Raftsman's journal. (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, March 26, 1856, Image 4

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S. B. ROW, Editor and Pnor-BiEToa.
. . CLEARFIELD, PA.,MAKCn 2G, 1856.
.-. nominees of the Philadelphia Convention.
' TOR rP.ESIDEXT, -
MILLARD FILLMORE.
.;-'- . VICS PRESIDENT, t. .
ANDREW JACKSON DONNELSON.
-.r . - "fSEEDOai OF SPEECH,"
, Id an article under this caption, "our netgh
.bor'1 of the Republican makes uso of, the fol
lowing language :
-. "The great achievement of1 those 'primitive
'days' was the guarantee of 'freedom of speech'
to every citizen.' We would maintain that gua
rantee inviolate. : Can our neighbor say as
t ranch Would not h and his party deny to
the naturalized citizen, and to the citizen of a
certain religious belief, the right to hold of
fice?" - .
" " It is a singular way, of a verity, that our
down-street "neighbor" has of ''maintaining
inviolate" the guarantee of freedom of speech,
4 when in the very next paragraph to the ono in
which he asks the above qnestions, he would
' not have ministers Speaking "after 'the im
1 pious manner of the three thousand New Eng-
land clergymen in their remonstrance against
'the passage of the Kansas Nebraska bill!"
Is that "maintaining that guarantee" invio
late? If it is, wo acknowledge our inability to
discern in what way.
Americanism has been so much discussed
within the two last'years, that it was thought
no misapprehension of the principles upon
which it is based, conld exist. Cut, it seems,
there still are some, who, whether wilfully or
not, we will not aay, have difficulty in arriving
at a correct understanding of the same. The
evil which would result from an cxerclso of
- foreign influence in our governmental affairs,
attracted the attention of the statesmen of our
country long ago, and induced them to utter
their condemnation of it. Washington him
self set the example in this respect. The evil
- tendencies of foreign influences caused the
' great apostle of modern Democracy, General
Jackson, to declare that "we must become
more Americanised." "Pennsylvania's favor
ite aon," James Buchanan, was in the earlier
days of his career, impressed with the same
' Idea, and contended, in a speech delivered at
Lancaster on the 4th July, 1815, which we find
in an exchange, that
"We onght to nse every honest exertion to
trira out of power those weak and wicked men
- who have abandoned the political path marked
ont for this country by Washington, and whoso
wild and visionary theories have been at length
tested by experience and found wanting.
jSboce all, we ought to drive from cur shores for.
' cVn influence, and cherish exclusively American
feeling. Foreign influence has been in every age
the curse nf Republics. . . . . . Alrea
dy our Infant Republic has felt her withering
influence. Already has she involved us in a
war, which had ncarlv cost us onr existence
Let us then learn u-isdom from experience, and
Joreeer bamsn this fiend Jrorn our society."
There is what James Buchanan, the choice
of tho Democracy of this State for President,
,. said relative to foreign influence. At the time
it was spoken, it was regarded as being ortho
- dox. Why is it not now? . Why i3 it that at
. fhe present time, when our elections arc being
controlled by foreign votes, the principle is
regarded as orroneous by tho Democracy 1 Is
, it not for tho self-evident reason, that their
political success in a great measure Qcpends
upon securing the foreign vote ? r That is the
correct solution ot the problem. It was trulv
.. said that "men change, principles never!"
In tiro few lines quoted at the beginning of
' this article, the question is asked whether tho
American party would not "deny to the natu
' raHzed citizen, and to the citizen of a certain
. religions belief," which means a Koman Cath-
lic, "the right to hold oflice." What "right"
' has any foreign catholic to hold our offices
: Wbero did lie acquire it? And by what au--'
tbority was he invested with it J Docs a blind
obedience to a foreign spiritual head, confer it
. cpon him 1 Does his adherence to the pocu
liar dogmas, superstitious and prejudices of
the Church of Rome, or even an abandoning of
I his adherence to a temporal prince of Europo
er any other section of the world, bestow cr
. on him snch a "right ?" . lias he any rt'gar at
all to hold office? Certain privileges are gran-
ted' upon certain conditions ; but to talk of the
right of a foreigner to hold office, is an absur
dity. : The constitution forbids a fnaturalized
citizen'? from holding the office of President
of tho United States, and, wo believe, the same
"rule applies to tho office of Vice President.
How dreadfully proscriptive the Constitution
and the Amorican party aro ! The Catholics,
.so. far as their religions privileges aro con
cerned aro not persecuted in tho United States,
nor docs the American party wish to persecute
. them. They have their priests and churches,
.And aro allowed the full enjoyment of these.
