The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-01
The Kansas Outrages and the EsesPon.
aihiIifKa

measure, so far as Kansas was concerned, is
the disgraceful and abominable strife which
has been going on between the propogan-
dists and the opponents of slavery in Kansas.
No part of the Union was ever more marked
by civil as well as by brutal outrages. The
Missourians, backed by the Democracy who
had 80 literally given them this opportunity
of extending slavery into pledged free terri
tory, and led on by that political and Demo-
cratic scoundrel, Atchison, not only took pos
they pleased to rule Kansas, but for months
past they have been pursuing course ofin-
fanny and outrage that is disgrace to the
country and its imbeciIe rulers. But the
Kansas Legislature, in which nearly every
man is tool of the Missouri ruffians, and
warm sympathiser of course with the party
which sustains the extension Of slavery, and
especially into Kansas-this body has re-
ally eclipsed in infamy the infamous acts
which placed them in Office. The men form
ing this precious Legislature, seem to hive
actually endeavored to improve upon the ruff
fianism which has made certain class OF
Mssourans distinguished the country over,
for almost everything that good American
citizens most abhor. They seem to have
sought, by legislative means, to crush all
freedom of speech, of press and of opinion.
The Missourians sought to do this by vio-
lence-by whipping, tarring and feathering,
hanging, and soch other innocent little pas
times-but these law makers have sought to
'legisIGte down the dread evils Of free speech
and free thought. Here is one section OF the
Black Law, adopted in the middle of the 18th
century, and In territory of the great Re-
public of the world:
SEC. u. If any person by speaking or by
writing, assert or maintain that persons have
not the right to hold laves in the to rritory,
and introduce into Kansas, print, publish,
write, circulate, or cause to be introduced
into the territory. written, printed, Published
or circulated in this territory, any book, pa
per, magazine, pamphlet, or circular contain.
ing any denial of the right of persons TO hold
slaves in this territory, such person shall be
deemed guilty of felony, and punished by i'm
prisonment at hard labor for q term not less
than two years.
AS contemporary says, this is no more nor
less than making difference of opinion OPP
on Constitutional question, penltentiary
offence. It establishes the prison and the
pllory as the arbitrer of Constitutional law,
in preference to the Judiciary of the land, and
makes The human mind square its convic-
tons to the ideas of few bribed, and acci-
dentalIy elected legislators. Men are no
longer to be permitted in the new territory
to express abstract opinions on moral ques-
tons without suffering the ignominiohs pen
allies of State penitentiafy, and this is what
is called opening the territory to the people
of the whole Union, and admitting ii persons
to the enjoy ment of its fair lands. Squatter
sovereignty was much lauded by Gen. Cass
and Mr.. Douglas, in the outset, and yet under
this phase of it, both Mr.. Douglas aud Cass
would be sent to the State Prison, if they
dared to utter in Kansas territory what they
have repeatedly said in the Senate of the
United States!
And this, and the taking of the Kansas
polls by Missouri ruffians, aud the lynching
and driving from the territory of men, for
daring to express views and opinions, are but
portion of the fruits of the Nebraska Kansas
bill
What has the Democratic Administration
done to prevent or punish these abuses, or
to sustain the laws SO ruthlessly violated
Not one thing. 1t has even removed oh false
and most absurd pretext, the Governor Of
the territory, because he would not offer dog
Missouri tabble-because he dared dissent
from their acts, and dared ehdeavor in some
small measure, to perform bis duty. It has
appointed man in his place who always
has been a tool of party; and who is tool
euough OF his party now, not to commit the
same faults which lost Reeder his office. He
will take good care not to offend the Pierce
Administration by showing freedom and fair
play in this strife.
Our Democratic contemporary here assumes
this position-"Tf the A Administration will not
rebuke these lawless proceedings; the party
must speak out and remove from its charge
the responsibility Let, then, "the party
speak out against the corrupt and imbecie
Administration which has not rebuked these
lawless proceedings. That is the only way
the Democratic party can clear its skirts Of
even portion of this responsibility
even then the responsibility will be on their
shoulders, of having, by an Ubiquitous law
which destroyed a solemn and sacred com.