Demoine courier., 1855-09-13
The Kansas Slavery Law.


The Kansas Slavery Law.
Among the monstrosities of the day
we know Of nothing capable Of compet
ing, with any show Of success a, all, will
the following law, passed by the lai,
Kansas legislature. A calm recognisanc'
Of it's provisions establishes the convic
ton that, as an outrage, although Of
difTeren. grade, the Louisville riots sinl
INTO insignificance before it. That afail
was a simple collision of parties exercis
ing mere brute force; out. in this solemn
enactment, we have a deliberate assault
upon fundamental principles OF GU ma
tional government. The freedom Of III,
press, Of speech and of conscience j.
destroyed. ard any approach toward III.
discussion Of an open political question
rendered punishable with imprison.
ment or death!
The ground upon which Douglass ant
his friends secured the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, compromise was, that the question
Of slavery or freedom mightbe determin
ed by the inhabitants Of The territories
of Kansas ard Nebraska. The supre
macy of "Squatter sovereignty" or the
right 10 discuss and determine fer them
selves the character of their political
institutions, was what they threw of
their coats and lsbored for-rolled up
their sleeves and fought for-kncl, down
and. with tears in their eyes, prayed for.
The administration and those disposed 10
adhere 10 il, sympa,hised with the appa.
ren,ly homes. appellants, and the sought
for boon was gran,ed-the Missouri
compromise was repealed, that our
down-troden southern friends might be
placed upon an equal footing with the
north, by being enabled to emigra.e TO
the territories with their property, and
through . fair and honorable political
contest, aid in the formation Of the poll
iical institutions Of the future States. Il
confidence was reposed in the friends Of
The repeal that no trickety or humbug
was TO be resoTied 10, but that the cues
ton of slavery should be thrown open to
discussion and adoption or rejection by
the people Of the territories themselves.
Prior to the repeal of the compromise
the door was closed against slavery , the
following law ef1ectualIy closes and seals
il against freedom!
Tae Kansas correspondent of The
missouri Republican, from whose lei.
ter we copy the law, very justly remarks:
"At the South, farmers and planters will
find that they need no longer fear 10
bring their slaves among Es; that IN no
State an The. Union is such complete
protection afforded Mem''! Not only
have al the laws OF all the slave States
for The protection and perpetui.y Of the
institution been out done by the Kansas
Legislature, bet the territory is erected
into q legal forti6calion, whose guns
command the frontiers Of Missouri, Ar
kansas, Louisiana and Texas, and guard
the institution in those States.
As among the peculiarly novel features
Of .his law. il will be observed ,ha. The
circulation offree State papers is virtually
interdicted, ard tina. the homo press is as
efIectually muzzled as Louis Napoleol
or Santa Anna could desire !; and tina,
conscience is invaded, by prescribing as
Jurors. all who desire the formation of a
free State government. Under the ope.
ration OF this law, il will become the duty
Of every peace officer to guard againslits
infringement, and 10 arrest and bring to
trial, before Jury Of shareholders. whom.
soever they may suspect of entertaining
views derogatory 10 the interests OF slave.
~, and the finding Of a newspaper or
other publication advocating freedom,
upon the person or premises Of a sus.
pected ciIzen or traveller in the territory;
or evidence OF the expression of an anti
slavery sen.imen, by such citizen or So
jourDer, will be ample ground for convic.
ZION, and the penalties prescribed are
long years Of laborious j nprisonmen, and
death! A heavy emigration have gone
70 the territory from the free States, with
the avowed purpose Of fighting the insti-
tuition Of slavery with their voices, their
psas. presses and ballots. How many
Of these men will be hung and how many
imprisoned before their friends through
ont the North will sound the ,ocsin OF
war and vush - the rescue!
Political incendiaries are laboriousIy
engaged avery where. The political press
seems 10 have gone mad. and the mos.
absurd appeals are continually being
made so.he passions c! he people. The