The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-13
THE CONFLICT IN KANSAS.


sources, they have been so shaped and colored
as to arouse prejudice against the Free State
men of the Territory.
Let US recapitulate certain prominent facts
which must never be forgotten in determining
the state of affairs in Kansas.
Mr.. Atchison and his special friends, before
the establishment of its Territorial Govern
ment, avowed their purpose to resist its organi
zation, unless shareholders were permitted tc
carry slaves into the Territory.
The Kansas-Nebraska Bill, introduced by
Mr.. Douglas, sustained by the Administration
and adopted as test of fidelity to the so-called
Democratic party, repealed the section of the
Missouri Compromise interdicting Slavery, and
left Kansas open to its introduction. This was
the intent of the bill, this, the policy of the AID
ministration.
Under the auspices of Mr.. Atchison and his
confederates, a secret association of Slavery
Propagandists was at once organized, to plant
the institution in the new Territory.
As if to facilitate this operation, the Admin
istration appointed as Governor Mr.. Reeder
of Pennsylvania, an avowed supporter of the
Kansas Nebraska Bill, and devoted adheren
of party; and selected majority Of the Judges
Of the Territory from that class of jurists
which holds that Slavery may 60 into any
portion of the Federal Territory, and that it il
protected there by the Constitution of the Uni
ted States.
From that time, the Slavery Extensionists Of
Western Missouri treated Kansas as if it be-
longed, not to the Union, but to Missouri as
if its institutions were to be determined, not
by its actual settlers, but by the citizens Of
Missouri
The socalled Legislature of Kansas, it is
notorious, was composed of Missourians, elect
ed through fraud and violence, by residents OF
Missouri.
By that illegitimate body the slave code OF
Missouri was enacted for the Territory, and acts
were passed, making it a crime to deny the
legality of Slavery therein, and requiring as a
condition to the exercise of suffrage, an oath
to support the Kansas Nebraska Bill and the
Fugitive Slave Bill.
Governor Reeder, indignant at the invasion
of the Peoples rights, and Of the Principle OF
Popular Sovereignty professedly embraced in
the Kansas Nebraska Act, refused to recognise
that assemblage as a Legislature, or to sanction
its acts, on the ground that in changing its
place of meeting, it had violated the very act
under which it pretended to be constituted
and the great majority Of the People sustained
him in his course.
At an election for Delegate to Congress, held
on the lst of October last, in pursuance of an
act of the spurious Legislature, the People re.
fused to vote, and Mr.. Whitfield, the candidate
Of the Missourisns, was chosen to Congress by
the votes of the invaders, who had undertaken
10 give Missouri laws to the Territory.
On the 9th Of October, the people of Kansas
held their election for Delegate, and chose Mr..
Reeder, by larger number of votes than had
been given at the illegal election on the LIST
hat gentleman having been removed from the
by the Administration, on the pre-.
ext of having speculated in Indian lands, but
really, because he had proved stumbling
block to the schemes of the Slavery Party.
At the same time, the People, insulted, out.
ragged, abandoned to the violence of Missouri
Nullifers, thrown upon the inherent right OF
determined to organize State
and apply for admission into the
Union.
Meantime, the Administration, with charac-
teristic fidelity to the Slave Interest, appointed
as Governor, in the place Of the impracticable
Reeder, Wilson Shannon, of Ohio, a man
always servile in his obedience to the Slave.
holding Oligarchy, and who, in the Nebraska
struggle, had basely betrayed his constituents,
voting for the repeal of the Missouri Compro.
mise.
The first act of this man, on reaching the
border of Kansas, was, not to declare himself
70 the People of the Territory, but, to address
a Missouri audience, affirm the legality of the
spurious Legislature and its abominable acts.
pledge himself solemnly to the execution OF
the latter, and array himself on the side of the
Missouri Nullifers, in direct opposition to the
will and views of the People over whom he
was appointed Governor. 1t is further assert
ed, that he declared himself in favor of Sla-
very in Kansas, so as to harmonic its institu-
tons and intercourse with Missouri. This he
denies but the word of such a man cannot
the printed affidavits of Pro-Slavery
and Anti-Slavery men, who testify that they
heard him make the declaration
The People Of Kansas, having decided upon
a State Government, their delegates, composed
of Democrats, Wings, and Free-Soilers, of emf
grants from free and slave States, of those who
had sustained and those who had opposed
the sas-Nebraska bill, among them, we'll
known friends of Senator Douglas and of the
Administration, met in Convention, continued
in session nearly month, and adjourned No
vember 10th. The result was, State Consti.
tuition, which, in pursuance of resolution oil
the Convention, is to be submitted to the Peo
pie on the 18th instant, and if ratified, it is
provided that an election for State officers be
held on the 18th of January Meantime, i'm
mediate application is to be made for admis
sion into the Union.
The Secret Association of Slavery Extension
lists, seeing their prey about to escape, became
desperate. They had raised men and money
organized bands of foreign voters, elected theil
Delegate to Congress, destroyed the Parkville
Luminary, tarred and feathered Phillips, made
war on Churches suspected of favoring Free
dom, established reign of terror, chosen Mis-
souri, Legislature in Kansas, and enacted q
medley of denominations, all for nothing, unles:
this attempt of the People of Kansas to set W
for themselves could be defeated. To WORT
they went, to SANDER the Free State Party, t.
represent them as engaged in an instruction
airy movement, as having formed secret mill