The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-09
Kansas A(affefs.

AdilSdS lDdllerS.
From tie 5er YorE Tribune
outrage--Atchison--Stringfellow---Gov
ReedeT.
- Kansas TERRITORY, May 8, SO.
AMID all the remark and discussion
which the ''Kansas question" has pro-
-yoked in the North since the overt acts of
last Fall, / have been surprised that l
could find no statement of the case en-
bracing the direct causes of the violent
proceedings of the western Missourians
and feeling that such statement should
be made, | am induced to attempt it my
self. In what I shall say you will please
understand that I do not speak from mere
conjecture but from information derived
from different classes of Missourians with
whom have mingled freely for the last
six months. Among those from whom
my information is derived are some whose
names, were l at liberty TO usethem here,
would amply guarantee their knowledge
OF Missouri politics.
The present contest has not commenc-
ed as struggle between the South aud
the North, nor has it yet become such,
though we cannot forsee the end. twas
at FIRST but few desperate men against
the supreme law; it is as yet no. more
than Missouri against the Union-hardlY
that. Originating in political conspi-
racv nj nav haaoooa q spao;ac af ,,,il;E
cation-a new fashion of the article
modified to suit western tastes. But it is
hopeful that the State of Missouri will
yet repudiate these acts of her lawless
borderers, and visit them with the pun
ishment they deserve. Till then she remains
facility party. and stands in implied an
tagonism to the General Government
But 70 the history.
David r. Atchison in his own State is
politically dead. In crushing his great
rival he committed Involuntary suicide.
This has been quiteeYident for some time;
it became morally sure on his failure last
winter to secure reelection to the Uni
ted States Senate. He was prepared for
this result and had for some time been
shaping his plans accordingly. Skilled
rs he is in the tactics of the times he is
not the man tamely to endure defeat. To
be banished from the Senate would be to
fill the same grave with Col Benton.
He retained band of desperate and I'M.
scfWpuleus adherents whose fortunes
were dependent upon his own; and in
spite of his Incorporate habits still pos
sesses much of his original skill and ener-
gy. a single chance was left, and that
chance was Kansas. With the remains
of his popularity and talent, his contrel
of large portion Of the newspapers of
the State and the machinery of his party,
and the great advantage of proximity to
his proposed field of labor, it seemed to
him not impossible to convert the new
Territory into slave State and make it
the ladder by which to climb again to
senatorial dignity and power. This was
the germ of the conspiracy; and in the
programme which gives Kansas to sla-
very Atckison is 10 be her first United
States Senator.
Rhis key furnished, the whole riddle is
plainly read. People wondered that the
President of the Senate was absent from
his post at the last meeting of that body.
But his work was in Missouri. With the
true recklessness of the rnined gamester
he had staked all that remained on this
last desperate game, and to play it with
any chance for success demanded all his
time and influence.
The conspiracy organized, it remained
tp,put the plans into effect. Amid all the
obstacles in his way he has had two sig
nal instances of good fortune The first
was the meficiency and indiscretion of
the Massachusetts, Emigrant Aid Com
pany. This institution. whose really
grand conception fearfally menaeed the
very existence of slavery, soon became
through its gross Encouragement a real
godssnd TO the naseent conspiracy. From
the moment that its first sonorous chai-
lenge rang through the nation Atchison
felt that he had gained point whereon to
rest his lever. That defiance to slavery
so anwisely hurled was to the South a
call to arms, and Missouri must be from
her position the first to respond Had
the, challenge been boldly aud ably fol-
lowed up the legions of darkness might
at once have been overpowered and put
ssiight; but the hour of battle saw but
few raw, undisciplined. half-disaffected
forces, without leadersand in an enemy's
land, surrounded by powerful, organ
lied, rosolute foe, united as one man to
obey the dictates of bold and unscru-
pulous chief. Poor moekery of a con-
test What wonder that Might grew
drunk with Sc easy victory over the
Right 1t was Seyastopol without the
French. only tenfold worse.
The second good fortune OF the arch
conspirator was his success in finding at
just the right moment precisely the man
10 act as his lieutenant and execute the
dirty details of the business. Napoleon
did not need Fouche more than Atchison
needed Stringfellow A fourth-rats law-
yer in border town, he had proved him.
self the master of Just so much audacity,
energy and uscrupulousness as had earn
ed him the contempt of the best part OF
community and the vulgar admiration Of
DULLES, and pet-house politicians. He
had already achieved some notoriety by
his prataitous and violent abuse OF north
crh emigrants. and was but too glad to