Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-24
The Condition Of Kansas.

4 friend has handed us private let
ter, just received fiom Gov. Robinson,
of Kansas, which indicates the state of
public opinion there, and brings to
light a new fact in the programme of
the Kansas usurpation.
The GOODNESS and moderation of the
author, entities his opinions to great
weight.
He says 1.-The people of Kansas have
given up all hope of the defeat of the
Lecompton Constitution in Congress.
The combined power of party drill and
federal patronage will no doubt carry
it safely through both Houses. With
the passage ofthat act popular freedom.
dies in Kansas, and in. its place cruel
and relentless despotism is established:
a despotism, annihilating the last yes
tlge OF free government, provided by
cunningly devised schemes for its own
perpetuity, and using the most desper-
ate and abandoned williams for the in
struments Of its power. We are fully
convinced that the commission of this
gigantic crime has been fully resolved
upon by the Democratic party in Con
gress.
They doubtless think that wearied
out, poor and oppressed as we are, we
shall submit, or If not we can be crush
ed like a worm. | need not tell YOU
that we shall not submit. If we did,
we should deserve to be yoked up with
the negro slaves that they seek to i'm
pose upon us, and driven forth in chains
from the glorious land that we were
too base and cowardly to defend, and
of which we had proved ourselves I'M
worthy.
If the federal government will let us
alone we can peaceably and speedily
reyolutionize, throw off the usurpation
and establish free government But
It is too evident that the President, ut
terlv insane and besotted in his ty-
ranical designs, intends to guard the
cradle of his bantling with a powerful
! force
| Under pretence Of the Utah war, the
army is accommodating here, which he
intend! to turn against us, if we make
any attempt to regain our lost rights.
| we have information also that Coy.
Stewart of Missouri, has an arrange
ment with Marshall, Governor elect of
Kansas under the Lecompton Constit,s-
ton, to have large force in readiness
to cooperate with him in putting down
rebellion. Against such odds we can
not contend alone.
| / cannot believe that we shall be
abandoned in this hour Of peril, and
| left to be crushed beneath the heel OF
desperate power.
My heart bleeds for this suffering
people; so brave and self-sacrificino
for liberty.
Only those who know them thor
oughly, can realize how mnch they de-
sire sympathy and support, for defend
inc this outpost so long and so success.
fully against such fearful odds, and at
such n cost to themselves.
viii not the sovereign States, in this
last extremity, rouse to some proper
sense Of their duty to us? VIII they
not stay the hand of a tyrannical Pres
idenJ by making common ra,t>e with Us
in sustaining the right of seIfcovern-
ment for which our fathers poured out
| their blood and treasure? Can we not
ask at least, that they should do this.
from self-respect, if from no sympathy
with US?
| trust Wisconsin, the noblest daugh-
ter of the Northwest, will remember
her sons, some Of whom have died here.
fighting for freedom, and others OF
whom live, ready to rally to her stand
ard
We hare not heard from yow Legis-
I0telre get. We receive various coun-
sells from our friends Timid friends.
who last year came near running us by
counscilng peace, again assure us that
some way of escape will be provided
Had we taken their advice then, the
Free State population would have been
annihilated. We shall not follow it
now, when it's folly is so clearly demon
strated.
We have gained only when we made
up our minds to fight and prepared for
it. Submission has always been fol
lowed by more eXactions and injuries.
[ know that the people are rcligiously
resolved upon resistance.
l know not how to characterize this
damning act of the Federal Govern
ment, and the apathy Of the people I'M
der it.
Ny soul IS filed with Indignation too
deem for words.
May God direct and help us.
Most truly yours,
CHARLES ROBINSON"
a DAY OF PRATER.-The Clergy of