The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-03
rraedn,n for Kansas.

aictina principles recognized inthe poiit-
icaI.action of this Territory and at the
present time they are contending for the
masters, each striving destroy the other.
One is the ideaof Freedom, the other is
that of Slavery. The two ideas are 50
hostile, so antagonistic. SO diametrically
opposed TO each other. the contest go
ing on between them IS Of so much
Importance to the Territory, and of so
much interest to the country, that every
one is connected with it; and millions, l
may say, are holding their breath to know
what is to be the fnal result of the con-
test. The slave power is determined to
establish the institution of slavery in Kan
sas; and to secure that object, they are
laboring night and day, forming secret
societies, and giving money to induce men
pledged to vote for slavery to come and
settle here, and, as it is we'll known
throughout the country, at the last cleo
ton they came into the Territory and sent
Mr. Whitfield to Washington as Del
egate from Kansas The prime mover.
or chief of the regulators, is no other
than Mr.. Atchison, Senator from Mis-
souri,. His scheme for establishing sla-
very in Kansas, is TO have band of ruff
fans in readiness to pounce down upon
| the weakest points in the Territory. and
secure it to the interestsof the slavehold-
ers. Whether the next election is to be
controlled in the same manner as the last,
remains to be proved. 1t seems, by the
papers, that Atchison d Co. have had
considerable notice taken of their pro-
ceedings, and that almost every person in
the country has dealt out share of well
merited rebuke at the committal of SC
gross and fragrant violation of every
principle of justice and honor. But this
is only one of the branches ON the tree ol
slavery; and if it only has an influence to
awaken the public sentiment of the North,
TO array the people in an uncompromising
and unyielding hostility against the fur
ther extension or existence of the institu,
lion of slavery. it has done great work
for freedom, and We should be willing t1
credit it to their mistaken zeal in support
of the peculiar institution for which
they manifest SO much devotion.
What is there in slavery that makes
men SO earnest in its support? Is it a
system that has tendency to develop
truer manhood, nobler character, and
a fitness for still richer unfolding of the
nature? Does it make the South richer
in pecuniary wealth; and does it make
the people industrious and happy? No
| it is an evil that has direct tendency to
develop the meanest passions of the hu-
man soul, to stultify the moral sense, and
to paralyze industry and enterprise. 1t
lays waste whole country, and makes it
a desolate wilderness. as if cursed by
God-as it doubtless is-a home for
poverty, crime, and ignorance. Hence
it is that throughout the South there is a
lower scale of morality than at the North.
Duelling, assassination, de-, are of more
frequent occurrence. and the evils result
| ing in consequence of an institution that
sets at defiance every law of God. can
not be enumerated. When the slave
power is doing all it can to fasten upon
this people the evils of an institution like
that of American slavery, it becomes
every friend of freedom to put himself
in opposition to it, and do all he can to
prevent the establishment of slavery in
Kansas.
lfit is not done, and slavery gains a
foothold here, and establishes itself as
one of the Institutions of the Territory,
we shall see in a few years advertise
ments to the effect that human beings are
offered at public sale in our own city oil
Lawrence and as the future citizen oil
this young and fiourishing city walks up
Massachusetts, street, he may see on the
corner of one of those streets which has
been named in honor of some distinguish
ed friend of freedom, a building used as
an auction room, where American Bo-
men are disposed of to the highest bid
der. Such scene will present itself in
Lawrence. even, if the slave power tri-
umphs, and gains the victory in the CON-
ing contest. To avert such a calamity,
lei all those who love freedom aDd haze
slavery be true to themselves, and work
earnestly and uncompromisingly to Sc
cure to Kansas the blessings of freedom.
Times a. the East.
a letter from our General Agent at
Buffalo, gives gloomy account of busi-
ness matters In the East. Hesays every
where thousands are out of employment.
and poor-houses are over1owing with in
mates. The most promising business
firms are crushing daily, and ruin seems
depicted on every hand. Money there
is none. Those in middling circumstan-
ces. who can get hold oft, are compelled
to lay it out at once for provisions. The
most stringent mode of collections bring
no relief. What shall be done Is the