Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-18
KANSAS MATTERS.


We publish below the report Of speech re-
Gently delivered by Hon. Wilson Shannon, the
newly appointed Governor Of Kansas Territory.
The report, if correct, and we have no reason to
doubt It's correctness, shows that Governor Shan
non means to do, what he can rightfuly do, 10
afford the people of the Territory under his
charge fair opportunity Of dealing with the
slavery question.
1t will be remembered that Governor Reeder,
when he returned from Kansas, after the cleo
lions had been decided in manner nnsatisfac-
tory to the imperial will of his meddlesome and
speculative excellency, affirmed that Kansas was
conquered county, country conquered by
Missouri shareholders who had no permanent in
terests there. He put the Aboltionists into ex-
tatic raptures by affirming that maraudng moss
troopers from across the Missouri border had sur
prised and overpowered, by the force Of superior
and unexpected numbers the miserable band of
ianatcal reprobates on whom he and his abetters
relied TO fix the domestic institutions and perhaps
to locate the government buildings of the Terri
tory.
The Abolitionsts had accomplished all they
could accomplish, to send and export 10 Kansas
low and debased population, which was unable
10 send and transport itself: and which must,
therefore, have been unable from vice, crime, or
immortality to support itself in New England.
But Abolitonsm and Freesoism was not liberal
enough. They were too gripping and stingy to
furnish sufficient amount of money and muni-
tons to conquer Kansas, and their unprincipled
recruits We're beaten and discomftted.
When the news Of their defeat and dscom-
future reached the Abolition propagandists they
were overwhelmed with notification They
cast down by the miserable result of their
efforts, and the contemplate issue Of their
Boosting. But Governor Reeder speedily came
to their aid. That eminent and distinguish
ed executive officer made hot haste TO re-
leve the Abolitonists by proclaiming that the
game was not fairly played-that the battle was
not fairly won-and that he would not sanction
the proceedings Of those gentlemen who had
been selected at the ballot-boX to legisate for
Kansas Territory. This put the Abotionists
into better humor-indeed it filled them with
rejoicing.
But alas for the instability of human hopes 1t
was not long before rumors of land speculations,
made and entered into by the immaculate Cover
nor, begun TO be neutrality-suspicious. which We're
supposed to have direct bearing on his opinion
OF the validity Of the Territorial laws he refused
to sign. These rumors assumed Il shape and
form, and became so forcible and pointed, that
public opinion demanded that the men in author
ity should give to Kansas u new Chief Magis-
trate--a new Governor whose good name was
not furnished by unexplained accusations. Thus
il was that Hon. Wilson Shannon was appointed
Governor of Kansas; and we are happy to be-
lieve that, in despite Of what has gone before, he
will perform his duty, although We know that
such result would be alike surprising and dis
tasteful to some Of the good people Of the United
States. If he is correctly reported, Governor
shannon does not believe the terrible accounts
which his predecessor gave of conquered coun-
try--he does not believe that any thing has hap
pened in Kansas beyond what usually happens
at the first elections in new Countries; and he
proclaims most distinctly that he will enforce
and execute the code of laws which the late Ter
rtorial Legislature enacted, 50 hong as they shall
remain in force as the laws of the Territory.