The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-30
AFFAIRS OF KANSAS.


The Lexangton (lnasoaxD Convention.
Apeasss 70 rHE People or raz ysIrsp sTAr.s
ys coatieuou: to the TERRITORY K.nse. 70 ay before
our STATE and which, Il j. sssssd may 70 serious
tent, affect the general Welfare e our country.
candid sspsoso 70 ss touching our osaon and It's
bearing upon panied With such reflections
That portion Of Missouri which borders on Kansas con-
q atty thousand slaves and their estimated value at the
dollars As tho whole State contains but about one hum
dred thousand slaves it viii be that Of the
on Rsas
ton Of which Il separated from that Territory by
tural boundary and is within days ride Of the line.
tiiity q soil temperate and Sssith climate and
population progressing rapidly In all the elements that
in most aourishing cOndItion and the towns and VII
Lagos which have sprung mp indicate steady pro-
sress towards wealth. refinement and commercial mpcr
zion and science been neglected; but common schools
and respectable insitutions Of higher grade, and
every county The great staple OF thus district is hemp
although tobacco, and corn and wheat also largely
produced The culture ofhemp has been found profitable
the additional that almost foot of land within
the counties alluded to Ia wonderfully adapted by nature
to its production greater quantities and finer qualities
and 1t smaller cost than in any other State in the
Union and that the climate Is such to permit the
growers Of this article TO reside their estates, viii
readily explain for the uncxamped growth
Of the country Already IL constitutes the most densely
tty Of soil and general salubrity Of climate, with the
facilities for outlet furnished by noble river running
through it, midst and Two great railroads destined
TO traverse its upper and lower borders viii render it
at distant period If left undisturbed desirable and
noarishing district as be found in the Mississippi
Valley.
An idea has to extent prevailed abroad that Mis-
souri, contained but very small slave population, and
threatened By the existence Of at least A' 1 re
spectacle minority Of her citizens, ready and anxious
70 abolish IT. and that only slight external pressure
regret that this opinion has to extent received
ccuu.enance from the publication and patronage Of jour
such result. Without however going into any expana-
ton Of political parties here, which would be entirely To-
reign to purpose think i proper 70 state that the
idea above alluded 70 Is unounded and that respec-
Bile party be found in this State outside Of st.
Louis prepared to embark any such schemes In that
well that Of several other States and Territories it will
not surprising that its heterogeneous population
should furnish 0ohod for the widest and most vision
convention and it Is not thought unwarrantabie to
sumo that the resolutions adopted BY this body have
csved the cordial appreciation ofa large and influential
portion Of her citizens. Other countless besides st.
Louis outside of the district which observations
have been principally directed also represented by
delegates and had not the Of the year the short
notice Of it's intended session. and the locality where the
convention was held-remote from the centre Of The
State-prevented, doubt not, that delegates from
every county in the State would have been in attend
ance. Indeed, portion of the upper Mississippi and
recy interested in this question - any part Of this
State and their citizens known to accord hearth
Even IN the southwest part Of our STATE from The Usage to
the borders Of Arkansas where there but few slaves
the proceedings opubc meetings indicate the entire and
Of the public press tbrousEoa the state, similar
inference Is deducibe, and, feel warranted in
sorting very general not unanimous concurrence In
the principles adopted by tho Lexington Convention
Those principles embodied in series OF resolutions
appended to this address, and which, happy to
say were adopted with entire unanimity by body
presenting every shade Of political opinion to be found in
the interior of State These facts conclusive of
tho condition of public sentiment in Missouri The pro-
liabilities Of changes here In reference to the question of
slavery arc not essentially different from what they
numSsrs ~ OF Nsnusy - reston to
contains double tho number of Arkansas nearly double
the number Of Texas, and about an equal number with
These facts stsstated with view to proper under.
standing Pf in reference to the settlement Of
Kansas and the legitimate and necessary interest felt In
the progress and character of that settlement
to the repeal of the Congressional restriction of 1920 by
reference to the question Of slavery and made solitary
exception to rule hcr condition In regard to the
territory west Of her border, and yet north Of the
Of southern Institutions truly unenvabe With
two States her northern and eastern border in many
portions OF which the constitution Of the United States
and the Fugitive Slave law passed In pursuance thereof
known to be ineffcacious for the protection of
our rights they would have been in London Canads
1t was left to the viii II Congress- by enforcing the
sriction Of 1890 TO cut Missouri Oh aim ,st entirely from
all territorial connection with states having Institutions
that body but repeal the restriction, and thus leave
to the constitution the nature the settlement
Of eur Territories or by retailing the restriction indi
recty TO abolish slavery In Missouri the latter alter
native bad 70 be selected would have beea IN act Of
charity and mercy to the shareholders of Missouri to
them In iue Of the necessity of abandoning their
homes, nnnumittng selling their saves-to give
Gfy millions Of slave property, or seventy millions Of
landed estate. Direct legislation would have pre-.
se,e 70 ,noeca ssong 70 ,ns same TssS
Of Kansas was virtually the abolition of slavery in Mis-
souri, But Congress acted more wisely We think and
with greater fidelity 10 sbe constitution and the Union
The history Of the EansasSebraska bill is known
the country. abolished the geographical line oa6d deg
10 min By which the limits Of slavery we're restricted
aud substituted constitutional and just principle which
left to the settlers Of the Territories to adopt such do
nestle Institutions as suited themselves II ever there
was q principle calculated to commend itself to all
reasonable men, and reconcile all conflicting interests,
this would seem to have been the II the prin
cipe Of popular soveregntythe basis upon which our
Independence had been achieyed-and Il therefore
supposed 70 be Justly dear to all Americans Of every at
tude and every creed But anaticism not satisfied
The aboltionists and their allies moved heaven
and earth to accomplish Its defeat and al
though they did not therefore
countenapce from the Executive they retired to
another theatre Of action and strange 20 say they
ututed an ancient and respectable commonwealth-one
of the Uid Thireen-to commence in her sovereign
pacity ~ State, with the and imposing attitude
incident TO such position crusade against slavery
novel In it character alarming in its features and
likely TO be fatal In it, consequence than all the
hnatical movements hitherto attempted since the ap-
peararoe Of aboitonism a political party In 1896.
They originated and maturcd scheme, never before
heard Of thought of in this country the object and
effect Of which to evadc the principle Of the Kansas
Nebraska BILL and in lieu Of non intervention by Con.
gres substitute active tervenon by the States An
Get Of Incorporation passed. company with CAPT
tai Of Eve millions chartered; and this company
authorized 70 enlist army Of mercenary fanatics and
transport them to Kansas. Recruiting officers sta
toned In places most likely furnish the proper mater
al premiums offered for recruits; the public mind
vas stimulated BY glowing and false descriptions Of the
aasrcenaries thus prepared and forwarded TO
and carry war Of determination against sla
very.
To call these people cmgrants sheer perversion of
language. They not sent to cultivate the SOIL to
better their social condition. to add 70 their individual
comforts the aggregate wealth Of the nation They
do no< from choice taste, from any motive
Affecting supposed to affect themselves their rn
- a - a A.11