The Kanzas news., 1857-09-19
Abolish the Army.

|
Year after year seems to prove the utter
uselessness of a standing army Ia America
The superiority of the volunteer forces In
the war with Mexico has been admitted by
the officers of the regular army, and GER
tainly the economy of the service, when
troops are necessary upon the frontier, or
for any other service, is palpably manifest
by reference to the army statistics, which
every annual report made by the War De-
partment fully proves; but these are not the
paramount reasons (when our treasury IS
groaning with the weight of bullion) there
are to be found in other known causes, such
as the frequent ordering out large numbers
of dragons In a time of peace, by
partizan executives, as has been the case
| frequently In Kanzas, we care not by whom
it is done, if no sufficient good reason can
be found for it. We are not content that
the officer who causes the military turnout
to take place against American citizens,
should lose his influence and character
therefor that is inadequate-lt Is IN Its
certain tendency leading the American peo-
pie into settled dislike for the government
under which they live. 1t is a source OF
disgust to see such frequent pomp and war
| like movement against our own citizens, who
are part of the government. If our peo-
pie have no right to enjoy peace at home by
| their own firesides, give us at once despo-
tism it is the better government of the two.
The latter LAYS no claim to be the govern
ment of the people, while our government
does And at the same time our people are
liable to legalized military oppression upon
the most flimsy pretence of rebellion at
I n
the people at Lawrence, as we'll as elsewhere,
are devoted to their legitimate pursuits
and yet they are all at once startled by the
sound of Federal cavalry in near approach !;
they behold the white lace of trained men,
and see the dazzling brass buttons glittering
in the rays of July sun, with steady train
ing for a fatal charge upon their own kim
dred and friends for an imaginary offence
an offence which, for the want of better
name, is called rebellion
We say it is becoming too common in
Kanzas to order out the troops against the
Free State men for imaginary causes. The
question recurs, have we any courts in Kan
zas and if we have, do they afford any le-
gal remedy? If franchise is exercised
wrongfully in Kanzas, why not first resort
to the judicial tribunals, and try the civil
power of the government? Why not issue
against those who have been charged with
usurpation of Office, the quO acarrd'ato writ.
the same as in the case of a corporation that
assumes to exercise corporate functions IL
legally, and without warrant or authority OF
law +? We think it would be far better, and
equally effective as the ordering out of troops;
for Gov. Walker does not dare make de-
monstration against any class of our citizens,
unless they commit some overt act-some
tangible wrong, some substantial outrage
Then why march the troops upon the hill
of Lawrence, and then march them down
again? The folly of this farce on the part
of our distinguished Executive must be ap-
parent ere this, and a sound humiliation
must have succeeded the excitement that led
his Excellency into so fatal an error. We
admire his Excellency for many things we
have seen in him but as faithful journal
list, we can't praise his folly. We have said,
and now repeat, that Gov. Walker seems to
be actuated by the honest conviction that
the Cons titution should be fairly submitted
to the people of Kanzas but he has no
power to control the Convention, and the
Convention will do as those who are abusing
Gov. Walker in the South may wish TO die
tate. He therefore does not know his party
in Kanzas-he does not know them in the
past, hence he will remember our admoni-
ton, that they never intended from the first
to do anything of the kind. And to-day,
Notwithstanding he is at the head of the
forces now surrounding Lawrence, he can
enter Lawrence at night and walk her streets
unharmed and in safety !; and the Marshal of
Kanzas can by himself, without legal pro- |
cess, arrest every man in Lawrence, unaided
by posse.
Then we say give US a despotisn1 at once,
rather than continue to harrass and annoy
our people with military expeditions, for i'm,
aginary causes. Then we say abolish the
army, if it is for the intimidation of our own
true native sons, who have asked only equal
rights under republican form of govern
ment and when we look back on the past,
a Just government, it seems to us, should not
become erasable for a depression from strict
line of duty, by those who have suffered
everything but death, and who have been
totally deprived of all legal rights in Kanzas,
and who have been ruled. by outside infu-
ences which were oppressive in terms, and
to their spirit in high degree.
. Wyandott Register.
The Free State men of the 10th District,
composed of the counties of Douglas and