Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-05-16
The Boston Post on ''POPniHr SOver-
eiSuty.o


The Boston Post on "POPninr SOVer-
eighty
The Boston Post, in defence of its position as
to the assumed identity ofthe Border Ruihan au-
thorities of Kanzas with the administration au'
thorites of the United States, claims that 1t has
constantly elaborated that idea in its columns,
ever since February last. So much the greater
shame for it, in unfolding either.
The Post, having also admitted the fact that
Missourians have committed ''momentary inva-
sions" into Kanzas, for the sake of controlling
elections" there, we would like once more to cali
its attention to the infamous edicts of the border
Iufian legislature, which presumes to make laws
for Kanzas, and respectfully ask the editor OF the
Post if he is ready willing, without equvocauon
to endorse them as of equal validity with any enact
ments of the general goyernment-in fact, If they
fairly represent the views of ''the people" Of that
Territory. or are the inevitable result of the car
ryins out of the 'squatter sovereign" doctrine?
The following four sections the least infamous
of the whole code;
Sec 7. II any person shall entice, persuade, or
induce any slave to escape from the service of his
master owner, in this Territory, or shall aid
assist, harbor, or conceal any slave who may have
escaped from the service of his master or owner,
shall be deemed guilty of fetony, and punished by
imprisonment for term of not less than .ttUe
gears.
Sec. IL. If any person print, write, introduce
into, publish or circulate, cause to be brought
into, printed, written, published or circulated or
shall knowingly aid or assist in bringing into,
printing, publishing, or circulating within this
Territory, any book, paper, pamphlet, magazine,
or circular, con tanning any statements, arguments,
opinions, sentiments, doctrines, advice, or inu'
endo, calculated to produce a disOrderly, danger
ans rohol no 10
this territory, to induce such slaves to escape
from the service of their masters to resist their
authority, he shall be guilty of felony, and be
punished by imprisonment at hard labor TOR a
term ofnot less than fUe gears.
Sec H. II any free person, by speaking or by
writing, assert maintain that persons have not
the right to hold slaoes IN thas Territory, or shall
introduce into this Territory, PRINT publish write,
circulate or to be introduced into this Ter.
ritory, any book, paper, magazine, pamphlet, or
circular, con tanning any de7lGL 81 taeTt9ht O F~'
sos to Ial s,,-tkis saSitq54 sefR4 DfrSRa
less than ts0o gears.
Sec l3s No person who is conscientioatsIy op
pTssd to holding SlaUeS, who does dot admit the
right 10 hold SLaUes in this Territory, shall sit
juror the trial of any prosecution for the viola
ton of any OF the sections Of this act.
If these edicts to be sustained, what be-
comes of the doctrine advanced by Benjamin F.
Hallett, Charles Greene, and 59S other repre-
sentatives of the Massachusetts Democracy in
convention assembled, in lS49-that by the Con-
stitntion and the common law, there could be no
rightful existence of slavery in any of the Terri
tories of the United States Has our learned
contemporary since eaten his own words, or backed
down from his own doctrine then advanced Is
that which is unconstitutional at one time, sud-
denly made both constitutional and proper, at an
other at the convenience of hankerers after
administration provende?
Speak out, Mr.. Post, and explain your position.
If the bogus edcts of the Missouri elected Leg
islature for Kanzas, are to be accounted as siden-
teal" in authority with anything emanating from
headquarters at Washington, we may well blush
for the degeneracy of the bogus democracy of this
day.
That there was time when the Post not only
admitted, but spoke out in free condemnation of,
the rufian incursion of Missourians into Kanzas
to control elections there" we have only to
turn to its own files. On the 23d day of April of
last year, some three weeks after the first cleo
ton for egi slative officers, which resulted in the
complete overawing of the settlers by the hordes
of lawless invaders from abroad who drove the
rghtiul voters from the polls, and voted them
selves in their stead. this same Boston Post took
occasion to express itself in deliberate and decd
ed terms, as follows
The principle coptended for is, that the actual
inhabitants of territory in a similar manner as
the inhabitants of State shall have the right 70
elect their officers, and, on the formation of a
constitution, to shape its features. This is the
basis idea OF our Union. This is the principle
that was so clearly announced by General Tayior
In his California message, and was subsequently,
embodied in the kanEas Nebraska BILL as being
IN accordance with the selfgoyernment prnci-
nj n Thn AnClo
actual settlers of Kanzas hare rtoht to be ,roiect
ca nhe application Of such principle ; and the
M'ssoutid1as beyond question: hare no MARI y;o6f
to go ooer the line Of their State and interfeys
IN the election Of members of the Leoislat1,re
than the Siour Indians haze Such ,,roceed;,,os
admit 81 no defence. THEY ARE MOST
WANION VIOLATIONS OF TERRITORfAf.
RIGHTS.
The pretext set up is that they are dono M
more than the Abolitionists Of the North nre 40.
ing in focking into KaDzas In the first Mace
as we happen to know, the settlers fockinp there
are not all AbolitIonists. We know among them
as strong advocates of the Nebraska bill as can
be found Il is true those from the North are not
advocates for establishing slavery in Kanzas, but
some are stoutly opposed TO every thing that sa.
vors Of Northern Abolitonism, and will be found
strong defenders Of rights guaranteed by the
constitution of their country. In the next place,
if they go to Kanzas to settle; If they buy land
and plant on it families; II they become citizens
and Identify their fortunes with it, they have
rightto vote undisturbed, be they who they may.
And all such proceeding outsiders coming in
and omooting them SHOULD BE PUT A
STOP TO
Gov Reeder appears--so far as the facts have
come QUITO have acted WISELY AND WELL
in the difficult circumstances under which he has
been placed. We have no doubt that the coun
try, irrespective Of sectional sympathes, will
sustain what is right and will rebuke what is
wrong. The great principle is, that the actual
settlers OF Territory and State shall fashion its
local institutions, and the judgment Of the coun
principle.
Now, what we have to complain Of is, that our
able contemporary did not continue to maintain II,
position, here taken, on the matter of those in.
famous outrages--,hat it did not continue 10 de.
nsnd Of the general government the putting Of a
STOP TO them, in accordance with its then
ieigned principles Of sQuatter soyeregnty.,--
Alas Il soon cayed in. defended the adminlstra
uon In all il acts Of omission aud commission.
even to the removal Of Reeder, (after II had talk