- With their religion no party wishes to inter
fere. Politically they are distrusted, and for
this they have themselves to blame. Their
ubserviency to a foreign priesthood and for
eign spiritual head, superinduced this distrust.
.To a free nso of the ballot-box, after a com
pliance with tho requirements of the constitu
tion and laws, no one presumed to object ; but
when they were found, as a church, in obedi
nc to the instructions oi their prieste, who
are bound, by solemn oath,- to obey the Pope
"Rom, who Is, and has always been opposed
r, liberal institutions and afrte-sia of th Bi-
ble by J.he . people at large, taking a united
stand ibr one of the great political parlies of
this country, and thus controling our elections,
a spirit of jealousy was ; engendered that can
Tiever be subdued. ' ; It is in their character as
a politico-ecclesiastical body that they are op
posed. ; Ilad they contented themselves with
the privileges extended to other citizens, and
employed no suspicious- and insidious means
for gaining an ascendancy, they would havo
met no opposition from any party.
Thus it will be "seen, that it is not the reli
gion of Catholics that Americans contend a
gainst. They war with Rome ; for, as a cotem
porary remarks : "Rome is the enemy of A
mcrica, and America Ms the 'enemy of" Rome.
We war against the imposition by Rome of a
Priesthood upon us, alien to civil Laws, our
Customs, our Schools, and ever seeking indi
rectly or directly, the subversion of tbera all.
We war against a hierarchy, Roman-made, that
robs its own people of their own property, to
concentrate it all (in church form) upon itself,
utterly subject to Rome. -We war against a
hierarchy that rushes into our elections, and
turns huge masses of votes in solid bodies into
our American ballot-boxes to create American
demagogues to obey its will. Rome has been,
and is " attempting, through her powerful hie
rarchy, to rule, the civil power of the United
States. For this pnrpose she exports here and
imposes upon us, the Irish hierarchy, as the
most subservient tool of its power. Tor this
purpose, this Irish Roman hierarchy turn all
the Irish, Catholic masses one way into one
ballot, the better thus to overawe and to con
trol American demagogues and politicians.
For this purpose, we have 'Church Property
Eills' to concentrate on tho one man power of
Rome, tho now immense Roman Catholic es
tates of this country. For this purpose our
School System has been attacked," and a por
tion of our School . money demanded from ns
at the ballot-box and in the State Legislatures.
It is upon such Roman Catholicism that Amer
icans war. ...:',
To us it seems strange that tho Democrat
ic presses, which so much "honor the minister
of tho gospel" for manfully expressing his
sentiments, should direct their denunciations
against Protestant clergymen for so doing, but
never say a word when a Roman Catholic bish
op or priest does the same thing ! Who ever
heard of a Democratic - newspaper "say aught
against a Catholic church dignitary for expres
sing his opinions, cither in the pulpit, or thro
the medium of tho press, on matters pertain
ing to the political condition of our country?
It Would almost seem as if they were the spe
cial guardians or the "mother church.-" If
they arc, we congratulate them upon tho hap
py circumstance. For our part, however, we
do not envy them their ocenpation, but shall
consider it our duty, so long as the head of
that church endeavors to exert an influence in
the affairs of onr government, to hold it up in
its true colors, by exposing its insidious policy
and anti-republican tendencies, which, if car
ried into effect, would prove subversive of our
institutions and destructive to our liberties.
J ut "AtGERisE Law." We aro indebted
to the attentive and energetic Senator from
this district, ITenry Souther, Esq., for a copy
of the Bill repealing the supplement to the
act of May 8, 1512, known here as the "Alge
rine Law," which he read in place on tho 13th
inst. In order that Mr. Souther may be en
ablod to work eGectively in this matter, yeti
tions asking for the passage of tho repealing
act hhould bo immediately forwarded, well
signed, from the various townships of this
county which' aro most directly interested in
it. The repeal of tho supplement is of high
importance to the lumbermen of tho Susquc
quehanna, and it is to be hoped that tiiey will
make the necessary exertions to secure it.
little activity is all that is required. Petitions
have already been forwarded from our borough,
and other steps have also been taken here.
But Clearfield borough can't do all the test
of the county must lend their assistance. .
