The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-06-23
H-senator Atchisnn.

Ex-senator Atchison.
Connected with the disturbances in
Kansas, public mention has been made of
the name of David R. Atchison, recently
Vice President, pro tenspore, of the Uni
ted States, but now an ex-senator. The
part which he has taken in fomenting the
recent troubles, and the objects which he
has in view, are fast becoming manifest.
1t will be recollected that Senator -Atchi-
son left his post as President of the Sen
ate some time before the close of the
session of Congress, ostensibly TO attend
to some political matters touching his re-
election in Missouri, but recent develop
ments show that It was to concoct deep
laid scheme for the introduction of sla-
very into Kansas, and ultimately, as a
direct resulthis own personal aggrandize-
ment. In his own State, Missouri, he is
politically dead, yet he is not man to
sit quietly under defeat and 60 down to
oblivion without some effort to retrieve
his fallen fortunes. He has crushed his
great antagonist, Benton, but has been
crushed in turn To turn back the tide
which was rapidly bearing him to politi-
cal obscurity, required bold and des-
perate move, which he hasmsde, in which
he hopes to succeed. He intends that
Kansas shall be slave State, and him
self her first Senator to Congress upon
her admission into the Union.
Success thus far seems to attend Atchi-
son and his schemes; but whether he
will be able to carry them Quito their full
extent remains to be seen. There is no
doubt that his influence is very great in
the western counties of Missouri. He
resides at Platte city, a village ON the
Little Platte river. The ruffians who
invaded Kansas at the late election, were
mostly from six counties in the vicinity.
These counties are Atchison's stronghold
where he is popular, and over which he
exercises species of political dictator
ship. His influence over the inhabitants
in that vicinity is unbounded, and no op-
portunity has been neglected by him, to
use it to the stirring up of the worst pas
sions of the ignorant population.
The Cincinnati Democrat publishes a
statement of facts made by an eye wit
ness, connected with the movements o.
the ex-senator, which bears evidence o
candor and truthfulness, and the minute
, ness with which they are warranted
proves that the writer speaks from per
sonal knowledge, and not from hearsay
1t seems from statements made, that At
} Gibson has had in view for long time
the project of the introduction of slavery
into Kansas-even before the repeal o
the Missouri Compromise.
A history of his movements, com
} mencing in 1852, and continuing to The
present time, is given by the Democrat
1t says:
During the summer of 1852 our in
formant listened to speeches from Gen
Atchison, in which he repeatedly declar
ed upon the stump, as he went from place
to place, that he would work continually
to repeal the Missouri Compromise line
and that he would leave no stone untprn
ed TO that end that he would rather see
, Kansas sunk to the bottom of hell thar
that it should be free State. With i'm.
, FASHIONED language. amounting to abso.
; lutte rage, he stirred up the people around
him-nearly all of whom hold slaves
few or many-to resist the settlement o.
Kansas to the knife, as measure and event
in which their ruin and the utter loss o.
their property was involved.
During the time in which was pend
ing the question of the passage of tht
Nebraska Kansas bill in Congress, thi:
; portion of Missouri was subject to con
slant intense and bitter excitement-ex
: element which had been aroused by
+ Atchison and few kindred but subor
dinate spirits, and to maintain which NJ
effort was spared.
+ 'Early in June, almost as sool
a indeed as the news of the final passage 0
the bill had reached there, a public meet
ing was called at Westport-a small vii
o lage near the Missouri river in Jackson
: county-under the auspices of leading
politicians from Independence and TIN
neighboring country, atwhich resolution
/ were passed, indicative of the intention
e ofthe meeting to carry out their aggres
sive measures"
Such were the early movements in Mis-
, souri,, started by Atchison to sustain sla
f very, and to securehis own politicalends
The ex-senator is political desperate
who cares less for the peace of the coun
!. try, than for his own preferment. w
5 hope that the indignation of an outrage,
: public will follow the exposure of hi
o scheme of iniquity, and thrust him int
? the oblivion from which he is endeavor
e ing, so wickedly, to save himself.-Bos