The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-17
THE CONFLICT IN KANsAs-THE CAUSE AND
THE REMEDY.


maintain the resolve by force of arms. The
election to fill the vacancies announced by Gov
ernor Reeder, takes place on the 22d of this
month; the Governor will not be there; and
the scenes of the 30th April will doubtless be
| repeated, if necessary. As it is, only one Anti
Slavery man is returned to the Legislature,
MARTIN F. CONWAY, formerly Of Baltimore.
Even should all the vacancies be filed with
Anti-Slavery men, an event not to be expected,
the great majority of the body will be pro-sla-
very, and we know enough of the INSCRIPTIONS
character of the Party it represents, to know
that the first business will be to GUST Mr.. Con-
way; for the claim set up is, that the whole
power of deciding on the qualifications of the
members, although vested by the act organizing
the Territory in the Governor, resides in the
Legislature.
Mr.. Conway received majorities in FIVE dis
tricts, but there was small precinct about $50
miles distant, on the Santa Fe road, containing
not more than twenty-five settlers, all Missouri
pro-slavery men. The Association that planned
the invasion of Kansas, directed an armed band
five districts, where the judges of election were
known to be impartial men, and to proceed at
once to that distinct precinct, where as all the
settlers were pro-slavery, the judges appointed
were of the same character. OF course, their
votes were admitted, and the returns in conse-
quence showed an apparent majority against
Conway. On examining them, however, the
Governor, observing that each voters name was
set down opposite to the candidate voted for,
knew at once that the voting had been done
vica uoce, and not by ballot, as prescribed by
law. He accordingly threw out all the votes
thus given, and issued his certificate to Mr..
Conway, whose competitor intends to contest
the seat.
The main business of the Legislature will be
to provide in some way for the recognition of
what is called slave property. No doubt, the
scheme has been furnished by men skilled in
such work, and is already agreed upon. Pos
sibly decent regard may be paid to appear
ances, but the thing to be done is, to assure
Shareholders that they may carry their slaves
into the Territory without danger from legal
process. The Governor may exercise quail
fed ceto upon any act of the Legislature, so
that the pro-slavery party may yet encounter
some difficulty in passing pro-slavery measure.
Meantime, the Propagandists, apprehensive
that, after all, however, the steady flow of free
State immigration may sweep away whatever
Slavery Legislation they may initiate in the Ter
ritory, seem determined to establish Reign of
Terror, for the double purpose of ejeeting the
Anti-Slavery men already in Kansas, and pre-
venting the ingress of others. 1t is charged
that they are really organized as Know Moth
ings, and it is easy to see what facilities for dia-
bolical acts would be secured by secret an
irresponsible, oath bound organization.
On our first page will be found the details
of their violent operations. The deposition of
the Governor, the demolition of the Parkville
Luminary, and the ostracism of Methodist
Preachers of the Church North, are followed up
by bloody affray at Fort Leavenworth, the
lynching of Mr.. Park, and the threat to sweep
every Abolitionist, as the advocate Of the free
State policy is called, from the Territory of Kan
Sas. The intention is to frighten away immi.
grants from the East and West, until Missouri
shall have had time to establish beyond all
doubt or danger the system Of Slavery in the
Territory.
Kansas is in fact in state of siege and, suf-
fering from domestic violence. The facts show
ing this are notorious. The Slavery men do
not pretend to disguise them: their papers in
Missouri parade them before the public as evi-
dence Of the prowess and triumph Of the Pro.
Slavery Party. The President and bis Cabinet
are fully appraised of all this; they know perfect
ly well that the Nebraska Kansas Act, empow-
ering the actual settlers in Kansas to elect their
lature, has been grossly violated, and have ev-
cry reason to believe that the armed invaders
who committed this deed stand ready to re-
peat it--nay, that they are regularly organized
with view to prevent the actual settlers from
exercising the rights and enjoying the priv-
leges of the Act. What, then, is their duty?
What has the President done repeatedly, on ev.
idence being furnished of design by lawless
men to violate our Neutrality Laws, and invade
Cuba2 Issued his proclamation, admonish-
ing the evil disposed, declaring the penalties of
the Law, announcing his purpose to visit them
upon the heads of the law-breakers. Are the
rights of the People of Cuba more sacred than
those of the People of Kansas? And what did
he do, when indications of popular resistance
to the Fugitive Slave Act appeared in Boston?
Put the military and naval power of the Uni
ted States at the disposal of the Federal Au-
tbnri,,ac 70 supnraSS rae;Stapca N nj o,couoo Al
Act? Is the Fugitive Slave Act, consecrated
by the name OF Willard Fillmore, any more sa.
cred than the Nebraska Kansas Act, sanctioned
by Franklin Pierce?
BY his oath of Office, he is bound to stake
care that the law be faithfully executed" How
can he, without violation of his constitutional
obligation and oath, neglect this duty in the
case of the People of Kansas? His prompt
Proclamation in disapprobation of the violence
that has been committed, warning the evildis-
posed Of the consequences, should it be repeat
ed, and calling upon all good citizens to uphold
the laws, with the presence of few companies
of United States soldiers in the Territory. to
protect the settlers in the exercise of their rights
would be sufficient to prevent the bloody con-
hict which now seems so imminent
Governor Reeder, we are assured, has not
asked for this. He is aware that the President
is fully informed of the state of affairs, and pre-
fers, we presume, to leave the decision as to
what ought to be done, to his own discretion.
He will return to Kansas, taking his family
with him, and rely upon such resources for the
discharge of his duties as he can command in