Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-31
WHO GAVE THE FIRST PROPAGATION

Before us lies the st. Louis RfpubHcan, OF
May 9th, in which writer attempts to apol-
ogze for the conduct Of the Missouri rioters in
Kansas, by saying that they were provoked
by the attempt of the Emigrapt Aid Societies
in the northern states to settle that country,
and make it. in the end, free state. That
was sort Of challenge which naturally, he
thinks, reused the anger Of the people of
Western Missouri and led them to acts of vo-
lence. A like apology was made by the Jour.
nal of Commerre for the frauds committed by
horde of rufins from Missouri, in the cleo.
ton of a delegate from Kansas to Congress.
The people of the free states, it was contend
ed, gave the first provocation.
But what right have those who make this
excuse to stop at the proceed !ngs of the Emf
grant Aid Societies? In following upon the
series of provocatons, both the journal of
CJmm,rse and Its pupil in the St. Louis pa
per, put out of sight the first provocation of
all, the passage of the Nebraska bill, meas
urc which wrested from the free states what
the people of those states believed to be their
Just right. That was the very earliest provo
cation-that was the beginning of the quarrel
that was the real cause of the acts which
reflect so much dshonor upon the country
and most of all on the state of Missouri. 1t
was the advocates Of the Nebraska bill, by
whom it was forced through Congress, partly
by bullying and partly by brides; it was its
champion in Congress and its friends out of
Congress, who must bear the blame and share
the disgrace of the crimes pcrpetrated in the
territory of Kansas and on its borders.
Yet though the repeal of the compact which
gave Kansas to the free states was felt to be
SO great a wrong, what was the conduct of the
people of those states They resorted to no
act of violence they took no measures which
did not become men of peace, obedient to the
laws. They said The territory is now
open, to be colonized either for slavery or for
freedom the laws of the United States invite
to it settlers from all parts of the Union. The
bargain which assured it to us and our child.
ren has been annulled, but there is a pacific
and legal remedy yet remaining to us if We
can settle the territory with men from oul
own neighborhood, we shall perhaps be able
to re-assert the right of which our enemie.
have sought to aepriveus." They acceraingl,
favored aud assisted emigratinn to the terri
tory of Kansas.
Considering the intense indignation which
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise awak
ened in the free states, this expedient was Ger
taiply the mildest and least Objectionable,
method in which it could be expressed. Neve
was public indignation made to flow in NOR,
peaceful and legal channel Never was al
act of redress more iair, more just, moro OBJ
viously right and proper in every respect
What IA complete paralysis must have seizet
upon mans moral judgement who could cal
such proceeding provocation to acts o
violence!
Ii it was provocation in any respects i
could only be a provocation to retiliate in tn
same manner. If the people of Missouri ant
the other slave states had recruited stettler
from their population, and sent them torwar,
to occupy the territory of Kansas as rapid,
as possible, to spread themselves along it
rivers, and scatter themselves over its plains
and to meet their brethren from the fire.
states, peacefully and fairly at the polls, an,
vote them down if they were able, nobod,
would have had right to complain. The,
would have infriuged no ones legal rights
they would have merely occupied COUNT
in which they had as perfect right to estab
llsh themselves as the emigrants from an
other part of the Union and if they happens
to be the majority, they would have been law
fully its masters. They might have said, wit
some show of reason, that they were provoke
to this; but for the violence they have uso6