Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-03-05
iooItttraI.
THE KANSAS QUESTION.
SENATOR COrIANRR,s REPORT

prohibited H. Ifsavory existed and espcsiallv II The
Territory was holden by title treaty which forbid alb
there Congress often adopted measures prevent
check further additons and oen and before 1920 the
taking OF slaves into Territory for sale forbidden.
~ E most observable, however, that In no case was the
condition Of Territory Slavery left 70 be a
matter N contention TO the people therein. It
sarlcu as question of too much interest TO the whole
country 20 bc lo 20 local legislation A. no period in
or history hos Il ever y any party. been insisted that
the people not az liberty arrange this matter,
IKE gu others In their way in the formation al
teratinn of their State Constitutions In an the Terrific
rcs North Of the Ohio. Slavery utterly forbidden by
Congress from time 20 time, they formed and in
pursuance Of the ordinance of 1881 In Mississippi in
ll1s, Congress prohibited The importation Of slaves,
which they could not do in the States until 1903. This
was direct Intervention. IN 1891, in Orleans Territory
tnusaua) Congress adopted three express provisions
on slavery Slaves forbidden 70 be brought in ex-
,ept win me owner timily TO settle They we're not
60 be- imported from beyond the United States and
lA For breach Of either of those provisions the slaves
were 90 be declared free This pcnary Intervention
In 1920 was passed the Missouri Compromise. by which
missouri was mmNrd AF slave state, and al slavery
was forever forbidden north of 36deg 3lmn in the coun
try ccdcd 20 us by France. This done by the South
crn vote by large majority, with small minority Of the
North, and a Southern measure This settled the
condition of all the territory then owned and vas
he bond of peace on the subject for more than quarter
of century. When Texas acquired the same pro-
vision 10y line ON 3ideg. 30mn. made for peace.
When by arrangement with Great Britain. we claim
cd Che exclusive right o Oregon. u formed into
Territory aud Slavery utterly prohibited After
QUESTION by the treaty q peace with Mexico difficulty
/
Free State and forming New Mexico and Utah into Ter
orcs. with the right, when forming State Constitutions
M the proper time 20 De admitted either with or without
slavery, such Constitution should provide This
alao southern measure and IT, together with the for
mcr measures then in force again settled the condition
of all our territories 90 Slavery. II claimed and
sustained as a fuality TO this subject
savcholdng States, by which In effect both and all the
settlements were broken and the whole policy Of the
Government on this subject changed The territory
South " 3ilcg 30min-Nlssour, Arkansas. and Louis
lana Hnd Florida obtained from Spain-had been made
into Slave States. But the country North Of that line
was MOSTLY unsettled Iowa only having been formed
thcrcfrom The hansasN edraska act was passed, the
Missouri Compromise line declated imperative. and the
subject of slavery procssedy turned over 10 the peo
pie who should 60 and inhabt that country This was
an invitation To oil men 20 enter this field Of competition
for free or slave institutions and 1t to be expected
that the friends and promoters Of these two systems
would make vigorous cxcrtons n the struggle and that
settlement by each would be highly stimulated by all
lirfl means Hence associations mud societies have
been put In operation both North and South promote
such settlement by their respective friends This was
however, neither wonderful censurabe. That proyi-
sion Of the Kansas act is as follows;
"lhe eighth section Of the act preparatory TO the ad
mission Of Missouri into the Union (which being ueon-
with Slavery in the States and Territories
quired by the legislation of 1850 commonly called the
compromise measures) is hereby declared imperative
and void IL being the true intent and meaning Of this
act TO legisate Slavery into said Territory
cude it thererom but to leave the people thereof per
ectly free 20 form and regulate their domestic nsu-
tons in their way. subject only the Constitution OF
the United Sates Prorided, That nothing herein con
tained shall be construed TO revive put in force any
law regulation which may have existed prior to the act
OF the 9Th Of March. 1920 either protectng establishing
prohibiting abolishing Slavery"
Without now nquring into the propriety, expediency
moral justice Of this law clear is that il contains the
pghed public faith Of this nation that the people Of
Kansas shall have the right OF segoycrnment consist
ent with the Constitution.
