The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-31
Missouri and Kansas.


Missouri and Kansas.
During the last hours of the Kansas
Nebraska bill, while it was pending in
the United States Senate, Hon. WM. II.
SEWARD, of New York, obtained the
floor, and in one of the most forcible
speeches of the session, protested against
the repeal of that clause IN the Missouri
compromise which dedicated all that ter
ritory lying north of 36 deg 80 minutes
to freedom. He showed by the laws of
emigration, that Kansas must, from the
very nature of the circumstances which
surrounded it, become free State that
the liberty loving, free born sons Of the
north and west would pour in by thou
sands, and settle upon her broad prairies,
making her valleys TEEN with wealth
and her hills joyous with the shouts of a
population, none of whom were sEaves.
The challenge, given by the chivalry of
the south, was accepted by Mr.. Seward in
the following terms:
Come on, then, gentlemen of the
slave States Since there is no escaping
your challenge, | accept it in behalf of
Freedom. We viii engage in competi-
ton for the virgin soil of Kansas, and
God give the victory to the side that is
stronger in numbers, as it is in Right"
About ten months have elapsed since
the utterance of those memorable words,
which deserve to be recorded on the title
page of Kansas history, during which
time thousands have left their homes in
the East, South, and West, and taken up
their residences ON this battle-ground of
freedom. The late census returns shors-
ed that, thus far, euerg election district IN
tie Territory was settled by large ma
jority of voters from the free States, and
that, if left to the ordinary course of
things, the Legislative Assembly of the
Territory would be unit upon the sub.
ject of human rights. But, it seems,
this could not be. A secret organization
was got up in Missouri, and under the
representation to the gullible that the
New England Emigrant Aid Company
was an institution chartered for the pur-
pose of sending the segs and paupers
of eastern alms-houses to people this
region, they raised fund of probably
half million of dollars, and visiting the
grog-shops and dens of vice in the river
cities of Missouri, hired the ruffians and
cut-throats congregated there to come
into Kansas by thousands ON election
day, and with threats of carrying their
measures at all hazards, took posses
sion of the ballot-box, and elected the
Legislature by fraud. Before the polls
were closed these imported voters were
on their retrograde march for Missouri,
and ere we go to press viii probably be
on their own plantations, lording it over
the black man whom they have reduced
to servitude, as they hope in due time to
reduce the white laborer of Kansas, by
bringing his toll in competition with that
of the slave.
In this district, where the late census
report indicates but three hundred and
sixty mine voters, the election shows there
were ten hundred and tAirty-'aiae rotes
polled, nearly three times as great num-
Der as legitimately belonged here; and
yet large number of our aetdql resi-.
dents, and particularly those from dis
tanee, did not exercise their right to the
elective franchise, as they found they
could not do So without endangering their
lives. The free State strength in this
district is full FIVE to one, and yet the
pro-slayery ticket has majority of more
than three 10 one.
E We had great faith in the progress of
humanity, and hoped to see the day when
virtue would triumph over vice, intelii-
gence over ignorance, and freedom over
oppression; but our confidence in human
nature has been greatly shaken by the
last few days proceedings, and to-day
would repose with greater security under
the shadow of a thirty two FOUNDER, with
all the armament of war and the para
phernalia of the battlefield, than in the
gentle teachings of the law of kindness
which We formerly supposed, in our sim
plicity, would govern world, and lead it,
to practice the deeds of peace. so earn
estly inculcated by the Saviour of our
raA
w We love to see woman treading
the high and holy path of duty, unblind-
ed by sunshine, unscared BY Storm