The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-09-22

Forwarded by Richardson's Missouri River Express.
From Kansas.
important Official Free State Document
Address to the People Of the .. Sd
payaorapk for Missouri Why the Party
wM Vote What it aoW do IF Defeated
Walker and the Mayor Of LeavenworM.
LAWRENCE, Sept. 5, 1857.
A committee of twenty were appointed at
the Grasshopper Falls Convention to prepare
and publish an address to the people of the
United States. Although not yet submitted
for the approval Of the entire committee,
there is no doubt that it will be adopted with
out alteration as given below. 1t is joint
production of Gen. Lane and Mr.. Conway.
ADDRESS TO TIE PEOPLE.
The people of Kansas, at their recent con-
vention held at Grasshopper Falls, adopted
resolution to participate in the election Tor
members of a territorial Legislature and del
esate to Congress in October next, and ap-
pointed the Gndersiguvd a ~o.r...,it.on IN ad-
dress the people at large with respect to this
important action.
BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLE.
Two wears and half ago portion Of the
people of Missouri invaded our territory. took
possession of our ballot boxes, and establish
ed the oigarchy which has since claimed to
exercise tho functions Of government a.
monost us. A short time after that event
our peoplc met n convention at Big Springs
to determine wnat course they should pursue.
THE PRIMITIVE POLICY.
Two plans were suggested--one to resist
the execution of their laws by force; tho 9TH
er. to avoid this extreme measure by the a.
doption of state government. This latter
alternative was preferred, and the following
resolutions adopted:
Resolved That the body of men who fol
the last two months have been framing laws
for the people of our territory, moved, coun'
selled, and dictated by the dcmagogues OF
Missouri. are to us as a foreign body, rep
resentnc only the lawless invaders who elec
ted them, and not the people Of the terrific
ry; that we repudiate their action as the
monstrous consummation of an act OF vio
lence, usurpation and fraud, unparalleled II
the history of our Union, and worthy onl!
Of men untitled for the duties, and regard
less of the responsibilities of republicans.
RESOLVED, That this convention, in vlev
Of its repudiation of the so-called Kansas leg
islative assembly, respond most heartily Z
the call made by tho peoples convention
tho 14th ultimo, for delegate convenuo
of the people of Kansas territory, to be hel
at Topeka on the 18th inst, to consider tn
, propriety of formation Of state constltr
ton, and such other matters as may leglt
mately come before it.
Resolved That setting aside all minor
sues of partisan politics, it is incumbant upo
v us to proffer an organization calculated to r.
cover our dearest rights, and into which den
b ocrats and wings, native and naturallzed cit
zens may freely enter, without any sacrlil,
d of their respective political creeds, but VIII
. out forcing them as q test upon others; al
that when we shall have achieved our polite
>. freedom, vindicated our right Of self-gover
ment, and become an independent State
:. the Union, when those issues become vital
thew are now dormant, it will be time enou}
le 20 divide our organization by these tests, q
,s importance of which we fully recognize
their appropriate sphere.
d, d, pEFxNsE OF 1T.
N II ia we'll known that these resolutio
passed at Big Springs, September 1885, ha
constituted the basis Of all subsequent poll
cal action of the people Of Kansas. In
81 ., there unequivocally disavowed the authority
cd the territorial Legislature, and have maintain
n that position ever since. They were comm
SO ted themselves in favor of a state organii
" ton, and have maintained that position e'
10 since. Upon these two measures thoy ma
ed rested their hopes from the commencement
" their struggle; and upon their ultimate 8.
cess they sill continue to rely. in adopt
this course of action tho people OF Kan
wcro not impelled by either fanatical q
%, on or wanton inconsiderateness Of purpose.
ms proceeded gravely and with deliberation
'e- decide upon the ground they should occul
od Il was said that they could not proceed to
: feet a state organization without author
o.;o,sly s,;von bv tho net cf Congress or