Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-01-24

leading to the Atlantic BY one or the
other of these routes, the greater potion
of the surplus products of our agricultural
and mineral districts find their way to mar
|ket. 1t is estimated, by persons compe-
tent to form an intelligent opinion, that
the losses on the upper lakes alone, for the
year 1856, reach the enormous aggregate
of four millions of dollars, besides the de-
struction of many valuable lives. In the
general sacrifice, Wisconsin, with the 9th
Western States, has suffered largely. The
Western States pay an important share OF
the indirect taxation for the support OF the
General Government. None contribute
more in proportion to their population,none
arc more loyal in their devotion to the
general veal; and while the national cof-
fers are confessedly overlooking with the
accumulation of surplus treasures, it is but
the dictate of common justice, that Con-
gress should make liberal appropriations for
the improvement of Western rivers and
harbors, and the consequent greater secu-
rity of life and property. | would there
fore recommend that you memorabilia that
body upon this subject, asking for appro-
priations of this character, commensurate
with our wants, and our increasing COM
merce.
oUrRAGEs UPON OUR CITIZENS IN KANSAS.
I herewith transmit to you the petition
of VIM. H. Gill, r. D. Nichols, Walter
Florentine, Cyrus S. Gleason, Elizur Hill,
and Oliver Langworthy, setting forth that
they were formerly citizens of this State ::
that having emigrated to Kansas Territory,
they have been thrown into prison at Lee
compton, upon charges of high crimes not
withstanding that their only offence has
consisted in defending themselves and their
property against a regularly organized
band of marauders from the State of
Missouri who were engaged in the most un-
bridled excuses; pillaging property, burn
ing dwellings, and numbering the weak and
defenceless. Upon the receipt Of this pc
tition, l addressed letter to GOVERNOR
Geary in behalf of the petitioners, strongly
urging him to use his influence in protect
ing them against such injustice. Since
then, however, have learned nothing fur
ther sEecting them.
In message addressed to your prede-
cessors, during their adjourned session, Il
had occasion to call attention to similarI
outrages, and then suggested the propri-
of the adoption of measures for protec
ton Of our citizens in the possession of
their consttutionalright to liberty and safe
transmit through any portion of our COM
mon country. These renewed instances of
lawless and wonton oppression, will justify
me in again directing your attention to the
subject.
For the past few weeks greater degree
of quiet seems to have prevailed in that
Territory. Peace appears at least tempo
rarily restored, and hopes are entertained
that citizens Of this and other Free States
will hereafter be permitted to remain there
in the prosecution of their lawful and legit-
innate business, secure from further violence
and rapine. This change is undoubtedly
attributable in part to the manifest deter
mination of the Free States to protect their
citizens who have settled in good faith in
tIl0 lGTTlTOTy OI hduSStS, duu 1saTL ~ IliSl
aroused public sentiment throughout the
same portion of the Union, against the
further extension of slavery. The present
tranquility. however, may be followed at
any moment by new outbreaks. From
those who seek to exclude free labor from
that territory by the introduction Of Afri-
can slavery, we have nothing 10 hope. Ifby|
,aotLo, fl.or& tbo1, ebo,l Jon,,, - ,,oee;b1 q
to accomplish this cherished purpose, the
attempt will be made and the disturbances
and violences Of the past renewed. In my
Judgment, therefore, duty, as we'll as pru-
dencc, demand that we stand fully up to the
position we have already assumed, and
hold ourselves in readiness to reeder all
Constitutional aid, within our power, tol
such of our citizens as have become peace
able and bona tide settlers in Kansas,
whenever the General Government shall
fail to afford them adequate protection.--|
An outspoken and settled determination
on the part Of the Free States, not tol
swerve in the maintenance of this position,
is the surest guarantee of peace and free
dom in Kansas.
PRESIDENT PIERCE CHARGES REPLIED.
l cannot allow this occasion to pass with
out repelling the grossly unjust imputa-
lions cast upon the people Of this, in COM
mon with those Of majority of the Free
States, by the present Chief Magistrate of
the Republic, in his late annual message.
"A large majority Of the electors of Wis
consin, stand charged by him with hostility
to other portions Of the Union; with de-
sire to intefere with the domestic iustitu-
tons Of other States; and with participa-
ting in revolutionary movement, the OBJ
ject of which, is attainable only by the
path Of civil strife, and which would inev-
itably lead to the disruption Of the coun-
try. The mildest langague I can apply to
such charges is, to pronounce them most
unjust, and unwarrantable. No State is
more fondly attached to the Union, than
our own; no people more loyal to the Con-
stitution, or more scrupulous in their re-
gard for the rights of others, than those