The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-10-13
Gov. shannon in Kansas.

Gov. shannon In Kansas.
We concur fully, says the Washington
Union, with the view taken by the Jour-
nal of Commerce of the report as to the
sentiments uttered by Gov. Shannon on
his way to Kansas:
Gov. SHAHEoN.-We do not believe
the Geographic statement that Gov. Shan
non, in his address to the people who
serenaded him on hisarrival at Westport,
No., on the borders of Kansas, stated
that che was in favor of slavery in Kan
sas.' The statement is absurd on the
face of it; and in due time it will be con-
tradicted we haven doubt. Gov Shan
non is from Ohio.-N. y. Jour. Of Com.
Simultaneous with this expression of
opinion by paper which is but too ca
ger to cover up the turpitude of the adj
ministration and its agents, comes the
full report of the speech of this Gov.
Shannon to the people of Westport, Mo-,
in which he distinctly says he sis in ia
vor of slavery in Kansas" and gives the
wise, statesmanlike reason, that it is a
neighbor to Missouri, and its commerce
will float upon the same great river, and
therefore to preserve amicable relations
with it Kansas should be slave State
.New Haven journal and Courier.
What the Journal and Courier calls the
full report of the speech of Gov Shan
non is apparently caricature of it by a
correspondent of the st. Louis Democrat,
whose violent prejudiees oozes through
every pore. As upon this caricature the
Geographic dispatch was evidently found
ed, we are more than ever convinced
that Gov. Shannon did not make the re-
mark imputed to him, especially as his
speech at ShawneetowD, Kansas, which
we published last Saturday from the
st. Louis Republican, (whig, does not
contain word that can even be tortured
into wish for the establishment of sla-
very in Kansas. This genuine speech
of Gov. Shannon's is highly commended
by the National Intelligencer, in its lead
ing features, as itmust be by every pat
riotic citizen. Would it not BE well for
the journal and Courier to copy it; that
their readers may know what are the act
ual sentiments of Gov. Shannon as to
Kansas atfairs.-Joura0t Of Commerce.
From the foregoing we perceive that
there is an effort being made to relieve
Gov. Shannon Of the responsibility of
his remark, made at Westport, that he
was sin favor of slavery in Kansas" by
questioning the accuracy of the report
of his speech as it appeared in the st.
Louis Democrat In reply to this we
have to state, that there can be no ques-
ton of the truthfulness of our report,
and that it was not only truthful, but
was taken down ger60tim ct iiferdtim as
Gov. Shannon delivered it. We sent to
Kansas, as our reporter, an accomplished
stenographer, in order to avoid any mis-
takes or inaccuracies, and so highly have
his reports been appreciated that they
were not only copied by nearly all the
Territorial and border newspapers, as
well as extensively throughout the Uni
ted States, but were pronounced by the
members of the Legislature themselves
far more authentic than any others which
were published. In fact, SO highly were
they pleased with them that they order
ed extra copies ofthe st. Louis Democrat
to circulate amongst their friends, as
true exhibit of Kansas Legislation. The
implication therefore, that the ssprejudi-
ces" of our reporter toozed out at every
pore," is maniiestiy false, and especially
contradicted by the manner in which his
reports were regarded by those whose
actions were the subject matter of his
pen. To put this matter at rest, howev
err, we have only to refer to the fact that
it is not alone upon the authority of the
St. Louis Democrat that this celebrated
expression of Gov. Shannon's rests
The newspapers in the immediate yicin
ity, both in Kansas and Missouri, which
came to hand by the next mail after we
had received our reports, contained the
same thing, and it was upon that explicit
declaration that the Squatter Sovereign
took such friendly hold of Gov. Shannon's
hand. In reference to the apparent diff
ference which occurs in the report of the
Republican and Democrat, those who take
the trouble to examine the matter, viii
discover that the speech reported in the
Democrat, was delivered in Westport,
Missouri, and Immediately upon Gov.
Shannon's arrival there Just as the legis-
lators were leaving-while that reported
in the Republican was delivered at the
Shawnee Mission two days afterwards
We say again, that we can vouch for the
very language used by Gov. Shannon,
and taken down by our stenogTapher as
he uttered it, and whatever may be the
effect of it, he must stand responsible for
what he has said.
As to the Governor himself, we can
truly say we have no disposition to pre-
Judge him, but shall await his official acts
and then pass sentence upon him accord
ing thereto. If he shall carry out the
spirit of the Kansas-Nebraska bill-shall
protect the rights of actual residents
shall resist with energetic authority all
inyasions of those rights, either by abo-
litionists or nullifers, Seward migrants
or Atehison Know Nothings = then
shall We say to him, "well done thou
good and faithful servant" If he shall
insist upon having the question of slav-
cry determined in Kansas by its own
actual citizens, and not by inyasions
either from Massachusetts, or Missouri.
We shall be the first to say that Goy.
Shannon deserves well of the country
But if he shall act otherwise, and dare to
violate his oath, We shall held him up 10
the scorn and contempt of the country.
Democrat.