The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-01-26
ABBEVLLE H. SOUTH CAROLINA FRIDAY

friends Of Whitfield and, by the action Of
the Abolitionists, became the only issue in
the contest; it absorbs all others, and on it
the election turned.
Whitfield received tho pro-slaverv. The
anti-slavery was divided between Flenniken
and Wakefield. The former was favored bv
the Governor, and rs distinguished
from the Abolitionist was called by the softer
term, frecsoiler. He received the vote Of
those who denied that they were Abolition
lists, but claimed only to he opposed to slave
ry, with such of the Abolitioniss us could
be influenced by the Governor. Wakefield
was the proper Abolition candidate, and re-
ccived, with few exceptions, the votes of
those sent out by the Emigrant Aid Socie-
ties. This last vote you will see was nearly
NIL given in one district. That district nclu-
dcd the town Of Lawrence, to which those
sent by the Abolition Societies were for
warded. Those societiec show, by their re-
ports, that they have transported 10 Kansas
5000 during tho past summer; and in
cline to the belief that the number is not
overstated. Of that number you will see,
there were left OH the day Of the election,
but 24S ! Of those am credibly informed
| SO left on the day following tie election.
ha"ing complied with their contracts in
voting. Others have since left, and can
safely say, that of the whole batch there
will not by March, be fifty left in the Terri
tory. They were not such men as could
settle a prairie country.
am aware that it is charged by Aboli-
tionists, that Missouri sent thousands thev
had it four thousand) to Kansas, "mercIy
to VOTE" and thus elected Whitfield. /
ought not perhaps to deny the charge. as
Missouri has certainly an equal right with
Massachusetts to send men to Kansas! Abo-
litionists have not the exclusive right to or
ganize emigrant aid societies.
If the charge were true, do not see that
it can aff"rl much consolation to Abolition
lists to find, that Missouri can alone and un-
aided, so easily defeat their boasted schemes
On the contrary, it might well encourage
our southern friends to learn, that though
they be asleep or afraid, Missouri is not
Ji;,y awake but, able and determined to
protect the rights Of the South.
For answer TO this charge, however, I
need only refer you to the votc-you will
See that Whitfield received majority in
every precinct, but three, in two of which
Il very small vote was given, and in the
other, is situated the town Of Lawrence.
You will see too that there was but hand
ful ct Abolitionists in the whole Territory,
their whole vote being only about 500. To
say thep that illegal votes from Missouri
I.ln &c 10 t1,,t IL.
were no people in the Territory! 1t is Il
poor shift, tn which the Abolitonists are
driven, hut the only one to cover their fail
ure. Another and sufficient answer TO
all s',clr charges is, that the Judges of the
election were appointed bv the Governor
who was an active friend of FIennkcn they
received the votes and returned them with
out objection from any quarter in but one
district, and i'll that the objection was with
drawn.
The truth is large number of Mssou-
rans who have "cainls" in the Territory
and intended to reside there, were not there
on the day of the election. But they will
he there in the spring, and will have right
to vote; they will not, however, like Abo-
litionists, return SO soon as they vote, but
will remain, and continue to vote. Missou-
rans have belved that, without the Doug
lass bill, and certainly under the great prin-
ciple recognized by that bill, they had the
right to move to Kansas, and there 10 ex-
ercisc the privileges, which, as freemcn, they
had before been accustomed to exercise
Abolitonists have proclaimed that their
purpose is not only to exclude slavehold-
ers from Kansas, but to use Kansas as
means for abolishing slavery in Missouri :;
then, with these for their levers, to abolish
in Arkansas and Texas. Were they to
succeed, it needs no prophet to foreteI the
speedy dissolution Of the Union. Missou-
rians have thus felt, that in their efforts to
defeat the designs of the Abolitionists, they
were not only defending their own homes,
but the Uniou itself. To protect their homes,
they have made their homes in Kansas. If
then, it is intended by the charge, to say
that those who once lived in Missouri, car
ried the election in Kansas, there is some
foundation for the charge. While tile peo-
pie OF Missouri are not 'lawless invaders.n
many have moved into Kansas mainly in
duced by the determination to adopt all
lawful means to protect themselves from the
invasion Of Abolitionists. Others are ready
and determined, if necessary, to abandon
their homes and move at whatever cost Of
comfort or MONEY. We have deeper in
terest at stake, and are not less selfsacrifi-
cling than the Abolitionists. In Justice to
the people Of Missouri, will say from
an experience "a a lavuer of .aront.