The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-10-13
Ex-Gov. Shannon for slavsrv

people, tiiit al the power OF Pierce vo1,l
be yielded to carry out the designs O
the Missouri ruffians. To resist the
encFoachments upon the settlers of K,,
sas, the freemen of the North are look
ing to Ohio. where the great battle is !,
be fought. When the noble Reeder 20
fused to be the tool of the a,l,a;n;s.rs
ton in carrying out its schemes. h.
head was brought upon the political
block, and one of the most servile q
northern doughfaces-Wilson Sbanpon
of 0hio-was delegated 10 60 to Kanss.
and aid the Missourians in their WORK a
infamy He was just the man TO, do tb.l
work, and the administration thus f,T
has not been disappointed. The Iegi,I
lature elected by Missouri voters have!
grouped together enactments which
would disgrace any body of civilized
men, and President Pierce has selected
the only man which could be found IN
the whole North. willing to acknowledge
their validity. The legislature has No,
only passed laws making itapenitentiarv
offence to write or speak against the sys.
tenn of slavery, but appointed 10 tn.
principal Offices Missouri citizens 10 car
ry these laws into effect. We published
paragraph last week in which Shannon
was reported to have remarked in
speech at Westport, No., that he was in
favor of slavery in Kansas. That reporr
is confirmed by more recent advices
and TO give the reader more clear view
of what he said on the occasion, W.,
quote the following report of his speech
contained in letter from that place
Gov. Shannon began his remarks bv
thanking the audience for their courteous
reception. 1t gratiied him, he said
not because it was personally 6attering.
but because it showed him that theyE
were not disposed TO decide .on his oil
cial career in advance. Ii showed him
that he might rely ON 'your aid in en-
deavOring to overcome obsticles which
he was aware existed, but hoped were
not uDsurmountable.
A roiee-Yes, you shall have our
aid.
He regretted to see in certain portions
of the Territory disposition 10 nullify
the claws which have been enacted by
your Legislature This was revola-
tionary movement which was greatly 70
be deplored. He regretted, he said.
that lie had arrived too late to form the
acquaintance of the members of the
Legislature. He knew nothing Of the
laws passed by them, but from the abil-
ity and patriotism of the gentlemen who
composed it, he doubted not that they
were wise and judicious. Open resis-
tancc and notification of them was not
the proper way to defeat their provisions
Ii they were unconstitutional, thef
were courts to. appeal TO. which ha,
been created for the purpose Of deciding.
such questions.
As to the Legislature that recently
adjourned at the Shawnee Mission.
be regarded it as a legal assembly
(cheerS, and thought that the objection
to its power grounded on its removal
from Pawnee, was puerile, as every Leg
islature enjoyed the right of removing
tie seat of government at pleasure
The Executive and Judiciary of the Ter
ritory had acknowledged the Legislature
as a legal body, and SO would he
Good.
He regarded their laws as binding on
every citizen of the Territory, and would
use all his executive power to carry them
into effect. (Cheers.)
He said he did not intend to address
them on the various questions that diyd-
ed the parties in the Territory; perhaps
be did not understand them; and be
had not expected 10 speak on this occa-
sion.
To one subject however, he would a. /
lude-Slavery. His official life and Ca
reer were not unknown TO q portion, al
least, of the citizens of Kansas. He
had no intention of changing his poliIi
cal faith. He thought with reference to
slavery. that as Missouri aud Kansas
were adjoining States, as much OF that
immense commerce up the Museum
which was already rivaling the COM
merce between the United States and
some European countries. must necessa-
| rily lead to great trade. and perpetual
intercourse between them, it would BE-
well if their Institutions should harfno-
nize--as otherwise there would be con-
tinual quarrelS and border feuds. lie
scas for SLarery IN Kansos. (Lou1
Cheers.
While Our readers are Contemplating
the degrading position of Shannon, let
them look little further and scan one Of
his political bed fellows-WhitfeId-
the delegate from Kansas TO Congress
accepting from the Missourians nom
inatioH for reelection. From his speech
accepting the nomination, we make the
following extracts:
81 accept the nomination, gentlemen.
| am, sir, ready to make the battle for
you. am ready to enter this contest
to enter it, sir, and defend those prinei-
Piles, sir, that advocated in this Terri
tory, sir, more than TWO years ago.
Without. any egotism. permit me to in
form You that l made the FIRST pro-
tslavery speech in the Territory Of Kan
sas and perhaps, sir. there is no man in
the Territory of Kansas that feels more
Interested in establishing slavery in this
Territory permanently than do; and
believe me sir, that nothing shall be lett
undone on my part to secure triumph
for that tparty whose object IS to PLAN
southern institutions in Kansas. Whenan'
nounced as candidate on aprevlons oc-
easiou, asked for platform 10 be made
for me, and | would have done SO now u
/ | had had an opportunity. Circum-
stances and times have changed some
since my last election.
s. If you Mace upOn me the RESPONSE