The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-15
KANSAS EMIGRANT MEETING.
Speeches of Senators TOOmbs, Iversos, and oths


bus, Ga, on the 9th October, was most in
terestrng one, and resulted in the subscription of
$500 on the spot, and the enrolment of 20 ad-
ditional members. The principal points of in
terest, however, were the speeches of Hon.
Robert Toombs and Alfred Iverson, represent
atives of the State of Georgia in the Senate of
the United States. Having referred to the or
ganization of the society, Mr.. Toombs said
1t presents a practical question one that ad-
dresses itself both to our interests and our pa
| triotism. Upon the admission of Missouri into
the Union, by consent of the South, Slavery
was prohibited in all the Territories living north
of $50 30/. For long while, this vast country
was inhabited only by the red man. For few
years past, the fertility of that portion of it
known as the Territories Of Kansas and Nebras
"A, lying Immediately west of Missouri and
Iowa, has attracted thither large number of
enterprising pionsers and emigrants. They re-
Gently applied to Congress for Territorial Gov
| ernments the result was, the passage of the
kansas-Nebraska bill. The principles of the
bill are familiar to all. The prominent feature
of 1.-THE only one Of practical Importance to
| the South-was, that 1t was a repeal of the
Missouri restriction, that it left to the people of
the vast Territories of the West the sole regula-
ton of their domestic institutions-that it pro-
hibited the interference of either Congress or
the States in their regulation. He had voted
for the bill he was content to abide by its prin-
ciples. The North consented to let the natural
Laws of emigration people these Territories.
Such was the understanding of ALL upon the
| passage Of the bill. The South desired to carry
her institutions into them, yet she did not ask
| Tor them the protection of-Gongress. She was
and is now ready to stand by her compact
Has the North done SOP Has she acted in good
faith Is she not doing everything in her
power to thwart the manifest objects and pur-
poses OF the bill? Why her Emigrant Adolf
ton AID Soiciety2 She does not disguise her
intentions. Are they not wrong upon principle?
Should she succeed by such efforts in overpow.
ering the gallant Missourians, and make Kansas
free soil? When she applies for admission into
the Union, the South Is pledged not to object
1t she applies with a Constitution recognising
Slavery, the North is bound by similar
pledge.
The day is near at hand when she will be
seeking admission. Our enemies were already
an the field. Why stand we here idle t.? Delay
was fatal. Ii was time the South was aroused
to a full sense of her danger. He was now in
favor of Emigrant Aid Associations at the
South, to counterfeit the efforts Of the Adolf
tionists, 10 avert, if possible, the threatened
danger in Kansas. We must look to our own
stout hearts and strong arms for the protection
OF our rights In the Territories. He wonld have |
opposed the taking of initiatory steps of this |
character by the South, in aiding emigration to |
the Territories. The South had not done so. |
The North was responsible for Them Self |
protection required, demanded, that we should |
teach the latter that we will not submit to such
diaboical attempts to abolitionize Territory
whose climate, soil, and productions, indicated It |
so favorable for the extension of Slavery 1t |
was an attempt to crcumscrbe it. He was not |
disposed to force Slavery upon any people or
Ierritory the natural laws of emigration ought |
to settle the question of its extension in the !
West. Yet, since the North will not agree 10 |
this, let US look to it at once, that Southern
rights, Southern interest, and Southern honor |
shall be defended and represented there by
I" good men and true" For one he was ready
to open his purse, and provide with means those
who willing to battle in Kansas for the
South and Slavery.
He appealed to the patriotism and pride OF
all present. to give, and to give literally mate
rial aid to the society, to carry out its patriotic
purposes to give promptly, for now was the
day and now the hour. The North has forced
this course upon us we have no other alter
native left. Let US not be laggard in maintain
ing our rights the issue was a momentous
one; the struggle in the Territory was for En-
pre-; 1T was worthy of our BEST our noblest
efforts.
He proceeded to show the importance to the
South, of the admission of Kansas into the Union
as a slave State; it the key to the great
West the high road to the Pacific; of influence
IN the formation of States from the Territories
south and west of it. 1t was 81 vital conse-
quence to The Shareholder in Missouri
1t had been said that Slavery would not be
I L.. IL.
1t was in the same latitude with Missouri its
soil very much the same. In no State in the
Union was slave labor more profitable than in
Missouri the history of the Institution there
was the best evidence of this. By the census
| of l84O, her slave population was only 10000;
| by the census of 1850, it was more than double
| this number. Out of its eighty odd thousand
| slaves, the census showed that 80, 900 of them
| were in the western border counties of the State
Immediately adjacent to Kansas. Hemp, to-
bacco, wheat, and corn, are the principal pro-
| ducts Of Missouri. The soil of Kansas has been
found equally as well adapted to their growth.
| Their cultivation was by far more profitable
| than cotton; the history of slave labor in Vir
ginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, had proven it to
be so.
| Mr.. Toombs having concluded, Capt. Lomax,
being loudly called for, responded in few brief
and spirited remarks.
Kansas was the keystone of the arch of the
Union. 1t was of vital Importance not only to
Missouri, but 20 each Of the slaveholding States.
that it should come into the Union as slave
State. The admission of California had depriv-
ed us OF the balance of power in the Senate.
Now was the time, and this the occasion, to
restore it. The hour for action had arrived
united and vigorous action. Missouri led on by
| ha1 +
a struggle of life with her; it behooved the
South to rush at once to her rescue. Shall she
appeal in vain to Southern hearts and Southern
patriotism? Her cause WAS the cause of the
| South. tie concluded by calling upon oil pres
emit TO unite with the society in its patriotic ef
forts, 10 open their purses and give material aid
to those stout hearts and strong arms who
were now ready to emigrate to Kansas, and
battle for Southern rights.
Hon. Alfred Iverson then arose and address
ed a few remarks to the Society.
The policy Of the North, said he, was to sur.
| round the South with Gordon of free States.
and, by combining Slavery to a limited area. to
crush 1t out. In this point Of view, the main
tenance of Slavery in Kansas was a matter of
vital interest to the South If Slavery gives
way in Kansas, Missouri will be surrounded on
three sides by non slaveholding States, and the
institution must give way there it will also be
IN peril in the Indian Territory lying south of
Kansas 1t will then only remain for the aboli-
| tonlsts TO extend their influence to Western
| Texas, and the great object of their ambition
will be attained The South will then be reduced
to hopeless minority in the Union her in
stitutions will be confined to the narrow limits
they at present occupy and their overthrow
will only be a question of time.