The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-07-28
LAWRENCE KANSAS TERRITORY, SATURDAY JULY %, 1856
Kansas--squatter Sovereignty.

hS0NC&SAS&3hJs
We have repeatedly expressed the opin-
ion that Kansas would not become slave
State and we are confirmed in the opin-
ion by recent events in that Territory
1t appears that the squatters have as
sumed the right to expel Governor Rec
der, because of his supposed freesoil
principles, and to order an election for a
person to be recommended to the Presi-
dent as the future Governor of the Terri
tory. This high handed and illegal
measure will not, of course, be approved
by.the President, for it is an open def
ance of the authority of government. It
viii excite disgust even amongst slave
holders; for they have no desire to see the
Territory converted into slave State BY
violence, or by disregard of law. 1t
will also have the effect of stimulating
freesoilers to become emigrants to the
Territory; and such a number of these
will resort there as to outvote and over
power the ruffians who have undertaken
to defy the government of the country.
The territory should be kept open for all
emigrants, and there should be entire
protection for person and property. The
government OF the country is bound to
secure this, and viii no doubt perform
its duty.
Whilst the squatters of Kansas are thus
pursuing their violent course, the inhab
itants of an adjacent county in Missouri
have resorted to no less illegal and out
rageons measures. They have destroyed
a newspaper office, although one OF the
proprietors is Stakeholder, and would
have tarred and feathered the other pro-
prietor, who was present, had it not been
for his wife's intercession. Both propri-
etors were ordered to leave the State
within three weeks under the penalty of
death; and were forbidden TO settle in
Kansas under the same penalty. Now,
if this is the description of persons who
are to settle Kansas, it would have been
much better to have left the lands in pos
session of Indians, than to have State
erected under such auspices.
We are Southern men and slavehold-
ers; but we cannot coulnenance proceed
ings such as have taken place in Kansas
and in Parkville, Missouri. They will do
more to excite hostility to the South, than
all the abolition publications which can
be made. We regret that shareholders
should have been guilty of SO much inn
prudence, to use the niidest term. 1t
will secure Kansas as free State; when,
if a more mild and just conduct had been
observed, it is possible that it might have
adopted slavery. TIE citizens of the
North have as much right 10 become. ci-
tizens of Kansas Is those ffosa the South,
and the Territory. ought to be KEEP. ae-
cessible to all alike. Bat, if one side re-
solve to expel the other by force, it will
be a struggle in which the North must
triumph, for-ten emigrants can be sent
from that section of country for one from
The South. Mild measures mi 5ht sue
ceed where violence would certainly fail.
This expulsion of Governor Reeder,
and the election of u successor, are. fla-
grant acts which cannot be submitted to
Dl Tic SofeIHHlcHl-iOI, IL 0.le Hliu
chosen by the President to preside over
the affairs of the Territory be driven from
his place. another may be served in the
same way. 1t is al attempt by few
squatters to dictate to the authorities OF
the General Government, and must be
resisted with frmness, or our constitu-
ton and laws will become mere nulli;y.
The disposition is becoming too preya-
lent to defy all authority; aud reforms.
ton in this particular is absolutely re-
quired, in order to secure rational liberty.
The laws must be obeyed, if we would
perpetuate our free institutions; and We
look to- the American party to bring back
the respect for law and order which once
characterized the American people.
The squa;ters of Kansas appear to have
acted upon one of the principles adopted
by the German Atheistical reyolutionists
of Cincinnati-yiz: the right to recall
rulers whenever whim or caprice, or pas
sion, may dictate the step, aud to substi-
tute others who will be more obedieut to
the wishes of the revolutionists.-Bafti-
more Clipper.