Plighted public faith and just laws however, secure
no rights to man That found only in the just and fair
execution Of such laws and will now briefly inquire
how that has been done in relation that people. Have
they been permitted to exercise their promised freedom
even in initiation Of the Government provided for them
The Governor Of Kansas having, in pursuance Of law
divided the Territory into districts, and procured
thereof issued his proclamation for the election Of
Legislative Assembly therein to take place the 30th
day Of March, 1885, and directed how the should be
conducted and the returns made to him agreeaby to the
law establishing said Territory On the day OF election
large bodies Of armed men from the State of Mossouri
appeared at the polls in most Of the districts andby most
violent and tumuuous carrnge and demoanor overawed
the deiensees inhabitants and by their own votes elect
ed large majority Of the members Of both Houses Of
said asscmhly.-On the returns Of said election being
made 10 the Governor, protests and objections were
made to him in relation TO part Of said districts and,
to them he set aside such only by the returns ap
peacd 10 De had In relation 10 others, covering in all,
majority Of the Houses equally vicious in fact, but
apparently good by formal returns the inhabitants there
or borne down by said violence and ntmidasn scatter
ed and discouraged and aboring under appreheusions
Of personal violence RETAINED and desisted from present.
ing any protest 10 the Governor in relation theretoi and
he, then uniformed IN relation thereto issued cerf
Gates 20 the members who appeared by said formal re-
turns 10 have been elected.
set aside orders by him issued for new elections
In of these districts the proceedings
poated by men from Missouri and in others not, and
certificates were issued to the persons elected.
This Legislative Assembly, elected, assembled at
pawneo the I'd day Of July, 1855, that being the time
and place for holding said meeting fixed by the Gov
by authority Of law. On assembling, the said
Houses proceeded TO aside and reject those members
SO elected on said second election except in the district
whore the from Missouri had, at said election, ehos
the persons they had elected at the said first
election. and they admitted all of the said first elected
Legislative Assembly, SO created by military force,
by foreign invasion, in violation Of the organic law
was but usurpaton No act ~ its own, act or n9g
ect Of the Governor, could legiize or saney tits
decisions to its legality are, like its laws but
the fruits of is own usurpaton which no Governor could
legitimate That Territorial Legislature passed the fol-
lowing law
"sHc. H. II any person print, write introduce into
publish circulate cause be brought into, print
ed written, published circulated. shah knowingly
aid or assist in bringing into, printing publishing OF cir
cuating within this Territory, any book, paper pambh-
let, magazine handful or circular containing any state
mens, arguments, opinions, sentiments, doctrines adj
vice nucndo calculated promote disorderly dan
gerous rohcous dssaAecion among the slaves in this
Territory or TO induce sueh slaves escape rom the ser
vice Of their TO resist their authority he shall
be guilty OF felony, and be punsed by imprisonment
and hard labor for term not less than five years.
$3.50. II II any person. by speaking or by writing
assert OF manan that persons have not the right to hold
Slaves In This Territory PRINT, publish write, circulate,
10 be introduced into this Territory, written
prntcd published circulated in this Territory any
book paper magazine, pamphlet circular. containing
any denial Of the rghtof persons hold slaves in this
Territory such person shall be deemed guilty Of felony
and punished by imprisonment at hard labor for term
Of not less than two years.
And further providing that person "conscientously
opposed holding slaves shall sit as juror in the trial
of any founded breach Of the foregoing law
They further provided that all officers and attorneys
should be not only 20 support the Constitution OF
the United States but also TO support and sustain the
gauic law OF the Territory and the Fugitive Slave laws
aud that any person offering TO vote shall be presumed to
be entitled until the contrary Is shown and II
any one when required shall refuse TO take oath
tain the Fugyc Slave laws, he shall not be permitted
10 vote Although they passed law that none but an
uhabtant who had paid tax should vote yet they re-
qurod time Of residence necessary, and provided for
tho immediate payment of poll-taxi so providing, IN
effect that the Of election the people OF neigh
boring States could in, In unlimited numbers, and,
by taking mp residence Of day an hour pay poll
N and thus become legal VOTERS and then, aiier voting,
their State. They thus practical effect,
provided lor the people of Missouri 10 control elections
their pleasure and permitted only such OF the real n-
hahiinns of the Territory TO vote a' are nendy to the
holding gof slaves.
They permitted election Of any Of the officers OF the
Territory be made by the people thereof but created
the offices aud filled them, or appointed officers to NIL
them r long ncrod5 and provided that the next annual
election should be holden in October 1886, and The As
seiy 10 meet iu January, 1891 that OF these
laws could be- changed until the lower House might be
rh,nuod In 1856 the Council, which is elected for
two years. could not be changed TO allow Of change
Of he Laws ocers, until the session of 1883, however
much he nhahitana Of the Territory might desire IT,
These laws made by Assembly created by foreign
manifestation of the spirit Of oppression