Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-15
The Bloodshed and Burnings in Kansas.

Kansas is in a flame with an intestine war
tLc peopIe of the territory on one side and Go
vernon Shannon with his Missouri auXiliaries
on fine other. Blood has flowed, and dwellings
have been fired man flies from man as from
the savage beasts of that wild region, or seeks
the life of his brother as he would that OF the
wolf or the bear. Nor is this q contest in
which the rest of the country is neutral it Is
q civil war. to which we are all more or less
n~qrties. The battle ground is Kansas, but the
allies of the combatantS fill the entire circuit
If the United States. This is the first time
that civil dissensions, arising from q cause of
o%narrel common to the whole country, have pro-
recded to open and armed violence. The Shays
war III Massachusetts was a local dispute in
which the rest of the country took no part
the whi>kcy instruction in Pennsylvania was
local also the dispute betweenth federal go
yernmcnt and South Carolina, Notwithstanding
the warlke words that were uttered, was a
l~lo5llc>S one. But now the great quarrel be-
tween the shareholders of the South and the
citizens Of the other states, respecting the eX-
tension Of slavery, is put to the arbitrament of
tie sword in a part of the country from which
The interference of the federal laws has been
lrofcSscdIy withdrawn, to allow free scope for
the contest. Whether the controversy he well
IT Ill managed, on the part of those who have
submitted it TO this fearful test, it is still our
own causc-a cause in which every citizen of
the United States has an interest.
Tie cloud from which this shower of blood
Is falling has long been gathering. Sagacious
Observers have been looking with anxiety for
an armed collision between the friends and enc
mics Of slavery in Kansas, almost from the first
most moment that the country began to be oc-
c1piei by cmigrantS from the states. When
the invading party from Missouri imposed a
spurious legislature upon the residents, and
passed laws Of an intOlerably tvraanical nature,
il became certain that these laws would be
resisted, and. if necessary, resisted even to
taood. The residents saw themselves aban-
doned by the federal government in these sue
ccS>iye inroadS of the shareholders from Mis-
souri, and accordingly sent to the eastern
states for arms, and adopted a voluntary mar
tal organization. Ever since Gov. Rceder was
removed, and Shannon was sent out by Mr..
Plcrc" III his place, TO enforce the spurious code
promulgated at the Shawnee Mission, the
country has been literally without a govern
mcnt.
1t is said that Gov. Shannon has called up
OF the President for Il detachment of United
States soldiery to put down the inSurrcction of
the people OF Kansas against what he calls the
laws of the territory. What becomes of " squat
Ter sovereignty" if this is done? We were
told by the advocates of this sovereignty that
the people Of Kansas were to establish their
own institutions in their own way. This they
are doing they are settling, in the mode they
think proper, the question Of the extension of
slavery, and what right has Gov. Shannon to
prevent theHl ! When the people Of q state
rise against its local government. the federal
administration has no power to NEEDLE in the
matter the state government must put down
the rebellion by Slch means as it can command.
I've admit the doctrine of popular sovereign
TN the territories, we must apply to them the
same rule Of practice. The local authorities
must deal alone with those who rise up in re-
SSanre against them.
Evidently Governor Shannon does not under
stand, or declines to practice, the doctrine
which his political associates profess. lie
should he removed instantly for daring to in
,erlgre with the principle Of the Nebraska
oT-ap principle from which the administration
has again and again declared that it will tolcr-
III" no dissent. If there is any soundncss in
0e doctrine of popular sovereignty in the ter
1,orie>, toy. Shamon'S conduct is ineXcusable.
H. On the other hand, he has taken the right
'"IF>' IN appealing to the power Of the federal
;''sFAmcnt, popular sovereignty is a disgrace
We are now reaping what was sown when
~, Missouri Compromise was repealed. Not
,"0p OF blood is she'd in this strife, which
~'S not cling to the garments of those who
'Fr'Itcd that fatal measure ; not q victim falls
vi giirr SIDE, for whose death they are not
'%S"Craoie. 1t was to open a path to person.
w T""..Iloh that the territory of Kansas has
~1a delivered over to anarchy, and made the
hue o' ma%uSlaughtcr and burnings. First,
I''., aIIUred by the apparent success and
,,I."F,'y Of the compromise of 1850, was
lfyi TO propose the breach of faith which
e. II" to these horrors, and then Mr.. Pierce,
MI w, " hFIcf struggle with his doubts, anxious
s ,I''e with him the glory of the achievement
%' Tue gratitude of the shareholders, followed
n'aIous supporter. No occasion of state
iS'! Or even Of state convenience called
VI even suggested this measure it was the
Ha",onncsS Of legislation, released from
N mr Son'Foio Of moral restraint, which struck that
1% "'H'e OF peace, the prohibition of slavery
,T "'T'h|cStcrn territories, from our statute
M nj III passing the Nebraska bill, the adj
& vr'S and its friends prepared the torch
al ron nave since kindled the fires i'm Kansas,
aeo 5, soi The weapons by which our country
nave been slain.
,qLr - impossible not TO feel an intense sym
IN tTE with those who have taken the attitude
e. g. a4d determined resistance to the de-
@e y ,"c pretended Legislature which sat at
-, r'"nee Mission. Every liberal sentiment
'''c q freedom, the hatred of opprcs-