Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-17

after stating correctly the responsibility Of an
editor for all articles selected by himself, from
other journals, TO sustain his own general views,
unless he formally dissents from them" ALSO
lutely published n short time ago the following
article IN ITS own COLUMNS:
Our prospects are now Of the most cheer
ing character. The misrepresentation and
ialsehoods of our opponents in relation TO the
Kansas. Nebraska law are fast being dispelled
The people are beginning to detect the sophls
try which has been brought to bear against it,
The principle of The law is every day increas-
ing in Popularity. 1t is now becoming more
and more evident to the public mind that it is
rather an anti slavery than pro.slavery law;
that under it the sons of freedom and toll will
establish free institutions throughout the vast
regions OF the West, not only where slavery was
formerly prohibited, but where it was permitted
and sanctioned by an enactment Of Congress
What have we here, then?
First, the 'pro-slavery" men are opposed to,
and incensed at Governor Reeders official
conduct.
| Second. Governor Reeder makes a speech
at Easton, in which he gives the "pro-slavery'
| party no quarter-whle he makes no comment
at all on the "Emigrant Aid Societies" and
anti-slavery meu.
| Third The Massachusetts Legislature, with
suspicious haste responds TO that denunciation
and suggests the same remedies aud measures
ruth Governor Reeder.
Fourth. The Legislature Of Pennsylvania,
/ constituted oil K now-nothings and Freesoil
men, and with only handful Of good and true
| Democrats, (some twenty-four, We believe, who,
we are informed, had to sit and swallow the
pill, passed resolutions Of approval and thanks
to the Governor for his course in Kansas,
Fifth. Every abolition paper in the country
is sounding his praises.
Sixth. The Washington Union is not only
defending his course in the strongest terms,
but has absolutely published, within short
abolition exultation-that he poor South is
/ again cheated, and were intended to be cheated
BY the Nebraska; bill
In word, upon this controversy in Kansas,
| Governor Reeder the Washington Union, the
Massachusetts Legislature, the Pennsylvania
Know-nothing Legislature, the Abolition pa
| pers, the Emigrant Aid Societies, are all in the
same boat, aud we wish them smooth seas and
prosperous gales. Verify, we have fallen on
evil times But to our letter:
4 PETERSBURG, May 10, 1855.
am pleased to see your determination to
stand BY the South in this Kansas affair.
Your articles meet my hearty appreciation.
We are already in the midst of a revolution,
and Missouri would be false to herself if she
did not protect herself from future danger.
Not only are organizations formed at tile
North to resist the execution of constitu.
tional law, but Legislatures have undertaken
to interpose State authority for the same pur-
pose. What would be the condition of Mis-
souri, if Kansas were free State? She would
be entirely cut off from her Southern sisters,
except on the south. population in Kansas,
Iowa, and Illinois, like that Of Massachusetts,
would force Missouri to send her slaves away
and become free State. The whole South
has deep interest in this controversy. 1t
seems that organized companies of Adolf
tionists have collected large sums Of money
for the purpose Of flooding Kansas with Adolf
tionis1s ProvinnS to the election which is to fix
the destiny Of that Territory, and consequently
that of Missouri. As means of selfdefense,
Missouri has beat the Abolitionists at their
own game. The governor, cooperating as far
as he could with the former, postponed the
elections with view of giving time to his dis
tant friends. He has been foiled by the Mis-
sourians. The Nebraska-Kansas act recog-
nizes them as quasi States, and leaves them to
the duty Of settling their own local difficulties.
If the Administration be wise, this one at least
it ought to leave Kansas to settle. What can
it do? Any attempt to force Kansas, will bring
on trial of strength between Kansas and
Missouri on the one hand, and the General
Government on the other, which will inevita.
bly, result in quarrel between North and
South
If you will look to the Nebraska Kansas bin,
you will find that the usual clause reserving
a Ceto to Congress upon the legislation Of these
territories, was stricken out, thus showing con-
clusively that it was the intention OF Congress
not to interfere with the local affairs Of these
Territories.
This is the most portentous cloud have
seen yet, in our horizon. / am reioiced that
the South can rely at least on one paper in
Washington in the coming storm
An attempt will be made BY Know.nothinp
House next winter TO restore the Missouri re-
striction over the Territories. II will be sue.
cessful in the House; and whether it will pass
the Senate, will depend very much upon the
coming elections at the South. Should the
South 20 for the new party, our national friends
in the Senate will give way and leave the South
to defend itself, or throw itself upon the tender
mercies Of their Know-nothing brethren OF the
North, whose embraces it would seem to prefer.
If the South sustains the Northern Democracy,
we shall have little to fear from Congress.
Much depends upon the President in this Kan
sas affair. His action will be big with future
consequences Of the gravest import.
Our party regard Wises election as certain.
If you see him, tell him that our maorities
will be increased over Johnsons vote in every
county have visited.