Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-09-24
FIR ON KINS1S.
Address 10 the People of the United
f States.

-, communicated to the Chicago Tribune.l
lhe People OF Kansas, at their recen
convention held at Grasshopper Falls, a
dopted resolution to participate in the e.
lection for members of Territorial I,ep;s
lature and delegates to Congress in Octo
ber next, and appointed the undersigned :
committee to address the people at larg,
with respect to this important action.
Two years and half ago a portion OF
the people of Missouri invaded our Terri
tory, took possession of our ballot boxes,
aud established the oligarchy which has
since claimed to exercise the functions of q
government among us. a short time after
= that event our people met in convention at
Dig Springs to determine the aource they
should pursue.
THE PRIMITIVE POLICY.
Two plans were suggested-one 10 re-
slst the execution of their laws by force.
the other to avoid its extreme measures by
the adoption of State Government. This
later alternative was preferred, and the fol-
lowing resolutions adopted.
ResOirei, That the body of men who
for the last two months have been framing
laws for the people of our Territory, moved.
counseled, and dictated by the demagogucs
OF Missouri, are to us foreign body, rerr,-
senting only the lawless invaders who elect
ell them, and not the people of the Terri
tory; that we repudiate their action as the
monstrous consummation of an act of Vi
olencc, usurpation, and fraud, worthy only
of men untitled for the duties, and regard
less of the responsibilities of Republican
ism.
Resolyed, That this convention, in view
of Its reputation of the so-callcd Kansas
Legislative Assembly, respond most hear
tIly to the call made by the peoples con-
vention of the 4th ultimo, for delegate
convention of the people of Kansas Terrific.
ry to be held at Topeka, on the 18th inst.
to consinder the propriety of the formation
oil State Constitution, and such other
matters as many legitimately come before
it.
Resolvea, That setting aside all minor
Issues OF partizan politics, it is incumbent
upon us to proifer an organization caIcula-
'ca 10 recover our dearest rights, and intos
which Democrats and Wings, native and
naturalized citizens, may freely enter,
without any sacrifice of their respective no.
iislcai creeds, but without forcing them as
!. ust upon others; and that when we shall
nave acquired our political freedom. vim
dlcated our right of self government. and
become an independent state of the Union
wnen those Issues may become vital as they
are now dormant, it will be time enough |
to divide our organization by these tests.
the Importance of which we fully rccog- \
nize ID their appropriate sphere.
1t is well known that these resolutions
passed at Big Springs, Sept. 1855. have
constituted tho basis Of all subsequent po-.
llt'cal action of the; people of Kansas
They there uncquiyocally disavowed the
authority of the Territorial Legislature.
and have maintained the position. ever
since. Upon these two measures they have !
rested their hopes from the commencement
OF their struggle; and upon their ultimate
success they still continue to rely. In I,
adopting this course Of action, tn people I
Of Kansas were not impelled by either a (,
fanaticial zeal or wanton inconsideratc- I,
ness OF purpose. They proceeded gravely
and with deliberation to decide upon the
ground they should occupy. 1t was said b
hat they should not proceed to effect q
state organization without authority pre-
Fiously given by act of Congress or of that
Territorial Legislature. But they know
hat no such principle as this had ever been I
established. On the contrary, they knew
hat the instances in which states had been 8
ormed under acts Of Congres were exceed