
muscle Of Northern Freemen could brook no more tor
forbearance had ceased TO be virtue, and the time
was come when they must vndicae their courage and
establish their right TO the title of men.
But when the invaders were driven back ana the
dissensions in manner quoted, they once again re-
turned TO the more congenal pursuits OF peace, ana
devoted themselves with activity and energy to the
industrial occupations which they loved
hensive sketch what has tranpred in Kansas since
the passage Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BILL and to let
the american People judge for themselves whether or
not the Free State party have acted according TO the
dictates of justice and of right, whether or not they
have been vronged and outraged, and whether they
or the selfstyled Law and Order party. are re-
sponsble for the crimes and the blood which have
stained the virgin soil of the Territory.
But in this We must take our proper position
The FreeState party of Kansas cannot act upon the
defensive before tribunal where the American PEG;
pie sit judges. We srragn the selstyled Law and
Order party" Of Kansas guilty of high crimes and
misdemeanofs; charge upon them the burden OF
guilt and of wrong; and we only ask fair and honest
verdict from the evidence and arguments we may
adduce.
Although the Kansas Nebraska bill was violently
opposed at the time Of It's Presentation TO Congress- by
decided majority of the Northern Representatives,
backed by the opinion of their constituents it was IN
dorsed as a law by the citizens OF Kansas who de-
sired only to have its principles and provisions faith
fully carried out. A. ii. Reeder was appointed Gov
ernOr Of the Territory under the bill, ana large
Northern emigration poured into the Territory 10 test
the question Of popular sovereignty, and secure
Freedom for Kansas by numerical preponderance
The time at last for electing Territorial Leg
islature and Delegate to Congress. How tins cleo
ton was carried is matter of history. The mlssou-
rsns poured into the Territory, violated the sanctity
Of the balot.box outraged ali law and decency and
thw arted the voice and the will of the actual residents
This was on the Both day Of March, lS5-a day never
to be forgotten-when the invading hordes WIN IN
sulting banner on which inscribed: death TO
the damned Abolitionists" "a Slave State for Kan
sas No auarter for Free-State Men, and other de-
vices and with boweknives and revolvers bore down
upon the polls oused the judges and clerks OF cleo
tion and stuffed the boxes with Illegal ballots In
this mode and by such means the first soeaed Leg
stature OF Kansas was elected-4,9O6 illegal votes
being polled by Mi-sourians. Only four days had
been allowed TO protest against the returns OF the cleo
ton Judges and the fonalities were attended 10 but
in six districts in which Gov. Reeder ordered new
elections At these electons-May -, lS5-al the
Free-Stae nominees elected, except az Leaven-
worth City, where the Missourians played their old
game Of invasion and illegal voting and on the 18th,
a few days subsequently Pro-Slayery meeting was
held at which the Mssourans were indorsed, and the
outrage Oh Mr.. Phillips Free-State man, who had
been taken into Missouri, tarred and feathered and
sold at auction TO q negro-indorsed.
The first meeting of the Missourelected Legislature
Of Kansas took place at Pawnee, near Fort Riley.
II appeared that there but FreeStae man in
the whole council who Immediately resigned his seat,
bers of the House elected at the special elections
ordered by Governor Reeder and gave their seats TO
their Pro Slavery opponents An act was then passed
Tor the removal Of the seat Of Government TO Shawnee
Mission, near the Missouri border, which wa finally
adopted over Governor Reeders veto.
AL Territorial Offices were filed by these "legisla
tors, or by Commissioners appointed by them and
Governor Reeder who bravely stood up against the
Illegal Assembly and their enactments removed,
the administration falling into the hands Of Secretary
Woodson, who actively cooperated with the Pro
Slavery party.
code Of laws enacted BY the bogus Legisla.
ture, pronounced by General Cas- to be disgrace
TO the age; and, having provided for another cleo