The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-18
THE KANSAS QUESTION.


provocaton under which the Missourans acted and to
the peculiar in which they interested in the
social and political condition Of the Territory. When
viewed in its light with all the allowances properly
to be made for the course adopted by the Mssourans tbs
question involved is full Of danger to the peace Of the
country and therefore be noticed safely prohtably
must be correctly understood In the first place. should
be borne in mind that Missouri is saveholdng State and
hence that her citizens have deep stake in all that
Germs the institution Of slavery. On two sides she
is already bordered by free States and in those in
most of the other free States the spirit Of abolitionsm
has recently seemed be predominant Thus situated
it is not surprising that the people Of Missouri should
feel keenly sensitive the erection of another free
State on another of her Enthusiastically drawing
around her sides Gordon Of free States filed with
hostility her institutions and controlled by who
their purpose adopt every to effect the ulti
abolition Of slavery Bordered two sides already
with open enemies their institutions 1t natural that
Missourans should look with absorbing interest to the fu
ture political condition Of Kansas which bordered her on
third side
In the next place. it is important to observe that Con-
gess had adopted the principle Of popular sovereignty as
the rule by which the future political condition Of Kansas
to be determined. The legitimate meaning OF that
rule was that the inhabitants of the Territory, attracted
to their future homes in the voluntary and ordinary
pursuit of their happiness and for the permanent prose-
euon of their industrial occupations should determine
whether slavery should should not exist in the Terri
tory Next to the inhabitants Of Kansas themselves the
people Missouri had the deepest interest in the settlement
Of this question To them it only second in import
the question whether slavery should continue to
in their State They felt that if they should be
surrounded three sides with antslavery States it
would almost to the abolition OF slavery in
their State Yet the principle Of the Kansas bill
fair that its adoption cheerully acauesced in by
her people
In the third place. it be carefully remembered
that the abotonsts of tho free States at time acqni
esced in the principle Of popular sovereignty which
Kansas was to be organized. When this principle was
first adopted in the compromise Of 1885, the abo
onsts arrayed themselves against it and after its adop
ton persistently repudated it a. rule obligatory on
shem When the bill to organize Nebraska and Kansas
was first introduced it contained clause repeating in
express terms the Missouri restrcon but 1t contained the
principle of popular sovereignty adopted In the Compro
mise of 1850 So it introduced the abolition
leaders in Congress appealed to the anti-slavery men
ywhere resist Its passage they opposed it as fierce
ly aud tanacally before tho clause the repeal Of
the Missouri restriction inserted afterwards, show
lar sovereignty which provoked their hostility then as
it did when the Compromise of 1850 was passed This
settled and unconquerabe hostility of the aboonsts to
the principle Of the Kansas bill was known to the Mis-
souan and hence they had every reason to expect that
they would spare effort defeat its practical applica
ton in the organization of the Territory The Kansas bill
had scarcely become law before this spirit Of hostility to
its provisions manifested in manner that could not
IA pAu fha n;u1
chusetts situated more than thousand miles from Kan
sa act Of incorporation obtained for the organiz
ton Of the Emgrast Aid Company the ayowcd object Of
which operate upon control the future political
condition of Kansas The objects of this association are
no longer involved in uncertainty One Of the mssiona
res Of the company, writing the New York Tribune on
the 9Th Of May throws the responsibility of the failure OF
the abolition scheme the Massachusetts, Aid COMPANY
saying: This institution uhose really grand coneettion
5eaDmiy menacea The very eraence Of SLAVERY soon be-
came, through its gross Encouragement, real god
send to the nascent conspiracy From the moment that
its rs sonoous challenge ruug through the nation Ach
son felt that he had gained point whereon to rest his
lever That defiance slavery 50 un,csev hurled mn,
The South call 10 aas and Missouri must BE- from her po
ton 70 respond challenge been boaty andob,
porea up tho lgions ~ darkness might al once haze been
opsrpou@ei and put to g' This writer who is endorsed
by the Tribune proceeds say The first step taken by
the Msourians to circulate throughout Missouri the
programme othe Emgant Aid Company and thus prepare
the ignorant and jealous for what to follow
Here then is the origin Of the Kansas difficulty fully and
nuhoritayely confirmed Massachusetts COM
bined with their money and their influence to defeat the
honest purpose OF tho Kansas law and "5y their grand
conception saay me~aced The revy Of slavery in
Missouri The citizens of Missouri the danger and
set to work to arouse the people their danger
BY circusag throughout the Stale he programme Of the Mas.
saehvsfs Aid Society The result is before the country
This writer whiues the discontinue Of the abolition
ists and rebukes them for the failure OF their scheme
willis, he seeks to odum Mssourans for resort
ing to measures for defence.
Having failed to defeat the Kansas bill In Congress- tho
aboonsis resolved to defeat its principle and by the
aid OF incorporated wealth. to locate the western border
of Missouri community Of ahotionsts who would for
sympathge ia their anaca sentiments with the sbo
litionists Of Massachusetts, II WAS bold and daring
scheme by the legislation the money and the Of Mas
saehuse 20 defeat act Of Congress which secured to
the bona pie and voluntary settlers in Kansas the right to
choose and establish their institutions f the abo
tonsts Of Massachusetts, had organized armed exped
ton TO into Kansas for the avowed purpose of ma
king il fresso State they would have been guilty
Of palpable violation of the intent and spirit Of