The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-03-06
General Lanes Reply 20 tho ApouRa-
tiCuH OF tho President,

~ puNi- InttllNE hl HNltHN'f - . ~"
tho 10Th ult, General Lane, whom the fre'-
iirat in his Lccumptln Message designated
us 'u military leader Of o most lurbulent and
dangerous character" took occasion 20 vim
dictate himself and the fec state people Of
Kausas from the hrIuous chargs made
against them iu that remarkable document
$50 one familiar with the history Of Kansas
anars, with tho persistent efforts Of the last
and present Administrations td.gre the con-
rrol u thc territory and lho choice Of 10 fu-
urc Institutions into the hands Of O few des-
peraiu claimants for more slu,ehoIding states,
iD conformation OF the rights Of d large ma
jariy II its citizens, will be- surprised that the
allegations 81 tho President have excited
among the latter the most intense iudiguu-
ton, They have been misrrprcscnIed, NAL
treated aud pctrrlich hy Border Auilina
and Government officials beyond patient en-
duraucs heretofore, buI II remained for Pres
,dcnt Buchanan 90 surpuss oil these indigni-
ties, by llgmatsIng them ,s rebels aud churg
Ing all tie troubles Of Kansas 70 their nc
count In relcruneo 20 the message General
Lane says
Of hope % demonstrate that "a contains an
uumauly assault upon patriotic, patient and
pcHcr-u,iuF people, IL ~ known 90 you, aud
Il il matter Of history, that there never has
been in Kansas any organization, public or
secret, aTmeu ur unnrnod, against the Gen
crnl Government, the Territorial Government.
or the Missouri enacted code.
AZ the great Delegate Convention, held At
Big Springs In September 1900, twas unan-
imouaIy received, after fall discussion and
drlibcratlon, nat % organize IN resistance
of that code, but a. leave each member Of the
Free State patty ltee ~ act Independently in
that regard, Never hus there been moment
in our history when rls could not be freely
served iu Lawrence on plbcWhcFr IN tho Ter
ilpry. Towards that Missouri code We adopt
ed thr lei aipHc policy uclhcrresouing 10 nor
resisting % and q IW 81 us oirH irright, be-
meath the contempt Of au indignant people,
NUphu,eJ
While the Territorial officers appointed by
the Federal Government have been regarded
and watched 90 enemies, SO their authority
has always been acknowledged and their posi-
tious respected, Knowing, 40 We long have,
thal collision between the people of Kan
sas and the Federal authorities was sought for
los our enemies, both here and Ia the Gcncr-
altiuScrmcut, We have borne and iurborur
q, Americans were ucycr called on to do be-
iugr un,
Whom ou. Territory wl, occupied by four
distinct armies from foreign States, laying
waste the country, and a,uWiug their deter
miunliou tu cNicruiuatc the people Of Kan.
s,s-bclors resisting them We called upon the
Territorial authorities and the Commo0dant
of the United States troops luy protection,
so, until that protection Was refused, did We
attack "a. u6roudcts, Nerer hare the
y,Yuir of kdfsas becH no 0rHis cTcepi fp re-.
siaf inrasiop Hpm oihci Sintsf,'
Il IL known 90 you that, htd there been IA
chance ug success, under the fraudulent reg
is,ry made hy our enemies We would have
contested the election oi dglcgalcs 20 the
lccompton Convention \ our speaker re-
turned o. Lmsa, IN disguise, at the imminent
psIi, a. L'7 lie, Cor the express purpose OF
using his humble Efforts To- induce the people
10 20 into lhtt election,
The Topeka Legislature Is nov in session,
passing O. code Of laws, with the dstino,
understanding That that code is not to go in,
tn 8e Anion or until war is dcSSaaTsdj qg9ig9aa!
sti,uliea.
There never has been fair election uldcr
the Territorial authority. Our border IVES
m,,d'd Uto,ojy election. by organized onnda
from Missouri strangers 20 our soil-our
ballot hoses -rizrd-=1nd our gCttlcs driven
thorefom hy force. The Territorial militia
officers we're our enemies.
In view of this, at the Convention whore
SIC decided To go iulo the October election,
IL vas determined that should bc authorized
to organize the people for the protection Of
the ballot boz. The organization was had,
Although We could not prevent the manuiac.
turc OF fictitious returns, We did keen back
TIC Urmrd nurtrE, dud SvturCu TIC Territorial
Legislature q, the people.
The right 20 defend ones self, is held to hc
inolicnablc. The American right Of suffrage
is believed 20 be equally sacred. The organ.
izntion had no other object than that indica-
ted and immediately after the election, the
position VS. surrendered into the hands of
the people. The only design in enrolling
the names Of those who refused To- join the
organizations. was, TO secure full census of
the voters, 90 serve as a corrective of The
election returns, for the detection Of frauds.
-
Fearing the action Of por,isan Congress
elected with deep prciudiccs against us, under