Xew Hampshire Election. Tho result of
the recent election in New Hampshire shows
that the Pierce Democracy have been sadly
routed. Tho opposition have carried both
branches of tho Legislature. No choice for
Governor having been made by the people,
that duty devolves upon the Legislature, and
as tho anti-administration party has a decided
majority, their candidate will be elected. This
is a serious loss to the Pierce party, which
made every exertion toarry the State, know
ing that if they lost New Hampshire their case
was desperate. Several prominent speakers
were sent there, and money was used in liber
al profusion, to secure a victory. But it was
all useless--they are signally defeated.
Tho Trenton State Gazetto publishes an ap
peal signed by all the members of tho New
Jersey Legislature opposed to tho present Na
tional Administration, calling upon all the vo
ters of tho State of similar inclination to as
semble in their respective wards and town
ships and elect delegates to a Stato Conven
tion to be held in Trenton on Wednesday, tho
1th of June, whereat a candidate shall be nom
inated for the office of Governor, to be sup
ported at tho ensuing election. ,
Senators trom Kavsas. The St. Louis
Democrat has a letter from Topckaj dated the
8th inst., stating that the Free Stato Legisla-
turo of Kansas has in joint convention elected
Hon. A. H. Reeder and Hon.' James n. Lane
United States Senators. Mr. Reeder was c-
lected on tho first, and Mr. Lane on the second
ballot. Each received 38 votes out of 56 mem
bers present.
The Fruit Crop or New Jerset The New
ark Daily Advertiser states that the prospects,
in New Jersey, of a large yield of fruit, were
never better than at tho present time. The
buds are generally uninjured, and tho linger
ing cold woathor will prevent them swelling
until th season is too far advanced to hare
hra sufftr from high winds or frostf. ,
ANOTHER LETTEK FEOM Kev. 3. CHAMBERS.
Philadelphia, March 15th, 1856." s
Richardson L. Wright, Esq., Speaker of
tho House of Representatives My Dear Sir :
Tonr letter addressed to me through the col
umns of the Pennsylvanian of to-day, receiv
ed iuy respectful consideration, as I trust this
will; secure yours. First, as to the caustic
biting part of it."., "Time serving politician"-
"billingsgate notoriety" "moral desperado"
"uncharitable ravings" "statements which
have no foundation in truth," &c: Now, Mr.
Speaker, if you canajford to employ such ep
ithets, I can afford to have them heaped upon
me. " They do not' disturb my ' equanimity or
ruffle my temper in the slightest degree.-. It
is always unfortunate for a man to fly into a
passion, butt is peculiarly so when he is wri
ting for the eye of the public and the scrutiny
of intelligent men. Any body can call hard
names. Our, women in tho fish market can
beat you all hollow in multiplying opprobri
ous epithets, so that no honor or capital can
be gainedon that score. Vou will Mr. Speak
er, pleaso bear this in mini when you write
your nextletter for the public papers. Keep
your temper at any cost. ; Don't be so anxious
to call hard names that you lose your self con
trol. Secondly, let us look at one or two more
important matters. Vou say, "I was constrain
ed by a sense of duly, as a consistent friend of
Temperance, to advocate such measures as
thought best calculated to remedy existin
evils," &c. "Consistent friends of Temper
ance!", Let'us see. You and your Demo
cratic colleagues, pending the election last
October, proclaimed yourselves the "consis
tent friends of Temperance." If the dear
people would only elect you, you would give
them a bettor law than the act to "restrain the
sale of intoxicating liquors." And what did
you do? A bill was introduced to repeal
unconditionally, the act of last year. Messrs
Morris and Dock objected to that, and insisted
that a "bill should be, introduced to take the
place of that act before it was repealed." And
what did you and your Democratic colleagues
do ? Voted for the unconditional repeal of the
act of last year, opening tho flood-gates of in
temperance . and ruin upon the community
Your names stand upon the record, and you
cannot gainsay it. Every ono of you deserved
at the time, the indignant rebuke of an injur
ed and insulted constituency, s
lint thanks to N. C Erowne and a majority
of the Senate, thc.flagrant wrongs of the House
were checked. A stringent license bill was in
troduced and passed that body. When it was
sent to the House for concurrence, what did
you then do ? You advocated those amend
ments which would have destroyed the vitali
ty and the beneficial effect a of Mr, Browne,s
bill, and would havo made it a weak, inef
ficient, wishy washy thing, almost worthless
as to all practical purposes. This you did as a
"consistent friend of Temperance!" Do yon
not think the Liquor League would give a heap
of money to have just such "friends of Temper
ance" sent every year to the Legislature
It will not do, Mr. Speaker, to throw dust
and try to hoodwink the people in this way
I say it openly and publicly, that you and your
Democratic brcthcrn from Philadelphia have
misrepresented the people, and abased the con
fidnce reposed in you. You are good rcpre
sentatives of the Liquor League, and I com
mend you all to their special regard. They
ought to take good care of you for you have
been faithful to their interests. Do you say
this is a hard allegation ? Look at your recor
ded votes, and judge. It is no use to be mealy
mouthed about this matter. It is true.and ev
ery boay knows it, that every Democratic
member from this city in the House and the
Senate, (excepting N. B. Browne, Esq., noble
specimen of humanity,) have bowed down and
worshipped at the shrine of tho Liquor League
I want the rEorLE distinctly to understand
that you left the Speaker's chair and earnestly
advocated tho granting of licenses to our res
taurants and eating houses, to sell ardent
spirits. You and your Democratic colleagues
from this city voted for this measure, while
you and they know full well that in these pla
ces, m consequenco of the maddening effects
of rum, a vast amount of disorder, wrangling,
riot and fighting, is constantly occurring.
