The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-24


prairies, so productive in all the requirements
of civilization"
We learn, however, that Kansas City, too,
comes within the scheme of the Nulifers, and
that they intend to mob those in that place
who show friendship to the emigrants.
We apprehend that some emigrants may be
turned back by these demonstrations but the
danger in the distance looks more threatening
than it really is. We do not believe the ma
jority of the People of the western counties in
Missouri sympathize in these violent proceed
ings. They must know that they are bringing
upon them disgrace and ruin. The threats
of the Nulhfers are so extravaganza that
they can hardly proceed from Uniformed
purpose to execute them in their length and
breadth. So far, single press has been de-
stroyed, and one life has been lost in an af-
fray and yet emigrants are constantly passing
through the belligerent country, and settling in
the Territory. If the conspirators are suffered
to proceed with IMMUNITY, if they meet with
no check, the consequences may be fearful ;
but they are not yet so strong, that they may
not be taught moderation, by frmness and or
ganization on the part of emigrants and set
tiers.
Have we State or National Government"
asks the Missouri Democrat, shat these things
are permitted? Will the President Of the Uni
ted States allow the laws of the country to be
trampled under foot and its citizens to be in.
jured, without moving a finger in their de-
fence 2"
So far as the Nullifers con6ne their opera
tons to Missouri, the President of course has
no right to interfere. If anarchy exist in any
part of the State, let the State Authorities put
it down-and if they cannot or will not, let
the sssailed citizens protect themselves, meet
organization by organization, arms by arms.
The Benton men and the Free-Soilers, threat
ened by these Nullifers, know how to take care
of themselves, and Stringfellew & Co. may find
themselves in some difficulty, if they attempt to
execute their insane threats.
So far as their plans embrace Kansas the
President could interpose peacefully, but effect
| ually, if he had the courage. He could dismiss
from Office the Chief Justice of the Territory,
who has indecently made himself conspicuous on
the side of the Nullifers. He could withdraw the
printing patronage from the Multiplying prints,
such as the Weste,n Argus, Squatter Sovereign,
&C., which now fatten upon it. Aye-and he
could remove Governor Reeder, who has made
himself obnoxious on account of land specula-
tions, and has failed to muster the militia of
the Territory for the protection of Territorial
rights. All this he could do, and if Jefferson
Davis said nay, he could boldly announce that no
one should be member of his Cabinet, who is
not in favor of fairly and honestly carrying out
tory, empowering the actual settlers to deter
mine their own institutions. All this he has
left undone. Whatever he may have spoken to
Governor Reeder in private, he is guilty of
practically aiding and abetting the Atchison
Nullifers. Jefferson Davis confronts and in
timidates him. Common report makes the
Secretary the ally of the Nullifers, and there is
nothing in his antecedents to discredit it.
This is not all that the President could do.
On application of the Governor of the Territory
to protect it from domestic violence or inva-
sion, he could put detachment of United
States troops in motion, to protect the Terrific
rial Government. Why did not the Governor
make the application when such aid was need
ed? Why did he order an election to fill vacan-
cies in his absence, without making provision
against the recurrence of the fraud and violence
which he must have known would be repeated?
Why has he not called upon the People of the
Territory themselves to organize for the protec-
ton of their own liberties?
Let us speak plainly. The President is over
awed, and will not act. Governor Reeder has
no backbone. What, then, is to be done?
Colonel Kinney's peaceful colonists propose to
carry arms with them, not, it is said, for pur-
poses of aggression, but protection against vio-
lence. Bands of colonists for Oregon ALWAYS
arm themselves. Let the peaceful cultivators
who 60 to Kansas, carry their rifles as well as
axes with them, and organize in companies,
prepared to vindicate their right of colonization,
as American citizens, anywhere upon American
soil. If not prepared for this, let them stay at
home, and acknowledge to themselves and the
world, that they have at last found masters to
determine the metes and bounds of their habi-
tations. AS to the settlers in Kansas, have
they no man, no leader, among them? Will
they permit gang of foreign Nullifers to pull
down their presses, and drive them from their
possessions? They number now many thou
sands. Let them look to themselves-what
they want is, organization. Through this, they
will be able to do their own voting, and their
own fighting, if necessary-but, let it be once
understood, that they stand, organized and
prepared to defend their rights under the Con-
stitution, and soon, an end will be put to the
reign of terror. We do not invoke civil war !;
we deprecate any movement tending to pro-
woke it; and therefore we abhor the lawless
conduct of the NulliGers in Western Missouri.
But, no American citizen should yield his
rights under menace: resistance to tyrants,
crowned or uncrowned, is obedience to God.
The Herald Of Freedom, published at Law
renee, is neither respondent nor faint-hearted.
In its last issue, it says:
1t is virtually an impossibility for slavehold-
ers to get a foothold here. The actual residents
have majority of three to one against Slavery,
and this number they can maintain. A few
weak-hearted persons may leave the Territory,
but thousands who have the ring of true steel
in their composition will come in to take their
places. Laws made by Mssourians will have
no binding force on the people of Kansas; and
as for slave laws, the next Congress will throw
restrictions around any enactments passed in
violation of Popular sovereignty, which will make
them imperative.
"No intelligent body of men, whether North
ern or Southern, can sustain the recent course