The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-16

cured To- the bona fIde and actual seHlerS
in Kansas the right to choose and estab-
lish their own institutions On the
contrary, that association was carrying
out that law by perfectly constitutional,
legal and proper means, and it was the
Aissourians who by violence and an
armed organization defeated the pur-
pose of that act of Congress. The men
from the North and East, whether going
TO Kansas by the help of their own un-
aided means, or by aid derived from
Others, went voluntarily. They were
the "bona tide actual settlers ;" the
Missourians did not even make pretense
of being Settlers
| The Union elsewhere SAYS that in the
passage of the Nebraska-Kansas bill,
7" Congress had adopted the principle of
popular sovereignty as the rule by which
the future political condition of Kansas
was to be determined - and it adds that
1.-the legitimate meaning of that rule was,
that the inhabitants of the Territory, at
tracted to it as their future homes, in the
voluntary and ordinary pursuit of their
happiness, and for the permanent prose
cutiOn of their industrial occupations,
should determine whether slavery should
or should not exist in the Territory
Had the Union been consistent, it could
have found no apology for the Missou-
rians. The above definition of the rule
of popular sovereignty is in itself an un-
answerable condemnation of the men for
whose conduct it apologies. Were the
authors, promoters and defenders of these
disgraceful acts of violence-these armed
Missourian bands who openly, unblush-
tingiy, boastingly and by violence con:
trolled the elections, men who were at
traeted to the Territory as their future
homes ? Did they go there in the vol
untary and ordinary pursuit of happi-
ness? For the permanent prosecution
of their industrial occupation? The
Union does not need to be told that they
did not. Yet it was lawful on the Un-
ions own showing for the mea who did
60 there in such spirit and intent to +" de-
termine whether slavery should or should
not exist in the Territory" Were they
permitted so to determine Certainly
not, and the conduct of those men who
forcibly hindered them, and ualawfully
undertook the determination of that ques-
ton, is utterly without excuse.
But the Ubiquitous and disgraceful
conduct of these Missourian pro-slavery
men is apparently no mere isolated out
break of arrogance ; nor is it the effect
of proyocation, as the Union pretends to
believe. They ayow their purpose of
foreibly keeping possession of Kansas
and one of the principal sufferers by their
violence, Mr.. Park, of the Parkville Luz
minary. has published facts showing
that from the passage of the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise this intention of
making Kansas slave territory, by EARNED
organizations if necessary, has been
entertained and provided for. He gives
also the names of these conspirators
against the peace of the Territory and
the rights of its settlers, from Atehison
down to Stringfellow and duplicates
goodly number of the members of the
Missouri Legislature, as parties to the
nefarious scheme. Now, however much
disposed any Northern public journalist
or private citizen may be to urge his fell
low citizens to leave to the South the en-
tire control of its peculiar institution,
every honest man must utterly condemn
this unlawful and disastrous aggression
of the slave power, for it assails the most
sacred rights of the citizens of the free
states, and the very cardinal principle
the keystone principle-of the Union.
Until this wrong is atoned for, the North
cannot, in self respect, and in justice to
its own most sacred rights, cease to act
on the defensive against further aggres-
sions.-NeW York Spectator.