The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-29

the people are sober, virtuous q respect the
duties of religion.
Above all, we regard Slavery. s a great evil,
and contrary to the law of ID, and every
principle of right and justice. These are the
considerations for which we You'd contend
and shall we struggle alone? Shall our little
band alone raise our feeble vois Is against the
dark waves of Slavery, and be gulphed in its
sweeping foodl No; voice he the roar of
thunder, sounding family in TIL distance, an
swers, no. Oh ! then lei the satchword be
sounded from one end of the laf to the other,
!" To the rescue" God grant that Freedom
be victorious in the last struggI and the great
enemy of human freedom, the ave power, be
completely foiled in this foul tempt to SUBJ
vert the liberties of our once lQrious Union,
but now becoming Kissing ar by-word to
the ends of the earth. ),
The course to be pursued b the friends of
Freedom, In preventing these I 'rritories from
becoming slave States, is a very lain one and
if rightly parsued, the victorys will surely be
ours, though it may be gained y much ardu-
Gus toll and faithful watching; Eternal vigil
ance is the price of liberty; 81 ID let none of
the friends of liberty sleep now, unless they be
content to sleep forever. &.
Let men, warmly and unfiD', aingly devoted
to the cause of liberty, emigrs>a by hundreds
and thousands to these Territories, at the earl-
est practicable period-men wao will work
boldly and fearlessly for the spread of free
principles. Let press be este Ilished at some
suitable point at an early day advocate the
cause of Freedom; and BY the combined in
fuences, we will kindIe FIRE / liberty that
cannot be quenched.
The slave power, having effec ID the passage
OF this its favorite measure, n ~ attempt, by
other schemes equally Inonstr' is fer the ex-
tension of Slavery, to draw your attention away
from this contest. But we besf ach you, be not
deceived. The slave power hi surely ruled
the destinies of this nation long enough. Will
the people Of the free States 'er awake to a
true sense of their interests, or sill they slum-
Der on, and tamely suffer thems lives to become
willing and easy prey TO thla enemy! We
have been shamelessly and cruelty betrayed by
our Representatives in Congress Let them be
speedily hurled from their ssponsible but
much-abused stations, and let en- of undoubt-
ed integrity on this great que, ton of human
liberty be elected to fill thei places. The
people must take the work alto their own
hands and teach their Legisl: tors that their
will must be obeyed, or our hterties will ever
be in danger
Since writing the above, t.ave heard the
particulars of meeting held il our post town,
Westport, Missouri, few days sgo, to consider
what measures should be takeI to prevent en-
igration from the free States int this Territory.
Some fiery speeches were ma e, urging upon
the people to keep back such en- jgtatiOn, peace
ably if they could but by the asa of muskets
and bowie-knives if they must. The speakers
admitted that there was no h''pf of securing
Nebraska to Slavery, but that they were de-
termined to establish it in Ka1sis at all haz-
ards. Resolutions were passed, erlbodying the
sentiments of the speeches, aud wish was
expressed to have them published all over the
Union. hope they may be puolihhed in every
paper in the free States But little enthusiasm
was manifested by the audience, and it is be-
ioved that no very considerable number of the
people of Missouri would sanction such move
ment. Many of them are opposed to Slavery,
and some are bold in denunciatiOn of the evil.
And now | hear of another meeting at lnde-
pendence, at which it was resolved TO set stakes
and shoot every man from the free States who
should pass them RICHARD MENDENHALL.
Kansas Territory, 9th month Z, 1854.