Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-08-10
prom the Nov York rlmo.
The Last Project In Kansas.


To give consistency and strength |
TO the lawless usurpa,ions Of the Mis-.
sourians Of the west over the Territory
Of Kansas, n new project has been de-
yised. The people Of Platte County,
Missouri. having invaded Kansas. and
usurped its Government. are now 10
be rewarded for their violence by be- |
ing made legal inhabitants Of that
territory by having the county which
they occupy annexed to Kansas
The Missourians show an energy and
acutencss 7 in their efforts 10 secure
Kansas in the slave interests worthy
Of better cause. Platte County.
in 1850. contained population OF
about 1900, Of whom some 5000
were slaves. At present from natural
increase and immigration. its popula-
ton may be conjcctured 10 be about
$4,000. Could the slave interest sue
ceed in adding this amount Of popula- I,
ton 10 that which already favors sla-
very within the boundaries OF the ter
ritory, the fate of Kansas would be at
once decided against freedom without
the necessity Of any further resort to
lawless violence. Will this scheme.
fresh outrage upon the rights OF the
bona ysde settlers OF the territory. and
upon the principle popular sover-
eighty, prove successfully The Kan
sas Herald states It's belief that the
Missouri Legislature which Is 10 meet
In November. will consent TO the ces.
sion Of Platte County in the interest
Of its own institutions. The present
Pro-Slavery Legislature Of Kansas
would undoubtedly accept the cession
as u complete guarantee Of the right Of
property in slaves in tie Territory
SO far as the territorial aad Stat, Leg
islatures are concerned, then. this ar
rangementis Of easy execution.
Fortunately. however. for the IN
terests Of free society. their remain
! ing hopes for Kansas, cannot be thus
svmmarily crushed. without the con-
sullation Of third party. The con-
stitulion Of the United Statess forbids
the erection of anew State within
the jurisdiction Of any other State, or
the formation Of any State by the
junction Of two States. or parts Of n
State. without the final appreciation
and consent Of Congress. Michigan
has. under this clause Of the Constitu.
tion. recently consented to relinquish
that isolated tract OF her domain which
lies between the Lakes Michigan and
Superior. aud rs soon as the consent
Of Congress is obtained. We shall be-
hold new Commonwealth arise in
the North under the name Of the State
OF Superior.
But the present Legislature OF Kan
saa Territory will do we'll to remem-
Der, while they are pursuing their sell
fish purposes with an insolencc and
recklcssness hitherto unparalleled in
the history Of the colonization Of this
country. that they are not invested
with the attributes Of sovereignty
Congress beiog still the supreme and
paramount Governor Of Kansas, may
yet be tempted by the high-handed
outrages which have been enacted
there to sweep out Of existence the
whole frame work OF the present Ter
ritorial Government. and reorganize it
anew upon basis which will give the
bona fde Inhabitants Of the Territory
a better opportunity Of expressing
their wishes and Of vindicating their
rights in the formation Of their institu-
tons.
That Congress has the right under
the Constitution to take this course is
unquestionable. Exclusive and un-
limited power Of legislation belongs
10 Congress in all the Territories un-
der the Constitution. An ample JUS
tifcation for the exercise of this right
has been given. in the conduct Of those
who have assumed to contrel the Off
ces, without being inhabitants Of the
soil of Kansas Territory. The only
objection is, as to the expediency
Of exercising right at once so arhi-
trary and inconsistent with the genius
Of our free and popular Government.
Upon one question, however, there
is no room for hesitation of Judge
ment. And that is in respect to the
project which forms the subject OF
these remarks. IL the power given to
the Territorial Legislature to make
laws for the good Government Of Kan
sas, may be so enlarged by construc-
ton as to include the right to accept
cessions Of Territory from a neighbor-
ing State, there still remains to Con-
gress the ultimate authority Of nulli-
Tying such acts Of acceptance, as well
as all other laws of the Territories
And should the cessivn of Platte
County De made and accepted. with
the plain purpose of making IL SUBJ
serve the interests Of Slavery in Kan
sas, we trust honorable Congressman
from every quarter, when assembled
at Washington. will promptly and in
dignantly annul it.