The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-12-14
Rsaping the whirlwind.

The repeal Of the Missouri Compromises,
that measure which was to take the ques-
ton Of Slavery on, Of Congress, by establish.
ing the specious theory of popular sov.
ereiguty,"is working out its legitimate re.
suits, first outrage upon the rights OF sui.
frage, now bloodshed, with prospect Of
serious troubles perhaps civil war. Dimly
sighted indeed must the statesman have
been who did not perceive in the distance
the troubles which the removal Of the an.
Gent landmarks which marked the bounda.
ry between the land OF slavery and the land
Of freedom would occasion, and worse than
blind Is he who now refuses to recognize in
the events which have transpired, the real
fruits of the measure which was so wanion.
ly thrust on the American people, by cor
rupt administration add subservient Con.
gress. We have sown to the wind and
are now reaping the whirlwind." The slav.
cry question is in Congress more rife than
ever, the torch Of civil war Is lighted up in
Kansas. Well does the N. Y. Post say:
+" We are now reaping what was sown
when the Missouri Compromise was repeal
ed. Not drop of the blood is shed in. this
strife which does not cling to the garments
of those who supported that fatal measure /;
not victim falls on either side, for whose
death they are not answerable. Il was to
open path to personal ambition, that the
territory Of Kansas has been delivered over
to anarchy, and made the scene OF man
slaughter anu u'oi"so. P:.st, DpSIyHs-
lured by the apparent success ana p6psiAri.
ty Of the compromise Of 1850, was tempted
to propose the breach Of faith which has led
to these horrors, and then Mr.. Pierce. alter
brief struggle with his doubts, anxious to
divide with him the glory of The achievement,
and The gratitude Of the Shareholders, fol.
lowed as its jealous supporter. Nooccasion
of State necessity or even Of State conven-
fence, called for or even suggested this meas
ure it was the sheer wantOnness OF legs
lation. released from the control Of moral
restraint, which struck that ordinance oil
peace, the prohibition Of slavery in the north
western territories from our statute book.
In passing the Nebraska Bill, the admins.
tration aud its friends prepared the torches
which have since kinied the fires in Kan
sas, and forged the weapons by which our
countrymen have been slain. -..
1t is impossible mol to feel IN intense sym
patty with those who have taken tho atti.
tude of determined resistance 10 The dc.
crees Of the pretended legislature which sat
at the Shawnee Mission. Every liberal SEN
timens-the love Of freedom, the hatred OF
oppression, the detestation Of fraud, the alb
houence Of wrong cloaked under the guisc
Of law-every feeling Of the human heart,
which does not counsel cowardly submission
and the purchase Of present safety at the
price Of future evils, takes part with the
residents Of Kansas. They may commit i'm.
prudert acts, they may be rash there may
DO lanatical persons among them, who will
do what we cannot justify, but their cause
is great and righteous cause, and we must
stand by it to the last.
The House Of Representatives now assem-.
bled at Washington will undoubtedly, deny
a seat 10 Whitfield, the pretended delegate
from Kansas, elected under the ordinances
Of tbis spurious legislature, and will send
him back to his constituents. In doing this
they will recognize us just and laudable, the
resistance with which the residents of Kan
sas have met the usurpation OF the intruders
from Missouri"