The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-03
Freedom vs.. Slavery.

GooDRIcH, Esq, relative to Kansas mat
tiers. His argument that slavery does not
exist in this Territory by any law is most
conclusive. and must carry conviction to
every reader. Besides, it is made SO
plain that the most ordinary intellect can
comprehend the force of his remarks
Asa sound legal document, We commend
tito all who are desirous of becoming ae-
quainted with the subject. The law of
Congress of 1920 abolishes slavery in the
Territory. That law remained in force
until repealed in 1854, Congress taking
express occasion at that time to remark
that no law in force prior to the adoption
of the Missouri compromise was revived
in consequence of this repeating clause.
So, whether. slavery was sustained By the
eiea la'c brought here by the French
or by the common law extended over it,
whileattaehed to the Territory of Missouri;
or by a statute law of that Territory, it
makes no difference; for it was repealed
in 1890, and so remains, and will 20 con-
tinue until some other body, having au-
thority to act in the premises, shall legis-
late slavery into the Territory.
How the first Legislature may be con-
stituted, or what is action may be on
the subject of human freedom. Heaven
only knows; but We have no fears as to
the ultimate result.
Our friend appears to favor. the adop-
ton of the black laws of some of the
western States. We may be permitted to
say that we do not hold ourself response
BILE for his views on this subject. There
is no question, however, unless it is that
relating to retaining Kansas as free
State, which is occupying more attention
in the public mind, here at home, than
this. In our own election district we are
assured that a very large majority of the
settlers from Missouri have expressed
themselves in favor of making Kansas
free, provided free negroes can be exclu-
ded. ~If negroes are to be permitted to
locate i'll the Territory at ALL" say they,
eve arc in favor of bringing them in and
retaining them as slaves" They claim
that they left Missouri to get away from
the negro; and whether in bondage or
out of it, they have the same prejudice
against them, with the exception that
they dislike the free negro the worst.
Many of our population from Iowa,
Illinois, and Indiana, take the same posi-
ton. A gentleman who came up the
Missouri with us from Ohio, declared
that he would favor the introduction of
slavery into Kansas if free negroes could
not be excluded by any other method.
We speak of this state of facts as exist
ing among us, and as the most prominent
subject of discussion, without designing
to define our own position.
We are desirous of seeing slarery ex-
cluded from our domain, or, at least, no
legislation by which it may be sanctioned.
If the blight shall extend itself over the
Territory, under the authority of law,
long years of effort may be required to
eradicate it. Its Stygian effects will be
visible on every hand, and felt at every
fireside, and in every circle. Its influ-
ence is only evil, and that continually.
We trust the friends of freedom will
mite and discard all minor issues. Let
the question be first, last, and all the time,
KANSAS FREE STATE" Better run
the risk of excluding portion of the
people from the Territory, than hazard
the destiny of any part of her actual
population. We came to Kansas deter
mined to contribute our humble influence
in extending the blessings of freedom to
every person in the Territory. Thous-
ands of others have similar mission,
and to this end we must all bend our en-
ergies. Our enemies in Missouri are Ia
boring to "divido and conquer" 1t
must not, and shalt not be, if any sacri-
fees in our reach can avail anything
He who will not make sacrifices at such a
time, in such cause, is unworthy the
name of freeman. All differences as
to candidates, or the men who shall rep
resent us, must be waived to secure the
success of the principle for which we are
contendiag. But more anon.
The Fate Of Cities.