The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07
KANSAS.

Extracts from the Lawrence (Kansas) Free State Mon
day, May 81
Had the freemen of the populous regions of
southern Iowa made descent upon the sparse
ly settled portions of northern Missouri, just be-
fore an election, and taken charge of the polls,
and voted so to have elected majority of
men to the State Legislature who were in favor
of abolishing Slavery in Missouri, and at the
same time been armed and went through the
country, to the great terror ofthe Settlers
ly would the news have reached Washington
ere the army, with the Administration at its
head, and the many mercenary minions of the
North, who would readily volunteer in such
case, would be on the way to quell such insur-
rections, and repel the invaders. Especially
would such be the case, if negro had run off
during the excitement, and there was no chance
of getting him back Immediately.
4 frank-spoken Southern Senator, upon read
ing the account, swore that "no Southern city
would have submitted to the degradation to
which the city of Boston was reduced in the
rendition of Burns" He spoke the words of
truth. Pro-Slavery localities can say to the
General Government, "thus far shalt thou come,
and no farther" and upon hearing this COM
mand, she has always quailed Immediately.
General Jackson is the only man that had the
nerve to tell the little State of South Carolina
achdt he could do. No Southern State or Ter
ritory would ever have submitted to such gross
outrages as the citizens of Kansas have been
subjected to in her elections, if such outrages
were perpetrated by Northern men. 1t is all
folly to suppose that we have any protection.
We had some confidence in the intuitive appre-
citation of rights and liberty which has been
supposed to characterize American citizens,
but the interesting events which our brief ca
reer has brought within our knowledge by no
means strengthens that confidence.
We learn, by good authority, that the mem
bers of our pseudo Legislature, receiving certif-
icates of election. from Governor Reeder, mutu-
ally pledged themselves to disregard any other
election ordered by the Governor to fill vacan-
cies, and at once admit the members first elect
ed by imported voters. That such will be their
course, and that it and all their lawless acts will
be sustained by the Administration, there is no
possible doubt
We blame the Administration and the merce-
nary doughfaces of the North more than we
do the Missourians who came over to rule
Ms
Many persons Just arriving tell us that every
possible falsehood is circulated in the border
State, with view to discourage emigrants
that the Missourians must know all about where
you are from and where you are going, and il
you are right on the goose question, &C., before
they will sell anything or give any accommoda-
ton whatever. They told some friends we have
seen, that the Slavery men and Abolitionists
had fight in the Territory, and that 400 Abo-
litionists were killed, and about six of their
party. Other and various reports were told,
calculating to discourage, as to the very great
drought and scarcity of provision, insomuch
that many were dying.
VisHing Kansas to Vote Dangerous Erper-
incentive are informed by quite number of
persons who were on their way through Nilsson
ri to the Territory, while the Missourians were
up voting, that great fears were entertained in
some places in that State, that while the hus-
bands and sons were voting, the negroes would
kill the wives and daughters, and commit other
outrages, as every male ever l6 years was gone
to the Territory. They must have had great
deal more confidence in Abolitonists passing
through the country, just at that time, than
usual.
Quite number of our exchanges, and espe-
cially the National Era, seem to be puzzled
about the friends of Freedom, the Governor,
and his pseudo Legislature. Many papers are
taking complimentary notices from the Herald
of Freedom in regard to the Governor being
true STEEL" standing up to our rights, &c,
| yet do not understand why so many men fraud
uiently elected got certificates, and why those
cases which were to be presented to the Attor
ney General, for bis advice, should be determin-
ed upon at once, and new election ordered,
Probably we can make some explanation
The agents of the Aid Company, the Herald
and other friends of Freedom like ourselves
thought that the Governor was in some danger
and that he would stand up for right and Just
4 ice, and could be trusted to do what was RICH,
in regard to the Free State question, and t6ey
acted accordingly. Until that time, the "good