Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-29


ganized companies were established in the East
TO abolitonize Kansas Ii was not merely to
settle the Country with Industrious, peaceabie,
law-abiding citizens submissive to the constitu-
ton and laws, but with lawless fanatics--land
pirates---a reckless crew, bent on aggression
against tho rights and property Of the people OF
Missouri and the South So Tar did they carry
their nefarious scheme, las il appears from ono OF
their printed pamphlets,) they required an oath
from each emgrant, which, il he obeyed, would
require him to violate the Constitution and laws
of the United States Many OF these emigrants
were ndscreet enough openly to avow their
objects to be to abolitonize Kansas--then invade
Missouri, afterwards Arkansas, and then Texas
They were loud and boistcrous in these avowals,
and actually commenced stealing slaves in Kan
sas One instance was that Of female slave, be-
longing to widow, whom they decoyed off, and
when overtaken they had her seated at the table
with them, calling her by the endearing title of
" Sis" Emissaries of this lawiess band were in
Missouri, under pretence of selling interest tables,
or some other small article, secretly exciting dis
content among the slaves; such at least was the
result of their visits. Under these circumstances
what did it become Missouri to do? believe
that it will not be denied at this days that govern
ments are instituted to secure persons In their
rights, and that when they become subvcrsive Of
this end, or the administration Of the law is too
weakiand inefficient to accomplish this purpose,
it is not only the right, but it is the duty OF the
people to protect themselves and their property.
The people of Missouri saw this malign cloud,
fOrebodng the greatest evil to them, gathering
their west. They knew that an important, and
to them vital provision of the Constitution of the
United States had been virtually nulli6ed in some
Of the non-slaveholding States. They knew that
Michigan had passed law making it felony for
the owner to claim his slave there. They knew
that one Of their citizens had gone to Chicago
| for his slaves, and although he saw them in the
streets, in open day, the marshal, his deputy,
| frankly told him that the law could not be exc
cuted; they this same lawless spirit being
| transferred to their border. Were they, in view
of all this, to sit still and like base towards suffer
! their property to be wrested from them, and for
| redress appeal to laws that were trampled under
| foot with contempt No; Mssourians are not
| men of that temper. They would have drenched
those plains with the blood of tins detcsted crew,
rather than have permitted them to weave the
net work of evil; and had they gone there, and
by force of arms driven these incendaries out of
| the country, the people of Missouri would have
bean fully justified in the eyes of all enlightened
and sensible men. Here was case, if ever there
could be one, calling loudly for the right of self
protection. To the Government they dared not
trust for protection, for, instead of pure, high
minded, disinterosted patriot, they had seen
its appointed governor Of that Terri
J tory
There still other notorious facts To be
brought to notice. Hundreds Of these vile emf
sdIleS are sent 10 Kansas Tor the S0le purpose oil
voting. They hare since the election left. Some
voted, and started back about IL O'Clock on a
boat, on the day of the election. The defeated
candiddte for Congress imported by Governor Reeder,
last summer, leff soo1, after that election that he
| tcas the herald Of has defeat. Some who were
unable to get there at the. election on accocnt of
the low stage Of water in the Missouri river, re-
turned on the same boat. These facts are as
notorious here as the noon-day sun ,>and could
be established by scores Of witnesses. In view
of this wholesale importation of abolition voters
merely for the purpose Of voting, what right would
Governor Reeder and his Abolition aids have
had to complain of Mssourians, had they done
the same thing to counteract and chcchmate this
adroit movements increment mhch derelopes The
true reason tchy General .4chisons amendment acss
pOted dolcn - t
In conclusion, it is proper that should state
that some Of these eastern emigrants have repu-
dated the incendiary designs of the base tools Of
ton to uphold the laws of Congress, and to re-
spect the rights of their neighbors; and while hold
ing to the opinion of making Kansas free State,
a vow their preference of making it slave State,
rather than have free negroes there. 1t is but
right that it SHOULD be known that there is such
class there, and that they should not be in
cluded among the infamous band Of Abolitionsts
This class is viewed with no ds-favor by the pro-
slavery party; who see in them men who have a
proper sense of their duty good citizens, and
are disposed to perform that duty. Such will
never be regarded with unfriendly feelings, how
ever much we may dissent from their opinions
AN EYE WITNESS.