You and they know equally well, that a vast
majority of tho people of Philadelphia .are
most decidedly opposed to granting licenses
to these places to sell alcoholic drinks. Why
did you do it ? To gratify the Liquor League
and the rummies ? That was the reason, and
you cannot deny it. Let tho Liquor League
take care of you and yonr Democratic brcth
rcn, for it is quite certain you have , forfeited
the respect and confidence of sober, virtuous,
intelligent, temperate citizens. After all this
you speak of yourself in your letter as a "con
sistcnt friend of Temperance!" Fudge, Mr
Speaker, all fudge. We are not to be fooled
in this way. , Jouv Cham nr.ns.
Death" of Dr. Bond. The venerable and
talented Dr. T. E. Bondeditor in chief of the
Christian Advocate and Journal, the leading
paper of the Methodist Efc'scopal Church, and
a local preacher of that denomination, died at
his residence in New York city, on Saturday
last. Dr. Bond was a native of Harford coun
ty, Maryland ; he was a successful practitioner
of medicine in Baltimore city for many years.
and as a clergyman, was eminent for his pietw
.self-sacriflcing devotion and learning. Belov
ed and lamented by all who' knew him, person
ally and by report, ho has passed to his final
account at the advanced age of 76 years.
Caving In Tho Pittsburg Union learns"by
passengers that on Thursday night last a por
tion of tho earth, in that part of the big tun
nel which yet remains unfinished, fell in, and
for a couple of hours obstructed the rasWa
of the train. Tho rubbish was removed as
speedily as a large force . of bands, who we
promptly set to work, could do it.
On Monday, Flour was selling in Philadel
phia at from S7 to $8,50 wheat $l,65a$l,75 ;
ryo iadall at $1 ; corn 68a59c cloverseed
v,B7iW)., timothy $8,S0$ flax $l,90a$2. -.
1 THE SAKSAS QUESTION,
. In Senate, March 12, Mr. Collamep., from
the Minority of the Committee on Territories,
to whom was referred tho President's Message
on Aflairsin Kanias,made a report, from which
we extract the following paragraphs : '.
"A succinct statement of the course and pro
gress of tho material events in Kansas is this :
After the passage of this law, establishing the
Territory of Kansas, a largo body of settlers'
rapidly enteied into said J crritory with the
view of permanent inhabitancy therein. Most
of these were from the Free States of the West
and North, who probably intended by their
votes and influence to establish there a Free
State, agreeably to the law which invited them;
Some part of these from the Northern Emi
grant Aid Society, formed in Massachusetts,
which put forth some exertionln this laudable
object by open and public measures, iu provid
ing facilities for transportation to all peaceable
citizens who desired -to bcom permanent
settlers in said Territory, and providing there
in hotels, mills, and so forth for the public ac
commodation of that new country. . .
The Governor of Kansas having, in pursu
ance of law, divided the Territory into dis
tricts and procured a census thereof, issued his
proclamation for the election of a Legislative
Assembly therein, to take place on the oOth
day of March, 1855, and directed how the same
should be conducted and thajeturns made to
him, agreeably to the ' law establishing said
Territory. . On the day of election,, large .bod
ies of armed men from the State of Missouri
appeared at the polls in most of the-disti iefs
and by rhost violent and tumultuous carriage
and demeanor, overawed the defenseless in
habitants, and by their own Votes, elected a
large majority of the members of both Houses
of said As3L-inblv. On the returns of said elec
tions being made to the Governor, protests and
oljections being made to Lira in relation to a
part of said districts, and, as to them, lie set
aside such, and such only, as, by the returns,
appeared to be bad. Iu relation to others,
covering a majority of the two Houses, equal
ly vicious in fact, but apparently good by for
mal returns, tho inhabitants thereof, borne
down by said violence, and intimidated, scat
tered and discouraged, and laboring under ap
prehensions of personal violence, refrained and
desisted from presenting any protest to the
Governor in relation thereto, and be, then un
informed iu relation thereto, issued certificates
to the "members who appeared by said formal
returns to hare been elected.
