The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-08-04
Kansas Affairs.

lne lOll0WlnH article from the fltLSDuTgn
Post is worthy of consideration. The men
composing the so called "Kansas Legisla-
ture," in their desire to plant slavery there,
have rendered themselves justly liable to the
indignant censure OF all honest men, North
or South. 1t is time for the National De-
mocracy to speak out in condemnation Of
these outrages. They are violations of the
principles of the Kansas Nebraska act, and
exhibit an utter disregard of the constitu.
ton and laws of the land. The restoration
of the Missouri compromise would do nc
good, and is advocated by no party. Il
would only do harm; for it would in effect
license slavery South of it, and it is as easy
for shareholders to violate q compromise as
it is for them to viola:ethe provisions of the
Nebraska bill. But if there is any power in
the federal government to put an end tc
these lawless proceedings, and restore the
people of Kansas to their legitimate rights
it ought to be exercised speedily and with
a strong hand:
"We are glad to find that the Legislature
of Kansas did so many absurd things as to
render itselfridiculous. Among other things,
Kansas offenders are to be confined in Mis-
souri, jails, and the whole mass of Missouri
laws are extended over the territory. Think
of that. Prisoners charged with any kind
of crime are to be transported to the jaiIs OF
another State, and there kept in confinement
or lynched as the humor of the moment may
dictate.
We are assured by many letter writers
from Kansas that wo-thrds of the voters
now in that territory are opposed to the in.
PRODUCTION of slavery. Some writers say
that three-fourths of the voters are so: If
such is the fact, there needed but the absurd
and rascally acts of the recent Legislature
to arouse spirit among the people that will
soon settle the slavery question right.
But new project is on foot by which the
pro-slavery party hope to have it all their
own way in Kansas for years. 1t is pro-
posed to re-annex the "Platte purchase" to
Kansas. 1t now forms some five or six of
the Northwestern counties Of Missouri, and
contains large population and large
number of slaves. 1t would not be difficult
to pursuade Missouri to reinquish those
counties if slavery could be established in
Kansas by it. The Missouri Legislature
meets in November, and it is believed that
an act will be passed providing for such
transfer, and the Kansas Legislature will
no doubt provide for il before they adjourn.
This would give the slave party decided
preponderance. But it is fraud, and we
believe Congress will never allow it to sue
coed. Congress left the question of slave
ry or freedom to those who might settle on
the soil within the present boundaries of
: Kansas. To add populous portion of
Missouri to it in order to secure vote in
favor Of slavery, would be fraud that ought
not to succeed, and must not The String
fellows and Atchisons are overriding their
work, and the recoil will yet annihilate them
in Kansas. The Legislature adjourned on
the 9Th inst, to meet again on the 10th at
the Shawnee Mission. This Mission is just
on the eastern line of the territory, opposite
Westport in Missouri. 1t is thus in fact a
Missouri Legislature in location, as we'll as
from the fact that Missourians, as is well
known, elected the members. That the
people Of the North shall submit to such
frauds is impossible, and we care not how
soon the Missouri Compromise Line is re
stored. We would vote for its restoration
to-day il there is no other way to put an end
to such rascality."