The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-16

ne CIaiuleu ny any lOrln Vi government unueT
the sun.
The moment the Federal Government be-
comes merely an instrument of oppression,
and its troops the tools to enforce despotic
authority, it is time both should be resisted
and destroyed if possible.
We copy below some of the opinions of
the press concerning this momentous crisis.
From the ST. Louis Democrat of Jan. 2nd.
CIVIL Wharf.-The FIRST GUN.-The alarm
ing news from Kansas, which finds place in
another column, will ring a solemn knell
throughout every state in the confederacy-
A brave people have been driven to take up
arms in self-defence, by the tyranical at
tempts Of the federal government to impose
on them bogus enactments and a fraudulent
constitution, followed up by positive orders
TO their officials to enforce them at the point
of the bayonet. The cup Of patience had
run over-endurance had ceased to be viz
tue-and as was anticipated by our last add
vices, the final arbitrament has came to a
bloody issue. The federal army is summon
ed to the field by Governor Denver, the last
appointee of Mr.. Buchanan whilst the peo
pie organized as territorial militia under
the laws of their late Legislature, and obey
ing the instruction of their legally appointed
officers, are prepared to resist such infringe
ment of their liberties to the uttermost. AL
ready the first engagement has taken place,
the first shot has been fired, the first man
has fallen into the arms of death. Who shall
say where all this will end, or what disastrous
consequences to the whole Union may flow
from the tragedy thus begun. We have no
heart to anticipate the dire evils that must
follow, and shall await with intense anxiety
for further details concerning the reported en-
gagement.
From the Chicago Tribune Jan. 9Th.
CAUSE AND PROGRESS OF THE WAR IN
kANsAs.-The news from Kansas is of the
utmost Importance. The people of that
Territory, smarting under sense of injuries
which have continued with little intermis-
sion for three full years-deprived of the
hope of justice from the National Admins
tration-compelled to believe that COnsti-
tuition which they had no share in framing
was about to be imposed upon them by a
weak minority, supported, however, by the
strong arm of the Federal power-harassed
beyond all endurance by bogus writs in the
hands of bogus officers, issued by bogus
courts, by virtue of bogus laws framed by a
bogus Missouri Legislature-have taken up
arms, and as the telegraph tells us, are holly
engaged in a hand to hand contest with their
opprcssors and foes-the government Sepoys.
Heaven only knows the end of the civil war
thus righteously begun
Our advices are not full enough to warrant
us in attempting to relate the events of the
past few weeks, which have led to this crisis
in the affairs of the Territory. Our cores
pondent on the ground, who is able and faith
full, says, in his letters already published that
the excitement primarily grew out of the at
tempt of the bogus officials, and their Sepoy
supporters, the troops, to collect the taxes
levied by the felon law makers, which have
been always resisted by the Free State men,
The law authorizing these levies was repeal
ed at the late session of the Free State Leg
iSature, but the repeal made little difference
to G. w. Clark the murderer of Baroer, who
took upon himself the execution of the de-
funct enactments. He proceeded under it
and the dead rebellion law, as if both were
in force, and by the outrageous character of
his oppression for which he had no warrant
drove the peaceable settlers into open resist
ance. Everywhere in his beat his posse
secured the prairie like foraging party in an
enemy's country-seizng the farmers oxen
and horses while at their work, gathering up
the swine and mich cows, and, where moth
ing else was to be had, Collecting the chick
ems and geese, all of which, it is alleged,
were driven over the border into Missouri
and there sold for nominal sums, no part of
which the owner of the property ever saw
A volunteer military association of Free
State men at Fort Scott, one of the Border
Rutlian strongholds, was broken up at the
instance of this man Clark, who is one of Mr.
Buchanan's land officers, and nine of its
members were arrested under the rebellion
law, and subjected to insults and indignites
that no man can abide. Their rescue by
their friends was attempted because they
were illegally held admitting even that the
felon code is or ever was valid. The attempt
was resisted, and a skirmish, with some
bloodshed, was the consequence. Each side
called for e-inforcements-the ruffians for
the bayonets of the Government, and the op-
pressed for the strong hearts and stalwart
arms of their brethren who had sufferd like
themselves.
The root of the difficulty, whatever may
be the manifestations in the Territory, is in
Washington and we have no doubt that it |
will some day transpire that this outbreak is |
the work of the Cabinet, or, perhaps, Mr..
Buchanan himself
Heretofore the Free State men in their |
conflicts with their tyrants have contended
against the forms Of aw-Mssouri-Kansas
law, it is true. but nevertheless law for those
to obey it. Now the case is reversed. The
organization Of the Militia by the Free State
Legislature and the entrusting the chief COM
mand to Gen. Lane have made him the repre-
sentative of the military power of the peo-
pie. and have given his acts validity that the
most besotted Ruffian will not question. The
conflict is not between vagabond United
States Marshal and few Free State soldiers,
bat between the Federal power and the
socueignty of Kansas. Such being the OPP
posing forces, the conflict will not end in
smoke.
Though it is unfortunate that this out
break occurs just at this time, when very
important election is to be influenced thereby,
there is not a sincere patriot in the land who
will not wish that Lanes militia may run the
whole pack of cut-throats out of Kansas
The wish of Senator Broderick will find
ready echo in the hearts of millions, that the
people may ''seize the wretches, fog them
soundly, cut off their ears, and drive them
from the Territory The North has at last
been goaded to the point where resistance be-
gins. Let it be vigorous, earnest and COM
prehensive and with God be the consequent
ceS
A coXCoMB, teasing Dr. Parr with an ac-