The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-03

II
on ground which the nullifers conceive
to be too sacred to be eanyassed. ]
know very well that it Is permitted to
men to discuss and criticise religion, law.
morality, and every other subject under
the sun, but when any man attempts to
speak of slavery, and discuss that sub
ject, there is sect of political Mormons
whoexclaim atonce that he is Freesoiler,
who deserves political ostracism. | feel,
however, that 1 understand the duties I
owe to the State in which ! live, and to
the people by whom am honored by a
seat on this aoor, and | shall not permit
myself TO be deferred from that path of
duty by clamors. Every interest of
this State has an equal right to protection
and encouragement, and slavery has no
greater right, and should demand no
other guarantees than are conceded to
any other institution, and every other
species of property.
l know very well that it is not the
shareholders who make the demand that
slavery should override every other in
terest in the State, and require that it
should be spoken of with bated breath
and whispering humbleness-but it is
the same set of politicians to whom !
have alluded, who have no other interest
in slave property than that it affords them
convenient theme upon which to play
the demagogue, and give them a step
ping stone to Office. The question which
| propose to discuss is, whether it is for
the best interests of the people of Mis-
souri, that Kansas should become slave
State.
Itseems to me that the great interest
of Missouri is to have the Territory set
tied rapidly. The sooner it is settled,
the better it is for our State. When it
was in wilderness it was perfectly use
less to us. It is conceded that its organ
ization into a Territory, and its settlement,
conferred a benefit upon us, by affording
a market for our produce. The more
rapidly, therefore, the Territory is settled,
the sooner will our people begin to ex-
perience the benefits of the trade which
will necessarily spring up; and in the
same ratio that the population increases.
this beneficial trade will increase. Now
take it fog granted that the population
of Kansas will increase with greater "a
pidity as free State than as a slave
State, because our whole history as ma
ton shows that the free States have out
stripped the slave States In point of pop
ulation. To prove and illustrate thil
proposition, refer to the fact that, a
the formation of our constitution, tn,
State of Virginia was the most populoul
State in the Union but New York, Penn
Isylvania, and Ohio have all outstrippeG
her in the race; and that which make.
this more pointed, is the fact that Ohit
was then a wilderness, without sufficien
population to permit the organization o
territorial government. j may also cit
the examples of Arkansas and Michigan
which were admitted into the Union a
the same time, and with equal population
Michigan has now twice the population
of Arkansas, and has four representa-.
tiyes on the floor of Congress, whilst Ar.
kansas has but two. Iowa and Florida,
twin sisters, born into the Union in the
same hour, might also be cited. Iowa
has two representatives in Congress, and
Florida has but one. But it is needless
to multiply examples, for the same ratio
will be found 10 exist in almost every in
stance, and l therefore conclude that it is
safe to say that Kansas would increase in
population more rapidly as free than as
"a slave State. Her position makes her
dependent upon Missouri for supplies,
especially during the process of settle
ment, and before she begins to produce
for herself. And when she begins to
produce, her productions viii furnish
freight for our railroads, and the inter
change of her productions for our manu-
factures and productions, will benefit our
farmers, merchants, and mechanics, by a
lucrative trade, which her position will
necessarily induce between the two States.
The sooner she obtains heavy popula-
ton, and the larger it becomes, the soon
er We shall experience those benefits,
and the greater they will be. 1t is an
undisputed fact also, that white popula-
ton are larger consumers, and generally
require better and more costly articles
than negroes. This would be our advan-
tage, SO long as We furnished the articles
In which the people of fKansas would stand
In need
1t will be conceded, think, that it is
tothe advantage of Missouri that the great
Pacific railroad, from the western borders
of our State to the Pacific ocean, should
be speedily constructed. Ieonfess that l
regard the early completion of this great
road as ofthe highest Importance to every
citizen of the State, and a measure OF
more interest to Missouri than any other
of which / can conceive. / therefore
deem It worthy of consideration, whether
the settlement of Kansas as free State,
will not conduce to an earlier completion
of that road, than its settlement by 9
slave population. The construction oi
railroads depend in great measure upon
the density of population of country
and if the proposition ! have laid down,
that the population of free States increase
more rapidly than that of slave States,
be true, It follows that the Pacific railroad
will be built sooner if Kansas should be-
come free State.
But we are not left to snpposition upon
this subject, for the statistics show that
there have been constructed three miles
of railroad in the free States for every one
in the slave States Of this Union. If any
person has a doubt upon the subject, let
him consult any authority thereon, and
he will find that I have not oEerfsted the
fact. There IS good reason, also, for this
great difference. The free States are
more populous, the production is greater,
and the entire population use the roads,
whereas the slaves in our States, com-
prising mass of our population, are not
permitted to go from city to city, and
from place to place, and therefore these
roads are more profitable in the ffeeStates,
and are soonest built where they pay the
best conclude. therefore, that If the
citizens of Missouri have any interest in
the eariv s,omplefion of The oreaf Pscsf;.