In relation to thoso districts which the Gov
ernor so set aside, orders were by him issued
for new elections. Ia one of these districts
the same proceedings were repeated by men
from Missouri, and in others not, and certifi
cates were issued to the persons elected.
This Legislative Assembly so elected assem
bled at Pawnee on, the 2d day of July, 1S55,
fiat being the time and place, for holding said
meeting, ns fixed by the Governor by authori
ty ol law. On" assembling, the said houses
proceeded to set aside and reject those mem
bers so elected on said second election, except
in the districts where the men from Missouri
had, at snid election, chosen the same persons
they Lad elected at the said first election, and
admitted all of the said first-elected members.
A Legislative Assembly, so created by mili
tary force, by a foreign invasion, in violation
of the organic law, was but a usurpation. No
act of its own no act or neglect of the Gov
ernor, could legalize or sakctify it. Its own
decisions as to its own legality are, like its
laws, but the fruits of its own usurpation,
which no Governor could legitimate.
They prssed an Act altering tho place cf the
temporary seat of Government to the Shawnee
Mission on the border, and in near proximity
to Missouri. This Act the Government regard"
ed as a violation of the orguiic law establish
ing the Territory, which fixed tho temporary
seat cf Government and prohibited the Legis
lative Assembly from doing anything inconsis
tent with .said Act. lie therefore, and for that
cause, vetoed said bill, but said Assembly re
passed the same by two-third majoritynot
withstanding said veto, and removed to said
Shawnee Mission. They then proceeded to
pass laws, and the Governor in writing, declin
ed further to recognizj them as a legitimate
Assembly sitting at that place. They'contin
uod passing laws tbcre from the lGth dav of
July to the 31st day of August, 1853.
On tho lath day of August last the Gover
nor of said Territory was dismissed from office.
and tho duties devolved upon the Secretary of
the Territory ; and how many. of the laws pas
sed with his ofiicial approbation does not ap
pear the laws, as now presented, being with
out date or authenticated.
As by tho Uw of Conzrcss orcranizinf? said
Territory it was expressly provided that the
people of the Territory were to be "left pcr
" fectlv free to form and resrulate their domes
tic institutions in their own way," and a
moiig thesa institutions Slavery is included,
it was of course implied that that subject was
to bo open and free to public and private dis
cussion in all its bearings, rights and relation
ships. Among these mast, of course, be the
questions of what was the state of the existing
laws, and tho modifications that might bo re
quired on that subject. The law had declared
that its "true intent and meaning was not to
"legislate Slavery into the Territory or ex.
" elude it therefrom." This would, of course,
leave o that people the inquiry, What then,
are the existing rights under the Constitution ?
Can slaves be holden in the absence of anv
law on tho subject ? This question, about which
so much difference of opinion exists, and which
Congress and the Courts have never settled
was thus turned over to the people there to
discuss and settle for themselves. .
This Territorial Legislature, so created, bv
force from Missouri, utterlv refused to trmif.
discussion on the subject, but assuming that
Slavery already existed there, and that nelthpr
Congress Tior the people in tho Territory un
der the authority of Congress, had or conld
prohibit it, passed a law which, if enforced,
utterly prohibits o discussion of the ouestion.
The 11th and 12th sections of that act are as
ioucws
-Sec. 11. If anv lierson tirint. u-rifA irtm.
duce into, publish or circulate, or mush t n
brought into, printed, written, published or
circulated, or shall knowingly nid or assist in
bringing into, printing, publishing or circula
ting within this Territory, any book, magazine,
handbill orcircular. contain!
arguments, opinions, sentiments; doctrine, ad
vice or inuendo, calculated to promote a dis
orderly, dangerous or rebellious disaffection
among the slaves in this Territory, or to in
duce such slaves to cscane from the' servi f
their masters, or to resist their authority, ho
shall be guilty of a felony, and bo punished
by imprisonment and hard labor for a term cf
not less than fivo vears.
