Squatter sovereign., 1855-04-24
Missouri and Kansas.

Missouri and Kansas.
During the last hours of the Kansas
Nebraska bill, while it was pending in the
United States Senate, Hon. VIM II. Sew
ard, of New York, obtained the floor, and
in one of the most forcible speeches of the
session, protested against the repeal Of that
clause in the Missouri compromise which
dedicated all that territory lying north of
SO deg. 80 minutes to freedom. He show
ed by. the laws OF emigration, that Kansas
must, from the very nature of the circum-
stances which surrounded it, become free
State; that the libcrty-loving, free born
sons Of the north and west would pour in
by thousands, and settle upon her broad
prairies, making her valleys TEEN with
wealth and her hills joyous with the shouts
of a population, none of when were SlQpes
The challenge, given by the chivalry Of
the south was accepted by Mr.. Seward in
the following terms:
"Come on, then, gentlemen Of the slave
States! Since there is no escaping your
challenge, l accept j: IN behalf Of freedom.
we will engage in competition for the vir-
gin soil Of Kansas, and God give the vic
tory to the side that is stronger in numbers,
as it is in Right"
About ten months have elapsed since
the utterance of those memorable words,
which deserve to be recorded on the title
page of Kansas history, during which time
thousands have left their homes in the East,
South and West, and taken up their res
licences on this battle-ground of freedom.
The late census returns showed that, thus
| far, ererq election district an the Territory
| S,,ttlal Nv la,r of
| from the free States, and that, if left to the
ordinary course Of things, the Legislative
Assembly of the Territory would be a unit
upon the subject of human rights. But, it
seems, this could not be. A secret organ
ization was got up in Missouri, and under
the representation to the gullible that the
New England Emigrant Aid Company
was an institution chartered for the purpose
Of sending the scrts and poupers of eastern
! alms-houses, to people this region, they
raised a fund of probably half million Of
dollars, and visiting the grog-shops and
dens Of vice in the river cities of Missouri,
hired the ruffians and cut-throats congre-
gated there to come into Kansas by thou
sands on election day, and with threats Of
carrying their measures at all hazards,
took possession of the ballot-box, and cleo
ted the Legislature by fraud. Before the
polls were closed these imported voters
were on their retrogade march for Missou-
ri, and ere we go to press will probably be
on their own plantations, lording it over the
black man whom they have reduced to SER
vitude, as they hope in due time to reduce
the white laborer of Kansas, by bringing
his toll in competition with that of the
slave.
| Inthis district, where the late census re-
port indicates but three hundred and sixty
nine voters, the election shows there were
Ten hundred and thtrfg-aine uofes polled,
nearly three times as great number as
legiti mately belonged here; and yet a
| large number Of o,r actual residents, and
particularly those from a distance did not
exercise their right to the elective franchise,
as they found they could not do so without
endangering their lives. The free State
strength in this district is full five to one,
and yet the pro-slavery ticket has a major.
ity Of more than three to one.
We had great faith in the progress oi
humanity, and hoped to see the day when
virtue would triumph over vice, intelligence
over ignorance, and freedom over oppress-
ion: but our confidence In human nature
has been greatly shaken by the last few
days proceedings, and to-day would re-
pose with greater security under the sllad.
ow of thirty-two FOUNDER, with all the
armament of war and the paraphernalia ol
the battlefield, than in the gentle teach
ings of the law of kindness which we for,
merly supposed, in our simplicity, would
/ govern world, and lead it to practice the
I \ 4 r Al l.
the Saviour Of our race.
Il