The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-02-12
MR. pAurosp,s ssEEtz

disturbances Oi 4ooo-OOs uy INC lnfOaQs
of Boarder Ruffians into Kansas, were
made glad by speech from DR.. DANFoRD.
of Linn County, in the Legislative As
sembly, on the occasion of the first vote
on the Bill, providing for the relief Of
claimants
Mr.. DANFoBD said he agreed with the
gentleman from Madison. thaathe Legisla-
ture was assuming weighty responsibilities
in the passage of this bill. But he was
here to do justice to those who had, by a
noble sacrifice of blood and treasure, made
Kansas free.
The General Government had, to great
degree. contributed to this unhappy condi-
ton of our people, aud while it had been
party to the transactions of the past, he
felt assured it could not dishonor itself in
the eyes of a watchful public, by refusing
to make reparation for apparent wrongs
committed at its hands.
We were about to frame, in pursuance
of law, the fourth, and he trusted the last,
Constitution, prior to admission into the
Union.
The amount audited would be engrafted
upon the ordinance of that Constitution,
and its payment by Government would
become a condition of our admission to
the sisterhood of States.
There was parallel in the positions
occupied by our fathers of '76 and those
who had secured the liberties of our peo-
pie in $50.
The men of re struggled and suffered
as no class of men in the history of the
civilized world had previously struggled
and suffered. Amid penury, disease and
want, thousands of those noble hearted
patriots, who had sacrificed or lost every
thing but their individual rights and hon.
or, went down to tho tomb; their ap.
lpeals to their country, in their own gene
ration, were neglected, and the reproacb
was sent abroad and became a by-word
among nations, that Republics were un.
grateful" The men who needed the
comforts of life were a long time. in OBJ
tanning an acknowledgment such as they
deserved. But at last, when the convic-
ton came upon the public mind that neg
lect was injustice, the public voice with one
accord demanded that amends should bt
made, as far as possible, for the injustice
done to the dead. The widows and
children of the deceased veterans wert
sought out and pensioned. We all know
that in many cases such pensions failed
to accomplish the object designed. Tht
relief came too late! Here is an act o
justice due to our own citizens it is dut
to day 1T IS DUE NOW. Let US aid no,r
the men who have suffered and los: thei
all for our benefit and for the sake of lib
erty. Let it not be deferred till futur,
generation, ten, twenty, or thirty year
hence, to remunerate these losses. TIL
sufferers need their indemnity to-day
; The wives and little ones need the neces
saries of life to-day, which the passage o
this bill! will enable them to obtain.
The assumption,on the part Of the Ter
ritory,of these losses, was the only cause b
,clsich valid claim could be made for thei
payment upon the General Government.
With this vieu he could favor tn
measure as one ofemi1ent justice and vas
moment to our patriotic people. He coul
! not feel justified in yielding support t
the bill did it provide for the direct taxa
ktion of our people for the discharge O
: these liabilities. He did not view it i
What light. The claims of all those VIII
had sustained actual damages and losse!
) irrespective of party, would be audite
under the provisions of this Act. AM
Congress, although Democratic, could no
| iOIucO 10 duLulooltl1 OCOducO vi bAO Pd1
ment of these bona fide losses being mad
) condition, and part of the terms upol
which we proposed to occupy seat at tn
: ireside of the Union. We had admitte
Texas and paid her deb: of $10,O0Ooo(
l We could not urge the want of preceden
in the matter.
Should We be refused admission upo
> these Just terms, we could stand outsid
d Of the Union until they got ready to ad
NIT us. The Democratic party could nc
D afford to deny US this simple JUSTICE
. 1t would defeat that party in 80, and in
j augurate an administration which woul
Immediately comply with our request.
That government was best, which CAV
its citizens the best protection. Justic
had not yet died out in the America
heart and he felt assured that South, q
i we'll as North. we would find, in this in
: stance at least, the old maxim confirmed
"Let justice be done tho the heaven
; fall" Did he not deem this the onl
way in which our people could be re
: munerated and Unidentified for the spoil
atoms Of the past, he would not give sup
: port to this measure.
The object, as he understood it, was nc
to burden our people with taxation, bu
! to compel those who had caused the losses
7 to do justice, and discharge their obi
cations.
Not on the ground Of sympathy, did b
advocate the passage Of the Bill. H
sympathized as deeply as any man, wit
e the sufferers of '56,-with those who ha
lost husbands, fathers and brothers in tn
memorable struggle,-with those who's
q cabins and household treasures had beef
I destroyed by the incendiary and the rob