The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-08-01
Kansas Affairs.

costs. COKE.
Kansas Affairs.
From Gov. REEDER's Message to the Terrific
rial Legislature of Kansas, we have only room
for the following extract:
There are many specific subjects of leg
islation, some of which are expressly re-
ferred to you by the bill organizing our
Territory, and others spring from the ne
cessities of our community. Prominent
among them is the question whether we
shall build our government on the basis
of free or slave labor Claiming as we do
the same capacity for self-government as
the States with far greater, if not an
exclusive interest in the institutions and
laws which are to exist among us; COM
PEELED alone to bear their burdens, and
entitled alone to claim their beneits;-|
wisdom, justice and fairness would dictate
that those laws and institutions inside of
the Constitution of the United States
should be moulded by ourselves, stimula-
ted by the absorbing interest we must feel
in them, rather than by the representatives
or citizens of other States, who are no
more competent to the task than we-who
have no stake with us in their result, and
who would most Indignantly repel any Of
fer of reciprocity from us in assisting to
manage their affairs. The provision of
our Trrritorial Organic Act secures us
this right, and is founded on the true doc
trines of republicanism. 1t may be exer-
cised in various degrees and in various
ways, and whenever it is called into ac-
ton it cannot legitimately be attended
with that excitement which is incident to
the agitation of the slavery question in the
direction of an attack upon constitutional
rights. An agitation of that kind, such
as we have seen industriously prosecuted
in the past history of our country by the
destructive spirit of abolitionism, can new
er be productive of aught but evil, and is
calculated in an eminent degree to obscure
the glories of the past, to evoke the foul
est spirit of discord among the citizens of
our common country, and also to mar our
brilliant future, if not to endanger the
+. existence of our cherished Union.
A want of fidelity to the solemn COM
pacts of the constitution, and an attack
upon it, can have no justification or ex-
cuse. This view of the case, however, is
not to be confounded with the discussion
and settlement of the slavery question in
our Territory, in its bearings upon the
formation of our institutions. That has
been referred to US as an open question
by the legitimate action of the nation, and
here it is not only the privilege but the
duty of every man to speak his opinions
freely, and enforce them peaceably and
fairly. Advocate and opponent stand on
i the same ground, and must mutually con-
cede to each other the identical measure
of right which they claim for themselves.
Freedom of opinion and freedom of dis
cussion, without lieentiousness, are of the
very essence of republicanism at all times,
are peculiarly to be respected here. The
permanent character and high authority oi
La State Constitution, and the fact of its
submission to direct vote of the people
of the Territory, indicate that event as a
signal occasion for the decision of that
peculiar question. In the meantime, how
ever, Territorial Legislature may un-
doubtedly act upon the question to linn
tied and partial extent, and may tempora-
rily prohibit, tolerate or regulate slavery
in the Territory, and in an absolute OF
modified form with all the force and effect
of any other legislative act, binding until
repealed by the same power that enacted it.
: KANSAS LEGISLATURE. The Kansas
, Legislature met at Shawnee Mission on
the 18th inst, pursuant to adjournment
Mr.. Marshall gave notice of bill requi-
J ring citizens emigrating from Massachu'
setts and those States which have annulle6
: or may nullify the laws of the U. States
to take an oath to support the laws O
Kansas Territory. John Thompson Per
, ry of the Methodist Church South. wal
/ elected Chaplain.
July IA bill to prevent the sale o
7 intoxicating liquors, and games of chance
within one mile of Shawnee Mission, wal
| passed.
A joint committee of eight was ap
9 pointed to devise code of laws for tn
. government of the Territory.
Mr.. Marshall, of Pawnee district in
I troduced bill providing that every NAL
: who shall pay the sum Of one dollar pol
tax, and produce a receipt for the same t
E the Judge of any election, shall be q lega
voter; provided, such shall be citizens Q
the United States and shall have takel
an oath to support the constitution OF tn
United States, and the act organizing tn