The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-02-14
Correspondence of the Chicago Tribur
Matterssfn Kansas,
LECOMpTON. K. T..

LECOMPTON, n. L.. Jan. ~:
veto-Report of the Message-Repeal Of One Section
Slave Law-Charter's Death Penalty-Letter Writers
Surveyor General Cahoun's Affairs Investigated
Female Eemonstration on Liquor Laws.
Governor Geary has vetoed one Of the acts
of this Legislature. The bill was introduced
to the Council by Mr.. Rees, of Leavenworth.
1t allows courts of law discretionary power
in admitting persons to bail, and allowing the
courts to lberate persons Oh bail who have
been charged with murder. This law, which
would confer unheard of and dangerous au-
thority, is designed as partisan movement.
as it has been feared that the Goyerno> wo'd
have some of the many pro-slayery men
charged with murder arrested. | learn that
Judge Cunningham, one Of the three Federal
Judges, has given it as his opini that the
law was Unconstitutional. The act went
quietly through both Houses without oppo-
:ition. AS it is very gross violation of
right, and is blow at the Governor and his
interference with LecOnpte, he vetoed it
lie sent special message to the Legislature
assigning his reasons. This had been ex-
pected, but excited the anger of both bodies.
The act will be passed over his Veto
A report was submitted to the House, by
the committee of Federal Relations. relating
to the Governors Message. The report takes
exception to the Governors position against
the laws protecting slave property and other
laws. A long argument is made; it is shown
that the kansas-E obraska bill was passed
for the preservation Of the rights of slave
property, and that all these laws are in ac-
cordanae with it. The report has been got
up by some juvenile member of genius, -
! and is piece of high-sounding emptiness in
many Of It's parts. 1t speaks of the National
Democracy in manner that might we'll
make their Northern colleagues blush for
their allies here. The 18th section of the
law for the protection Of slave property
This is one of the CT umbs of reform, the pas
sage Of which is expected to cover the noun
tains of iniquity. The shallow character OF
these pretensions to reform may be inferred
| from tie fact that the whole of the law is
most odious, and other sections as bad as
this. The reason why this has been repeal
ed is because it is supposed to prohibit free
expression Of the question whether Kansas
shall be Free or Slave State 1t has on
ly reference to this point and as it has thus
the appearance of conflicting with pretended
| Squatter Sovereignty, the Democracy else
where have requested its repeal. The repeal
was thus conceded, and met little or no op-
position as it had been determined upon. but
even then it was done with bad grace. 1t
will amount to nothing. This section has
been dead letter, for every Free State man
in the Territory has broken it often. ap-
pend the repealed section
"Sec. IL. If any free person, by speaking
or writing: assert or maintain that persons
have not the right to hold slaves in the Ter
Ia ILL 80, Al.
print, publish, write, circulate, or cause TO be
introduced into this Territory, written, print
ed, published, or circulated in this Territory
any book, paper, magazine, pamphlet or cir
cular, containing any denial of the right Of
persons to hold slaves in this Territory, such
person shall be guilty of felony, and punish.
ed by imprisonment at hard labor for a term
of not less than two years."
! An act has passed the Council, and will
likely become law, making it death to steal
horses in the Territory. 1t is we'll known
that the Southern emigrants stole hundreds
of horses here last spring before any Free
State man thought of reprisals in that way
During the war in the summer, there was
one or two companies of Free State guerillas
mostly boys, who turned the tables on the
p5oys,ayery men, and began what has been
called "horse pressinga in the Territory. II
is this that has led to the present law, as il
will be another means of carrying on Legal
warfare, in case difficulties again break out
J The Southern horse-steaiers have nothing K
fear, as their friends select the juries.
1t is current report here that large mum
Der of the pro-slavery Democratic member,
, of Congress, are in correspondence with per
sons here and suggest the course to be pur
: sued, even in apparently small matters. Tn,
! first politicians of the nation are trying Il