Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-25

! in seeing this matter settled. The question
will come, will you allow this great heritage
/ of yourselves and your children to be usurped
and cursed by the blight of niggerdom But,
said he, this is not all ; it may be enough but
not all. There is another aspect in which to
regard it. We are already talking about the
Pacific Railroad. We are in pursuit of the
East India and China trade, and look forward
hopefully to the time when we can stand
among our fellow-citizens by the waters that
lave the shores of those lands. This great in
terest is to be accomplished over Kansas
Make this Territory free and the time VIII
soon come. In fifteen years the North can
and will accomplish the end. Make it into
Slave States, and it will not happen for fifty
years. Ifyou want proof, 60 TO the parched
and dried fields of North and South Carolins,
to the decayed State of Virginia. Read their
history, note their progress and prosperity.
and tell US when it will be accomplished. Go
down the Ohio river, or down the Mississippi
and note the difference on the banks. On the
right, in Missouri, land is worth from So to Sc
per acre, snd on the left, in Illinois, II is val
ued at S25 to $50 per acre. On tho one hand
all is bighted, and the other all is thrift
and progress. Illinois has 1000 miles of
Railroad, and Missouri only 100. YetMissou-
ri is inferior to none of the other States in
natural advantages, and if in the hands of free
men. would become one of the first States in
the Union, 1t is subject which interests US
all. Who is there not interested in develop
ing the resources Of the States and Territories
instead of booming them to Slavery But If
we do not take care of the out-posts the time
will come when shall have to defend our
wives and children by our own heartlessness.
The ruffisns hands that have murdered the
peaceful citizens, and thrown the three press
es of Kansas into the river will at last attack
you. Do you doubt that they will do II p
When have you known the South TO refuse
political advantage which was offered, or which
could be had at any price 2 Ifyou do not un-
derstand the stake involved in this matter the
South does. They made the first compact as
to this Territory and broke it. In 1854 they
made another, and before the ink was dry they
violated that. Emigrants went out under the
solemn pledge of the nation to protect thei.
rights, and when they ask for the fulfllment
of these pledges they are answered in words
which, like the fruit of the Dead Sea, turn to
ashes on the lip. The Slave population ofthe
border enters the lists and resorts TO acts of
violence to secure their aims. They marched
in 5000 or 1000 strong, and took possession
of the ballot boxes and declared themselves
ready for any emergency. He said he desired
in his place to meet the allegation, made by
some who would justify these wrongs by saw
ing that only minority of the Legislature
had been so elected. He said that out of the
l3 members of the Council, ii were Pro-Sla
very, and of the 90 Representatives, % were
elected by the Missourians; and the fact is so
proven before the Committee. The Free
State men were iutimidated from contsstins
the elections; and this, also, is proven before
the Committee. This was the first STEP
They next took care that all offices should be
filed by Pro-Slavery men. appointed by them
selves. And thus they perfected their power
This machinery of the election laws was SO
arranged that the ballot-box was virtualls
closed against the rightful sovereigns Of the
Territory. The laws enacted by officers thus
elected were put in force. One who figured
largely In these elections was appointed Sher.
iff of Douglas county, while resident of Mis-
souri, and postmaster at Westport in that State.
Juries were made up oil the same kidney, and
lawyers were excluded, so that all peaceful
remedies in the courts were effsctually cut of.
Under this arrangement men were shot down
and murdered in cold blood He then procee-
ded TO say that, after the Border -Ruf5ana Of
Kansas had usurped the hallot-boxes, and
made laws and appointed officers suited to
their purposes, they took another step. They
introduced military discipline, and paraded
armed mobs through the streets of the princi-
pal towns in Kansas. These bands of marau.
ders committed all sorts of depredations and
crimes. Dow, man from Michigan, a brave,
upright citizen, was shot. He was met by
three men, with whom he had some words
One of them drew a revolver and threatened
to take his life; Dow faced him and dared
him to put the threat into execution. Tho
bully was cowed down, and Dow turned AWAY
from them. When q short distance Off one
of the rufians drew pistol and cowardly
shot him in the back. That murderer va.
not arrested. At that time he kept m;sers-
BILE grocery, but has since been appointed
Justice of the Peace. They had an object in
these outrages. They hoped to stir up the
bowed spirits of the settlers to retaliation. IN
order that pretext might be bad for their
driving even peaceable citizens ont of the Ter
ritory. They did not succeed, and thev 4.
dopted other expedients. They issued war
rant for friend of Dow, who had threatened
to punish his murderer. They seized him
and dragged him from his homo under this
IA -