The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-24
The Southern Sioe.
Froas - Iansas. h, EsE.zulss.
lawrence ciky ana IA Journals.

T., hare by this time, We presgme, be.
fcome fhorouehly understood everywhess
, throughout the length and breadth of the
land not, however, from the extent Of
circulation which they enjoy. but from
notices of their publication there, SIM
Iply, which, from time totiuae, have beer
transferred from one to another of the
different journals of the country. The
peculiar circumstances, politically con.
sidered, which distinguished the forma.
ton of this Territory, and which are 81
course known to all, renders it impossi
BILE at this junctsire for any incident tc
. ltranspire upon her soil, especially the es
, Establishment of public journals, so pre-
eminently influential as they are in thu
control of the political affairs of coun
, try, and the formation of its institutions
without commanding the attention o.
. ievery intelligent mind, and eliciting the
inquiry, what are their proclivities p
the aspect of their political bearing? Il
has been a task of no difficulty 10 ascer-
tain the objects which the above journals
lock towards as the end of their present
and future labors. They are embiazoned
upon their mast head, and have been her
aided forth to the world In the same in
Iflammatory language which has been kind
Hing, and expanding the fame of section
al tanaticism and local jealousies from the
time that public feeling first became di-
Vided upon the question of negro slavery.
1t was upon the admission of Missouri
that the question was involved whether
slavery should be allowed IN the new
State, and created the first division, of
the American people into two parties
one side in favor of slavery, the other in
defense of freedom. The matter was
settled by what is wen known as the Mis-
souri, compromise. The adjustment Of
this sxciting question by this comprom-
ise was by the South considered final,
and the South since the period of its
adoption has serupulously demonstrated a
uniform and unwavering adherence to its
requirements. Upon the other hand,
those who before this period had remain
ed quieseent in relation to this question
who had never raised the voice of denial
to this species of property, or violent and
uncompromising opposition to the right
of property in slaves, as granted by the
Constitution of the United States, unless
abrogated by the States in their sovereign
Ieapacity-this quixotic party, we say,
who before this period gave the unquaIi-
fed sanction of their appreciation to the
institution of slavery, have from that Pc
riod, upon some ground of selfish and
unreasonable policy, continued the march
of aggression upon the peculiar rights
and institutions of the South, irrespec-
tive of rights or of consequences. At
various periods since the adoption of the
Missouri compromise the agitation of the
slavery question has been invariably as
sociated with questions of congressional
action by the fanaticism of slavery oppo-
sition, to an extent which brought us at
various times to the verge of the abyss of
disunion, and aware at the same time of
whatthe extent of consequences would be,
should they be carried to the extremity
of which it is capable. In view of these
facts this party still continues to fan this
spark of sectional conflict they may at
last kindle it into fame, the extinguish-
ment of which may require the blood of
all New England.
All experience has shown that the ex-
cessiye agitation of political questions in
national, relation upon which there may
exist at the same time a sectional division
of opinion, has invariably led to national
dissolution and ruin where the conserva-
tive and restraining spirit of concession
and compromise ceased longer to exercise
its influence upon the popular mind.
Nevertheless, the cry is still onward, for
ward and onward steadily the progress
of invasion continues, until the war is
now brought almost within our very
borders, to our thresholds and yet
voice is heard, and re-echoed too, in our
very midst, urging silence and non-resist-
ance, and still longerpleading for further
protraction of compromise and forbear-
ance. The war of aggression, as has al
ready been remarked, has at last been
brought in close proximity to our homes
and our fresides The rude tread of the
invader has already become audible from
the nearness of his approach, and it is
still considered wise and prudent by some
to lie supinely on our backs, and fold |
ing our arms in submissive apathy, con-
tinue the cry of forbearance for the sake |
of peace, when there is no peace-when |
the premonitory symptoms of the con-
fiict have already been demonstrated at |
the hands of the enemy. No forbear- |
ance is now no longer virtue-action is |
the last and only resort; but come when |
it will, whatever may be the sequel, the |
consequences rest not with US, but with
those who shall have provoked the issue. |
In substantiation of the truth as above |
alleged, we refer to the city of Law
renee, planted as nucleus around which |
the future acquisitions of Abolitionism |
upon this Territory are to be accumula- |
ted. The citizens of this town, with a |
vast number of others, who, we are told, |
are to come upon us, bearing the same
fre-brands as their precursors, have or
ganized themselves into an association !
for the purpose of disseminating more
safely and effectuaIIy the inAammatory
principles of their fanatical doctrines, in
dicating a preconception of design in the
fact that they have transported among us
engines of their trade. as they have them
selves declared, for the purpose of exc
cutting more efectually and expeditiously
the consummation of their designs
Those engines consist in the very identity |
of the journals published at that place,
known as the !" Herald OF Freedom" |" the t
/" Free State . and the q Tribune" We
do not wish TO be understood as speaking t
against northerners or northern immi-
grafton indiscriminately We refer only
to those designing den.Sgogues. who. N
view Of. the fact that we have at differ mt |,
times, upon the undue and unncessary /
Agitation" Of this question, barely es-
capped a catastrophe, and which has been
avoided only by the timely and united
efforts Of the few great and good men of
xE,<. a.