The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-05-19
Kansas.

spirit. Such is ever the effect of doing
wrong in public affairs.-Boston Bee.
Kansas.
The aggregation of facts respecting
the recent elections in Kansas leave no
doubt but the letter and spirit of the or
gaHic law of the Territory have been
grossly violated by the incursions of
citizens of Missouri, expressly for the
purpose. Statements made subsequent
20 the election of the territorial delegate
are confirmed by recent events. SINH
lar scenes have been reenacted similar
wrongs have been inflicted upon the
people of the Territory elections have
been controlled by masses thrown upon
the soil temporarily from Missouri, who
retired after the violent achievements of
their purpose, and triumphed over the
outrages of their hands. Now, for our
part, we do not care whether Kansas is
to be free or slave State. 1t is, iu fact,
no business of ours. We have as little
rightto interfere in the matter as the peo-
pie of Kansas have with slavery in the
State of Maryland. But lawiessness,
open violation of popular rights, news
paper menaees, utterances less vague
than audacious against the constituted
authorities-in short, the triumph OF
might over right is, in principle, as near
to US in Kansas as in Maryland. Hence
we do not hesitate to speak upon this
subject.
Governor Reeder has abandoned the
Territory, in all probability hopeless of
establishing social order and civil author
ity under the organic law of the lands-
He is on his way to Washington, with a
view, it is said, of spreading the facts
personally, before the administration
Of his further purposes we are unofficial
ly advised, but not disposed to antici-
pate. The question whether the people
of Kansas are to be protected in the ex-
ercise of their rights, is in all probabili-
ty to be met and answered in Washing
ton. We take for granted that the an
swer will be an affirmative one. There
is no North, no South, no East, no West,
about this question. 1t is a plain,
straightforward issue, in which all par
ties, and each individual citizen is con-
cerned, and which nobody can fail to un-
derstand.
That the proceedings of these lawless
Missourians are retaliatory we cannot de-
ny. They are retaliatory against con-
structiye provocation. A considerable
number of persons in the eastern States
-anti-slavery men, abolitionists, or free
soilers-designate them as we may, con-
ceived the idea of forcing emigration to
Kansas and Nebraska and accordingly
organized for that purpose Their OBJ
ject, undoubtedly, was to make Kansas a
free State. An 'tEmigrant Aid Society
succeeded in throwing large numbers of
freesoilers into the Territory, but it is
understood, and we presume viii hardly
be denied, that these people went out
with the intention of becoming perma-
nent residents of the Territory. They,
with others who entered Kansas with the
same intention from other sections of the
Union, constituted the legal voters of the
Territory. But these legal voters have
been overridden by incursionists from
Missouri, according to EMBELLISHMENTS
before the public.
The occupation of the Territory of
Kansas was an open project, available to
any and all sections of the Union. That
anti-slavery has laid hold of it, and that
successfully, can never justify the law
lessness by which it has been encounter
ed. To maintain the converse of this
proposition is to put slavery outside of
the law. But we may not put it there
we may not connive to anything which
would tend to put it there-but at immi-
nent peril. Nor is there any necessity
for it. Slavery is a tractable thing
enough within the law; and the good
sense of the people viii always sustain
the right, with respect to the free or the
slave States. Fanatics may rave for the
time, and wrong may seem to prevail
but eventually the substantial force OF
popular intelligence re-establishes the
right. It is by this substantial, popular
intelligence in the South, as in the North,
that the wrongs of Kansas must be made
right. The nation must sustain its own
legislative policy, or the equilibrium ol
public faith and popular confidence will
be seriously disturbed.
Our readers have not overlooked the
fact, that the most yirulent sentiments
have emanated from some of the outlaws
| of Platte county, which is Immediately
contiguous to Fort Leavenworth. Meth.
odist preachers are denounced without
qualification, and threatened with the
most brutal treatment if they enter the
county. This is sadly in keeping with
the wild, prospective spirit which seems
to have temporarily perverted the theory
of government elsewhere, But its hide.
Gus Intolerance is most Extensively thrusi
upon our notice. by such declarations a
these from the madmen of Platte county
Next to the preachers-whom ?-The
Methodist people. A whole denomins,
ton may be prescribed and cast out of q
county or State because the law oi
might is rampant, and men Of ungovern-
able passions WELD the guarded scepssr o
anarchy and desolation.
| These things must not tbe,-cannot be,
under government Of law and order
IExcesses, though remote, are felt pulsa.
ting 70 the very center of our national
Organization. And If wrong and ont
Irage have been perpetFated on the soil o
Kansas. and are still held n tsrroren
lover the people of that Territory. or ovel
Igood citizens of Missouri by the bad
tfhs inferposition of the general govern
msnt must not be invoked IN ysin.-Bct
tiaso7e San.