The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-30
Miscciiapeops.
Things as They are---Political and &c
cIesiastical.

Things as They aIe---Poiitical and Ec-
cIesiastical.
The late events in Kansas and Missou-
ri present to the citizens of the whole
United States subjects of the very grayest
consideration. No unbiased, intelligent
man, can look az them without seeing
that crisis has arisen which is to test
the permanency of our political institu-
tions, in their relations to civil and reii-
gious liberty and the boasted ability of
our people forself-government. Is there
intelligence and virtue enough in our
widespread and variously circumstanced
population to preserve free Institutions
liberty regulated by law ? or are we des-
tined to fail in the effort, as other coun-
tries have done, and disappoint the best
hopes of humanity by running into an
archy, and being compelled ultimately to
take refuge, and find security for life and
property in despotic government, or
governments There have been already
in our history insurrectionary move
ments that created some alarm. The
Whisky Insurrection in Pennsylya-
MA, for instance, was an outrage which
indicated that even in that early period
of our political confederacy there was
dangerous material in our midst; but the
common sense and public virtue of the
people soon suppressed it, and it is now
hardly remembered. But it did not orig
mate in causes which affected any con-
siderable portion of the Union; and even
where they did exist, the progressive
Improvements in the means of inter
course. and other causes, very soon re-
moved them. The tax upon the distilla-
ton of grain bore hard upon those who
were too far from the sea-board to find
an outlet to foreign markets for their
grain, while at home grain was drug; /;
the supply greatly exceeding the demand.
The ihsurrection was, however, rebuked
by the common feeling of the country,
and the causes were removed by build
ing turnpike roads into the interior.
But the recent outbreaks in Missouri
and Kansas originated in causes coeval
with the settlement of our country, pre-
ceded the Revolution, and were sanction
ed by the Constitution adopted by the
confederated states in convention, at the
very time they were celebrating the lib
erty "wkerewith God had so strangely
made them Free" Slavery is the cancer
GUS ulcer which, although it exists only
on one limb, diffuses its virus through
out the body polite, and threatens its ul-
innate dissolution.
Unfortunately, while all disinterested
persons. and even many of those who
have direct pecuniary interest in per-
petuating slavery, acknowledge It's effects
to be eyii-that it exiiausts the soil, de-
grades humanity, and sanctions cruelty
and injustice-we cannot agree upon any
plan of removing the evil, either imme-
diately or gradually. The ultra pro-sla-
very party attribute this TO the violent
proceedings of the ultra-abolitionists; and
the latter class allege that the reasons
are to be found in the great profits from
slave labor. But, be the causes of strife
what they may between the ultraists of
both parties, one thing is certain: the
contest has been so managed that the
severity of the slave laws, instead of be-
ing lessened, has been greatly increased,
aud, instead of making any progress to-
wards the emancipation of the southern
slaves, the ultra abolitionists have not left
q freeman, white or black, in the slave
holding states. That this is fact no
one can dispute; for liberty of speech
and of the press, are essential to political
freedom, and every one knows that nj
man dares to discuss, in the slave states
the propriety of abolishing the institution
of slavery. 1t is doubtful whether he
could do this withouta violation of stat.
ute law, and subjectng himself to legal
pains and penalties; but it is not at all
& doubtful that mob-law would supply
whatever was lacking in constitutional
legislation. We have seen that CON-
missioner deputed by the state of Massa-
chusetts 70 South Carolina to institute a
suitin the courts of the latter state in or
der to test the constitutionality of an act
of her legislature, which operated OBJ
pressively on certain class of the citti-
zens of the former state, was not allowed
TO pursue the object OF his mission, bul
was compelled to return by the indica.
tons of mob-yiclence. If such things
could occur in relation to high function.