Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-27
THE sETTLEMENT OF KANsAs-THE
1870 MISSOURI DEMOCRAT.

THE SETTLEMENT OF KANsAs-THE
ss MISSOURI DEMOCRAT.
The Freesoil papers, and that sapient jour
nal the Missouri Democrat, all of whose af6ni
ties are with them, are chuckling with delight
over the alleged impracticability of the intro
duction Of slavery into Kansas. We placed
our support of the Nebraska Kansas bill upon
higher grounds than the practical extension OF
slavery. We were content and happy, what
ever might be the result, to know that at least
the right was accorded and the principle vindi-
Gated. lis great mistake to suppose that
in politics there is any such thing as an abb
stract principle. All principles, there, are either
directly or indirectly, eminently practical. The
denial of right, even though that right could
never be practically secured, is dangerous
encroachment on the part Of government, on
the individual citizen, and paves the way for
future interference, which may be practically
dangerous. 1t is an unwise garrison, which
waits until the citadel is attacked before it re-
pels an assault; and thus it would be foolish
and perilous if the freeman should wait until
his vital liberties were endangered before he
commenced resistance to the growing encroach-
ments of the government. 1t is in this light
then, that we considered the Nebraska bill, and
the consequent abrogation of sectional line
as triumph on the part of the Constitution,
and the South, whose rights are guaranteed by
the Constitution. We considered that thus
sectional strife would be assuaged, and har-
mony restored to our federal councils.
But while such was the paramount reason
which influenced us in the support of the Ne
braska bill, we are perfectly willing to confess
that we saw in the future some hope that the
acquisition of Kansas as slave State would
tend to restore the equilibrium of the South
in the federal government. And despite the
triumphant assertions of those whose wish is
father to the thought which they express, we
still hope, and not without reason, that such
will be the result. The contiguity of Missouri
and Arkansas to that Territory, with the strong
disposition on the part of their citizens to emf.
crate with their slave property, may yet defeat
the unfair action of aid associations from New
England. In the soil, the climate, and the
productions of Kansas, there is everything
which is calculated to make slave labor prof
table. We again confess, that the fact to which
we have alluded, that the admission of new
slave State will tend to check the growing dis.
parity which exists between the North and
the South, was great incentive to our wishes
ON this subject
The Missouri Democrat opposes the intro
duction of slavery into the Territory of Kansas,
for two prominent reasons, both of which are
hostile to the South. The first of these is, that
the settlement of Kansas will rebound to the
benefit of the commercial interests of St. Louis,
by furnishing back country trade to that port
Hence, it is argued that the system which
would most speedily settle the Territory would
be the most conducive TO the benefits of Mis-
sour, whose interests are identical with ST.
Louis; and as clincher, the Democrat adds
that the facts prope that the population OF
the non-slaveholding States increases with
greater rapidity than the slaveholding States
in the ratio Of two to onen We have always
thought that the density of population was by
no means the chief element Of its worth
some merit was due TO the character of the
people, and TO the nature Of their institutions
We have ever contended that, even though the
institution Of slavery retarded the growth Of
population, it was still productive Of good, be.
cause it tended TO establish q healthy tone OF
feeling and conservative state Of society.
But We waive this position, and we assert
boldly that facts do not proUe the assertion Of
the Missouri Democrat, and we rely upon the
census Of 1850 to sustain the position.
II we exclude the Eve States of Arkansas,
Iowa, Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin, which,
from their recent admission into the Union and
the consequent rush of population there, are not
proper bases Of calculation, we find that in the
decade between 1870 and 1850 the rate ofpop-
ulation has been greatest in the slaveholding
State Of Missouri in which the Ereesoa Demo.
Graf is published. The next most rapidly in.
cressing State is Illinois, free State. The
third and fourth are Mississippi and Louisiana,
both of which are slaveholding States. Ken.
lucky has increased more rapidly than New
York, and Maryland more rapidly than Ohio.
Thus we see that so far from the assertion Of
the Democrat being proUed, it is actually dis
prored BY the facts upon which it relies. When
a statement is made purporting to be based
upon facts, gross ignorance Of the facts is as
criminal as wilful misrepresentation ofthem.
The second reason given by the Democrat
why The people Of Missouri should be opposed
TO the admission Of slavery into Kansas is still
more absurd, and has still less foundation in
truth. Il is alleged that such mode Of settle
Dent would retard the progress and compile
ton Of the Pacific railroad. To sustain this
assertion, the editor Of this reliable journal
again draws upon his Imagination for |" facts
which might be easily obtained from more
authentic sources 1t is stated by the Demo.
erdt that "tbere is not free State in the
Union which has not more miles OF railroad