Sec. 1-. If any free person, by speaking or
by writing, assert or maintain that persons
have not tho right to hold slave s in this Terri
tory, or shall introduce ino this Territory
print, publish, write, circulate, or cause to be
introduced into this Tcrritoiy, written, print
ed, published or circulated in this Territory,
any book, paper, magazine, pamphlet or circu
lar containing any denial of the ria-ht nf nr-
aons to hold slaves in this Territory, such per
son shall bo deemed guilty of felony, and pun
ished by imprisoumcnt at hard labor for a term
lot lees than two years.
This act further provide? that no person
conscientiously onnosed to hnWinrf .?,,..!
shall sit as a juror in the trial of any case foun- i
d on a breach of th forgoing law. ; Th '
act further provided "that all officers and at
torniea shall be sworn not only to support the
Constitution of the United States, but also to
support and sustain the organic law of the Ter
ritory and the Fugitive Slave law ; and that
any person offering to vote shall bo presumed
to be. entitled to vote until the contrary is
shown ; and if any one, when required, shall
refuse to take the oath to sustain the Fugitive
Slave law, he shall not be permitted to vote."
Although they passed a law that "none but an
inhabitant, who had paid a tax, should vote,"
yet they required no time of residence necessa
ry, and prov ided for the "immediate" payment
of a poll-tax, so providing in effect, that on the
eve of an election the people of a neighboring
State could come in in unlimited numbers, and
by taking up a residence of a day or an hour,
pay a poll-tax, and thus become legal voters,
and then, after voting, return, to . their , own
State. They thus, in practical effect, provi
ded for the people of Missouri to control elecj
tions at their pleasure, and permitted such on
ly of the real inhabitants of the. Territory to
vote as are friendly to the holding of slaves.
They permitted - no election of any of the
officers in the Territory to be made by the peo
ple thereof, but created the otb'ces and filled
them, or appointed olh'cers to fill them for long
periods," and provided that tho next annual e
lection should be holden in October, 1850, and
the Assembly to meet in January, 1S57, so
that none of these laws could be changed un
til the lower House might be changed in 1S5G;
but the Council, which is elected for 2 years,
could not be changed, so as to allow a cliango
of the laws or officers until the session of 1858,
however much fhe inhabitants of the Territo
ry might desire' it.
These laws, made, by an Assembly created
by a foreign force, are but a manifestation of
the spirit of oppression which was the parent
of the whole transaction. No excuse can be
found for it in the pretense that the inhabi
tants had carried with them into said Territory
a quantity of Sharp's rifles. First : Because
that, if true, formed no excuse. Secondly :
It is untrue, as their Sharp's rifles were only
obtained afterward and entirely for the pur
pose 01 seit-uetcnsc, the necessity for winch
this invasion and ether acts of violence and
threats clearly demonstrated.
These laws were obviously made to oppress
and drive out all who were inclined to the ex
clusion of Slaver', and, if they remained, to
silence them on this subject, and subject them
to the will aud control of the people of Mis
souri. These arc the laws which the Presi
dent says must be enforced by the laws aud
whole power of this nation.
The people of Kansas thus invaded, sub
dued, oppressed and insulted, seeingtheir Ter
ritorial Government (such only in form) per
verted into an engine to crush them in 'the
dust', and to defeat and destroy the professed
object of their organic law by depriving them
of the "perfect freedom" therein provided, and
finding no ground to hope for rights in that or
ganization, they proceeded, under the guaran
ty of the United States Constitution, "peace
" ably to assemble to petition the Govern
" merit for the redress of their grievances."
They saw no earthly source of relief but in tho
formation of a Stato Government by the peo
ple, and the acceptance and ratification there
of by Congress.
In this view of the subject, in the first part
of August, 1S55, a call was published in the
public papers for a meeting of the citizens of
Kansas, irrespective of party, to meet at Law
rence, in said Territory, on the 15th of said
August, to take into consideration tho propri
ety of calling a Convention of the people of
the whole Territory to consider the subject.
That meeting was holden on the 15th day of
August last, and proceeded to call such Con
vention of Delegates, to be elected and to as
semble at Topeka, in said Territory, on the
19th day of September, 185-5, not to form a
Constitution, but to consider the propriety of
calling formally a Convention for that punpose.
The proceedings of this meeting of the 15'h
of August were as follows : Here is inserted
the ofiicial report of proceedings as published
at the time.
Agreeably to these proceedings, the people
of the difierent districts did, as therein recom
mended, proceed to appoint Delegates to this
meeting at Topeka, to be holden on the said
19th day of September, 1S55. The Delegates
so appointed did assemble at Topeka, on said
day, and proceeded to consider the subject,
and they took the following pioceedings.
