The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-05-12
Wisceii
- From tke Aa$saeausetts Spy.
En,irrant Ala Nnn,nanm

=. The Emigrant Aid Company.
The Daily Transcript, of Wednesday
last contained an article, in which, on the
strength of a letter from certain irrespon-
sible persons belonging tothe last Kansas
party, serious imputations were cast upon
the motives and management of the Emil
grant Aid Company.
In the Daily Spy, of Thursday, the
facts which were the subject of COM
plant in the letter, and the ground of as
persion iu the Transcript, were explained
in such manner as to clear the Company
from all blame, and expose the injustice
of the disparagement insinuated in that
paper.
The very slight, and, as at present,
wholly untenable grounds on which. in
this instance, censure and reproach were
indulged in, and the cool treatment the
Company has met with from many per-
sons at the North to undertake to control
public opinion, naturally suggest few
reflections on the design of the enterprise
and its claims on the people.
The movement arose from the neees-
sites of the times. By the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, the entire question
of freedom or slavery in Kansas was left
to the people of the Territory to decide.
The fate of Kansas was thus made to de-
pend upon the sentiments of her people
in regard to slavery, and what, under or
dinary circumstances, those sentiments
were likely to be, It was not difficult to
conjecture. With slave States on the
East and ON the South-remote from all
the influences of Northern freemen-
deemed SO great an acquisition by the
slave States that no sacrifice or effort was
deemed too great TO secure it, what rea-
sonable expectation could be entertained
that Kansas would become free State
that the votes of the few scattered settlers
whom individual enterprise might send
there from the North, would suffice to
keep out slavery?
The attempt to make Kansas eventually
free State, by the action of Congress in
refusing to admit her as slave State,
was almost sure to fail; for the refusal to
admit State, for such reason would be
opposed to all precedent, and might be
deemed by many right-minded northern
men, violation of State rights. Besides
nothing would prevent Kansas from ap-
plying for admission with free constitu-
ton, and after being admitted from chang
ing it to suit the wishes of her people.
But if no constitutional objections existed
to such plan of defeating slavery, the
venality of public men, and the exigen-
cies of party, would render such mode
of opposition very uncertain and incon-
slant. Another Union panic might arise,
and northern men migh be again induced
Ito conquer their prejudices," or the
success of a party scheme might require
that slavery should second time be le
galized in Kansas.
What, then. remained to be done p
Kansas was Justly regarded as the key of
the position in this great contention. Let
Kansas be made free, and the downfall of
slavery was sure.
At this critical juncture, the Emigrant
Aid Company was formed. Its declared
object was to facilitate the emigration of
free settlers to the new territory, through
an organization.
The movement began and has thus far
continued. The company has attracted
the attention of the whole Union-giyen
rise to number of similar Organizations
scattered through the North, and is re-
garded by many of the wisest and best
men of the country as offering the most
feasible and effective plan for making
Kansas free State, that has yet been
proposed.
Ii adopts, as matter of necessity, the
principle of the Kansas act, that the peo-
pie shall decide the question of freedom
or slavery, but seeks to effect result
quite different from what its friends an
tieipated would follow from its appli-
cation.
Its plan of operations has been carried
out in detail, aud presents a very perfect
combination. In the conduct of any
great enterprise, il is quite impossible to
forsee and provide for all the contingen-
cies that may occur. Especially is this
true of an enterprise with distant points
of concentration, extended on a long line
of travel, and having to do with masses
of men with varied wants, and sometimes
fancifulexpectationsoru runtractable minds.
Besides, the forces of nature are not al
ways under control, and the hatred of
those against whom this movement is di-
rected cannot be rendered entirely pow
erless.
The difficulties of this enterprise, and
the glorious results to be 1aiHed By its
success, should make US very charitable
In excusing the errors and mistakes that
may attend Its progress.
The claims of the Emigrant Aid Com
pany upon the people of the free States,
so far as they depend on the design of It's
are freely acknowledged byan.
The only question is, whether this organ
ization employs practical and effective
means to accomplish that design.