The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-04
THE PROGRESS OF THE STRUGGLE.
What has been Done-what is to be Donel


by the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, a
measure 1--WE must never forget intended by
the Slave Power to establish its supremacy, to
pave the way for Matchmaking Slavery, and
making all future acquisition of territory trib-
utary to its interests. They were
l. To save Kansas and Nebraska, By pro-
cess of rapid, free colonization, from the grasp
of the Slavery Extensionists.
2. To consign to political oblivion the mem
bers of Congress who had betrayed the Cause
of Freedom, and elect in their stead men pledg
ed to undo the mischief wrought by them, and
to prevent its repetition.
3. To overthrow an Administration without
which the odious measures could not have been
carried, and install in its place an Administra-
| ton pledged to sustain by all its constitutional
power the interests of Liberty.
| From the hour the repeal was effected, the
majority of the People of the Free States felt
that these duties were paramount in their
claims, not to be postponed or compromised
for the sake of other questions or existing
parties. They saw that one aggression her
aided another; that no Compromise could bind
the Slave Interest; that the last outrage was
but part of system of policy, which, if allow
ed, would convert the Union into mere in
strument for building up an unlimited Slave
Empire. Resistance would soon be too late.
They had yet the power to secure reparatlon
for the past, and security for the future, and
they resolved to exert it.
To what extent, them have these duties been
discharged? Where do they now stand?
THE FIRST DUTY.
By spontaneous and by systematic colonial
ton, majority of Free State colonists has been
secured in Kansas; and had the principle of
popular sovereignty, as it is styled, which the
bill repeating the Missouri Compromise pro-
fessed to recognise and to carry out, been suf
fered to operate, Kansas at this time would be
a Free Territory, with Free Constitution.
The opponents of Slavery did their duty; they
accepted the issue rendered by the bill; but
found themselves end their rights trampled up
on by an armed invasion of Missourians. Not
by the majority Of the People of Kansas, but
against their votes, and by the fraudulent votes
of Missourians, was the Legislature elected, and
by this spurious Legislature, against the will
of the real settlers in Kansas, has a slave code
been forced upon it, with enactments disfran-
chising great majority of the settlers. The
Administration is directly responsible. Its &C
ton secured the repeal Of the Missouri Com.
promise-the root Of all the mischief. 1t turn
ed out of office in Missouri every friend of the
distinguished Democratic statesman, whose po-
stion and whose party were against the con-
version of Kansas into Slave Territory. 1t be-
slowed its patronage in Missouri and in Kansas
upon the creatures of the chief conspirators
who had plotted to make the Territory Slave
State. 1t dismissed from the Governorship a
man, whose chief offence in the judgment of
these conspirators, was his obstinate adherence
to the doctrine Of Popular Sovereignty, the pro-
fessed principle of the bill. 1t appointed in his
place, Thoroughbred Servile, whose first
demonstration in Kansas was the recognition of
the spurious Legislature, the endorsement of
its brutal acts, and the denunciation of what
ever resistance to them might be offered by the
actual residents. Had the Administration, even
after its wicked repeal of the Compromise, ad
hered to the Principle Of the Bill, and sustain.
ed the real settlers in acting upon it, Kansas
would have been free; but the legitimate efforts
of the opponents of Slavery could not succeed
against the Slavery Extensionists and the AID.
ministration combined.
Only one resort is left them--an appeal to
Congressman this will be made in a practical
form, rendering action easy and conclusive.
The spurious Legislature of Missourians passed
a certain unconstitutional, DISTINGUISHING act,
designed to prevent the opponents of Slavery
from voting in the election of a Delegate to
Congress. The Slavery Party has nominated
its man, certain of electing him. The Free
State men, repudiating the unconstitutional act
of an illegal Legislature, have nominated ex-
Governor Reeder as their candidate, and will
elect him. The two Delegates will claim their
seats at the opening of the next session of the
House, in which the Anti-Nebraska members
having q large majority, must decide upon the
contested election. What will be the decision?
That will depend upon circumstances to be no
ticed presently.
In relation, then, to the practical Question OF
Freedom or Slavery in Kansas, it remains in
suspense-the struggle is fierce and doubtful
the action of the next Congress must bring ii
to an end. Meantime the tide of free emgra-
ton continues to flow into the Territory, while
Shareholders hesitate to trust the tenure Of
what is called slave property to the hazards of
| the impending struggle.
THE SECOND DUTY
The next duty, the regeneration of Congress,
has been more satisfactorily discharged. Few
OF the traitors to Freedom have been returned
from the North. One after another of the Free
States has abandoned the Administration, till
IN all, except California, it is thrown into
minority. In the last Congress, those States
In the House were represented by 81 Admins.
tration and 90 Opposition members, but to the
next House they have elected l22 Opposition
and only Il Administration. Nor has the rev.
olution been confined to the House: the Sen.
ate, so far as the People could reach it. has felt
their retributive power. Gwin fails to be re-
elected from California, Petit, from Indiana.
Shields, from Illinois, Dodge, from Iowa; and
in the next Senate, Hale, Bell, Collamer, Viii.
son, Foster, Trumbull, Durkee, and Harlan,
will take their seats, as the representatives OF
the Anti-Nebraska Movement while we may
expect members of similar views to be return.
ed from Pennsylvania, Indiana, and California
The summing up shows l22 members of the
Opposition in the House from the Free States
all declared to be Anti-Nebraska; q, Admin
istration, four of whom are said to be Anti Ne