The ofiicial report of proceedings at tho Con
vention is here set forth.
Delegates were elected agreeably to the proc
lamation so issued, and they met at Topeka
on the fourth Tuesday in October, 1855, and
formed a Constitution, which was submitted to
the people, and was ratified by theui bv voto
in the districts. An election of State officers
and members of the State Legislature had
been had, and a Representative to Congress
elected, and it is intended to proceed to the
eieeiion 01 senators, Willi ttie view to present
the same, with the Constitution, to Congress,
for admission into the Union.
Whatever view individuals may at limes, or
in meetings, have expressed, and whatever ul
timate determination may have been enter
tained, in the result of being spurned by Con
gress and refused redress, is now entirely im
material. That cannot condemn or give char
acter to the proceedings thus fax pursued.
Many may havo honestly believed that usur
pation could make no law, and that if Con
gress made no further provisions, they were
well justified in forming a law for themselves ;
but it is not now necessary to consider that
matter, as it is to bo hoped that Congress will
not leave them to such a necessity.
Thus far, this effort of the people for redress
is peaceful, constitutional and right. Whether
it will succeed, rests with Congress to deter
mine; but clear it is, that it should not be met
ana denounced as revolutionary, rebellious,
insurrectionary, or unlawfulnor does it call
for or jusfify the exercise of any force, by
any department of this Government, to check
or control it.
It now became proper to inquire what should
be done by Congress. For it is asserted by the
President, in substanco that he has the power
to correct usurpations, and that the laws even
though made by usurped authoritv, must be,
by him, enforced aud executed, even with mil
itary force. The measures of redress shotfld
be applied to the truo cause of the difficulty.
This obviously lies in tho repeal of the clause
for Freedom in the act of 1820, and therefore
the true remedy lies in the entire repeal of the
act of 1854, which effected it. Let this bo
dono with frankness and magnanimitv, and
Kansas be organized anew as a Free Tcrritorv
and all will be put right. But if Congress n
sists on proceeding with the experiment, then
declare all the actions by this spurious foreign
legislative assembly utterly inoperative and
voiu, anu atreci a re-organization providing
ion,
rewacing steps or committing vio
lence, or by force compelling obedience to tv
rannical laws, made by foreign force, and that
is, by admitting that Territory as a State with
her Free Constitution. Then, indeed, her
numbers are not such as gives her a right to
demand admission, being, as tho President in
forms us, probably only about twenty-five thou
sand. The Constitution fixes no number as
necessary, and the importance of never sifting
this question will instifr
ting this as a State at this time, especially, as !
? havs a great reason to bslieve, if admitted !
-...fc. vouugsna against foreign
force. 1 here is another way, however, to put
tivUUia L irrt! HT HI 111 T ri
" N 1 LA V
at a State, and controversy ended. It will ia.
mediately 11 up with a Durnerous and succf
lul population. At any rate, it aeems imr.
r. . . . i--
snres and laws cf violence and oj.preysioa I
Aro they to be degraded into s-brajaVoa Z
1
x iiwi & pieasant experiment to execute on
onr own tree people ? The true chan
this transaction is matter of exferrsive bo:o-j.
ty. Its essential features are too ob?;'."
allow of any successful disguise or pali-ati,.
however complicated or ingenious may be t: '
statement, or however rpecial tbe p??aia,
for that purpose. The case requires some q?,.
eting, kind and prudent treatment by tbefca
of Congress to do justice and satisfy the s.
tion.
--Tl people of this country are- peaetTuUr
relying on CoDgres3 to provide for coraptttn't
measures of redress which they havo the un
doubted power to administer. The Attorney.
General, in the case of Arkansas, ays: "Con
" press may, at pleasure, repeal or.modifr
" the laws passed by the Territorial LegU
" ture, and may at any time abrogate and r.
" model the Legislature itself, and all the otb-
er departments of the Territorial Govera
" ment."
Treating this grievance In Kansas with in
genious excuses, with neglect or contempt, or
riding over the oppressed with an army ebd
draguoning them into submission, will mike
no satisfactory termination. . . t
Party success may at times ba outwardly se
cured, by adroit devices-plansible preteniei,
and partisan address ; but the permanent pr
servation of this Union can be maintained oa
ly by frankness and integrity.
Justice may be denied where it onght to l
granted ; power may perpetuate that vassa!ag
which violence and usurpation have produced;
the subjugation of. white Freemen may be ne
cessary, that .African Slavery may succeed ;
but such a course must not be expected to
produce peace and satisfaction in onr country,
so long as the people retain any proper entl
ment of Justice, Liberty, and Law."
