Untitled

CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1856
Abstracts 3707 - 3709
UNITED STATES TERRITORIES & POSSESSIONS (Cont'd)
The convention to frame the Federal constitution, much impressed by
the insurrection in Massachusetts, on the spur of the moment, set
up a kite to keep the hen yard in order.
"We hope the senate of the United States will pay due attention to
this hint. That body seems to be a little too much impressed with the
alleged insurrection in Kansas, and they, too, are getting ready their
'kite' in the shape of the Douglas bill, to keep the hen yard in order. (8)
3707 - L Apr. 29; ed:2/2 - The affairs in Kansas are assuming the shape
that intelligent minds predicted nearly two years ago. The shooting
of Sheriff Jones needs confirmation. He was instructed to make arrests
in order to have the free state men put up resistance and thus afford a
pretext to conquer them.
"There is treachery and violence both before and behind, and it behooves
every man to hold himself in readiness for any emergency which
may overtake his country." (3)
3708 - L Apr. 30; ed:2/1 - Senator Douglas is well known for the errors
and contradictions he has made, and for the illegitimate means he uses
to get out of them. He has quarreled with Lane, but dares not fight him.
He offends his friends and makes his enemies laugh at him.
Most amusing is his Kansas bill. He attempts to prove the people of
Kansas should be treated as insurgents if they refuse to obey the laws
of the Stringfellow legislature. The bill provides that all white male
inhabitants over 21 years of age who have been in the territory for six
months and in the district for three months shall be entitled to vote.
The organic act to which he refers provides that the qualification of
voters and of those holding office be determined by the legislative
group. The Stringfellow assembly, which he considers the lawful one,
contains, among other things, an oath to support the fugitive slave law.
If Douglas does not mean to enforce the Stringfellow test, he is,
accorcing to his own statements, violating the spirit and letter of the
Nebraska bill and furnishing a complete vindication of all the acts of
the free state men; but if he does mean to enforce that test, then he is
violating his own word, for not long ago he vehemently denied that he
was in favor of such a test. "As he got himself into the difficulty,
let him get himself out." (7)
3709 • L May 1: 1/5 - In a letter to the editor, S. F. P., writing from
Lawrence, Kans., says: "I had commenced an account of the trip of the
party, which left Northern Ohio, on the 8th inst., to find homes in this
beautiful region, but I throw it aside to give more important information ....
"Yesterday the Missouri Post Master Jones appointed Sheriff of
Douglass county by the Shawnee Legislature, attempted to arrest S. N.
Wood, Esq., on the charge of rescuing Branson on a writ issued by a
Justice, appointed by the same bogus Legislature. Mr. Wood wished to go
home before leaving for Lecompton, but the Post Master refused to allow
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