The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-11-17
Poiitticai.
The Defence of the President.

A defence of the President, in the
Kansas matter, probably dictated by
himself, appears in the columns of the
Washington Union.
Having made" says the writer,
'the Kansas bill measure of his Ad-
miuistration, and having contributed
what influence he could to its passage, it
would have been strange if he had failed
to watch with deep solicitude every de-
reIopment connected with the successful
Inauguration of measure which was
designed to establish, firmly and forever,
the principle of territorial self-govern-
ment, and, consequently, to give the
country repose on the slavery question.
1t was not only his interest. but his duty
to DObserve the prevalent feeling in the
Southern States respecting the efforts of
Incorporated companiesin the free States
to control the public sentiment of Kansas
BY the influence of money and capital,
as well as to observe the prevalent
feeling in the Northern States respect
ing the Outrages on the Kansas border.
He saw, as every impartial man must
have seen, that as soon as the Kansas
bll became law, the purpose was ayow-
ed by Abolitionists to defeat its great
principle by securing the hasty immi-
grafton into the Territory, through the
Influence of capital, of an Anti-Slavery
population.
The Kansas law was based upon
the principle of allowing the bona ide
setlers-those who came of their own
aceord-to find homes and to pursue
their avOcations as permanent inhabi-
ants, and withno preconceived purpose
to affect the political complexion of the
TerritOry-to allow such inhabitants to
adopt or reject Slavery, as they might
decide. The spirit and object of the
law were liable to be perverted and de-
leated IN two ways: the one by the mode
Of hurrying in AntiSlavery settlers,
as charged upon the Abolitionists; the
other by the mode of attending the cleo
tons and controlling the ballot box by
force, as charged upon the Missourians.
The former mode was rs much calcula-
ted TO excite and exasperate the South as
the latterwas the North. We have no
doubt that the President has witnessed
with deep regret the excited feelings
which have been manifested in both
sections in connection with the occur
renceS in Kansas.
at is much to be lamented that the
men IN both sections who give direction
bpublic sentiment have not been more
careful in looking at the different aspects
IN which Kansas affairs present them
selves. The editor of the Advertiser is
hnd enough to volunteer his counsel to
the President. and yet he does not seem
ohave qualified himself as counsellor
examining both sides of the subject
GoTernor Reeder fell into the same error
when he returned to Pennsylvania, short,
lyafter the election in Kansas In his
speech to his neighbors at Easton he de-
bounced with bitterness the violence and
ioree of the Missourians, but he wholly
overlooked the conduct of the MaSsachu-
setts Abolitionists, on which the Missou-
nans based their plea of Justification
10 the late Democratic Convention al
sYracuse, the same error was committed
the outrages charged upon the Mis-
sOurians were strongly censured. but the
Interference of the Aboli;ionists which
Aad provoked those outrages was entirely
passed over.
Being actuated by no sectional feel
,,as IN this matter, and being bound by
us official obligation to know no North
u South. but to carry out the law iu its
Sae spirit and meaning, the President
Aas not overlooked the embarrassing
circumstances which are connected with
ae Kansas question, but, on the contra
" has been ready at all times to exert
al The power vested in him for the pre-.
'sat'on of any of those interferences,
'hether by the influence of capital and
money or by force and violence. which
s'e alleged to have been resoFted to fol
@e defeat of the true meaning and prln-
Slpie of the law. The Advertiser will
@efetore, see that there is not the slight
y Danger that the President viii give
De Executive sanction to the illegal
Foceedings of Atchison and his coadju
Hfs In Kansas. and thereby give an i'm,
Paise to the Republican movement which
soald render it irresistible in the FIRE.
yates. He has not and he win not
~ao any countenance to any illegal pro
ssedlnss, whether it originates in Mis-
;'a1 or Massachusetts,, which has foI
OBJECT the defeat of the great princi
rs ot allowing the inhabitants of Kan
ss0 give an unbiased aud free judg
.Isat .sM upon the question whether SLAYER,
val or shall not exist in the Territory. Z
i lei us bring to view, says the Natiol
ira, historical facts, overlooked in thi