Republican Landmarks.; c the f'inca and
Opinions of American iftatttmen o Foreign Im
migration. By John P. Sandeesoh, Phiia
nELmiA .- J. B. Lippencott & Co., No. 20, N.
Fourth St. Price $1,50.
The ibove work is largely commended by
the leading Journals of the country, and should
be found in the hands of every man. It Is a
review of the views and opinions of Americas
Statesmen on Foreign Immigration, the Nat
uralization of Aliens, their tendencies and ia
fluences,"and the legislative action thereon,
with a critical examination into tL character
of the United States Government, and its poli
cy on these subjects. It contains forty-ono
chapters, embracing one on tbe White and
Free Colored Population of the country two
on Foreign Immigration and its d vantages
one on Pauperism Crime Intemperance
Juvenile Vagrancy Education two on Pau
per and Convict Immigration Internal Po
lice Power of Congress Colonial Naturaliza
tion Laws six on the United States Naturali
zation Laws, and t jc eflbrts to amend them
one on Naturalization Frauds in the Cities
Qualifications of Electors iu Territories Pre
Emption Eights to Public Lands Homestead
Bill Causes of Opposition to Fcreigoers-
Mistakcn Views of the United States Govern
ment three on the Executive and Legislative
branches of Government ono on the condi
tions of Eligibility to Office Term and Ten
ure of Office Qualifications of Electors Bas'a
of Ilcprescntation Negative Power of the
Executive Mode of.Amending Constitution
Other Safe guards Nonintervention A
merica for American Nationality Cultivation
of American Feelings and Sentiment. The
scope ot the work ia very comprehensive, and
it embodies a vast mass of practical discussioit
on all the subjects which are disenssed. It
will prove an invaluable text book which will
become a necessity to every public man, ht.i
which, we predict, will have a ide-sprcad
circulation. A work llko it has long beca
needed.
The -w tit-informed correspondent cf, ths
Philadelphia Xorth .Sn;ricai, writes frozi
Washington ns f-.-iv.-s : "TI:o rci-alt of the
election :n Ne-.v Kau-.ps.'-irc ii iy to uicana
accepiaue in iho Cvun cir-ilcs. 1L:3 inv-j-paczous-
bvinnia.-; usniiisrea .prospects which
were cheered ty a duTeroat asticipatios.
There is now practically demonstrated, vhti
was somewhat doubtful before, that the pres
ence and exortations of Mr. Orr and M. Cobb,
did not materially help to enlighten Northern
opinion, or to recall the errant Democracy,
who, in the former contest, deserted their old
allegiance. Such an indication froua. that
quarter is ominous, and gives somo sanction
to the singular belief, so often "verified, that
the political complexion of the Speakership,
preceding a Presidential election, vai but tho
certain precursor of aa equally certain result.
This is a saw of tho Washington soothsayers,
who, surpassing the Koman divines, draw
their auguries without thoight of birds."
Tns-World Si aitorxDED bv tub Stars axd
Steipis. The American tonnage of this coun
try now figures up 5,400,000 tons, and will
make up the very respectable fleet of 5,400
ships f 1,000 tons each. Aud if the tonnag
of the fleet be figured ont in Yankee clippers
of 200 tons each, and placed on the equatorial
line around this globe, each skipper may speak
the next in line, by raising his voice a little
above the ordinary pitch cn ship board, ronnd
the whole circumferance of tho globe. War
would be a terrible calamity to this immeoss
fleet, and England would not fare better -with
her commercial mirino ol 5,200,000 tons j but
little less th;n cur own.
' The English Language. There ara in th
English language 20,500 nouns, 40 pronouns,
9,200 adjectives, 8,000 verbs, 2,600 adverbs,
69 prepositions, 19 conjunctions, CS interjec
tions, and 2 articles in all above 40,000 words.
According to Webster's Dictionary there are.
100,000 words.
TiiROTTi.Fr. Although the Democracy ef
the lower House of our Stato Legislature did
so far yield to the demands of the Jesuits as
to pass the bill for the incorporation of tha
"Franciscan Brothers" in Cambria connty.th
project is likely to be defeated in the Senate,
I the Commit tp tn which it U,a m r- A V.-,n
ported it with a negative rf.mi.tiw.
i,re ,v "" -wugre?3 is to jeave that
people without redress, to have enforced enr-
ctlila 4 n. l.AliAra that
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