New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-24

h. .o,, A. var were no longer heard
and vh;s . nara amieable state Ut analrs might 10
snprc,s1 IN .x;st the moment should not pas
without an effort to prevent tneir recuI'enoD y
settling the causes Of difficulty Ii was urged tna
a. ,,at,a,s stood with the present Senate and the
ae n'a.' 81 Representstives-that the former
- democratic now and the latter unquestl0oabiy
ID be--tbere was no hope for the Free-State
C"nat;tntiop framed at Topeka, and therefore the
Erse. state settlers should unite with the Pro
slavery men in elections to elect delegates 70
convention and vote on a constitution, ana that tue
question If Kansas Free State or kal-as slave
State should thus be decided At first these peace
makers rather preferred that the Free-Staie men
,bould meet them at the polls, to be opened under
the directions of the bogus Legislature which Will
soon assemble; subsequently they appeared to be
inclined TO offer terms less Objectionable. A dis
cussion having dragged the chief stumblmg-bOcd
ard causes of difficulty to the foreground, 1t was
conceded that the bOlus laws ought 10 be repealed,
that any such election must be protected by the
united efforts Of national, military and conservative
residents aid that noue should vote save those who
had an actual residence in the Territory which had
been Of three months Duration.
OF course such negotiations were purely inform
al. as they were unauthorized on either part; but
sometimes less formal negotiations have eVentuated
in important results. 1t was conceded, by those
who thus considered the causes OF difficulty, that
if Congress would pass, aud the Executive sane
ton, bill having such features, that the people OF
both parties could unite peacefully in an election.
Some ARRANGEMENTS to have the matter brought TO
the attention of both parties in Congress by the
respective parties here was thea agreed OIL.
Let us consider the character OF these Overtures,
and the availability of what they propose In the
first place. the me through whom these PROPOSE
tons for amicable settlement come, are not Of the
kind who burn towns, murder Free-State men on
the h pIway, or mob baotboxes. However
much they may be inclined to avail themselves OF
the advantage which such yilainy has given their
party and the policy they adopt, they have too
much respect for their characters to take personal
band in them. They are, therefore, not the Bor-
der Ruffians; they are conservative Pro-Slavery
residents Of the Territory. In negotiating with
them at all, the first bluuder lies in considering
item the hitherto hostile party with whom We wish
10 treat If StriDgellOw, and AtchisOn, and Bob
Kelly. and all the Border RufiiaDs Of Missouri were
te come to us and propose cessation Of hOstilitles
and rascay, if they were to tell us that they we're
willing to have the bogus laws and officers abolished,
and to renOunce all the advantage aud power that
their vllainy has gained for the ProSlayery causes
and all this in consideration that the Frees State and
Pre-. Slavery settlers of the Territory should decide
the Slavery question at fair election, what would
We think Of it ? As miraculous eise of awakened
conscience it might astOnlsh us, but the idea OF
their making such proposition in good faith, as
business transaction 10 settle the point, Is prePOs-
teIous We might as well expect them to sign
memorial to both Houses of Congress 10 accept us
with the Topeka Constitution. The men who de-
sired to negotiate here to-day, have always affected
to depore the violence aud fraud of the Border
Rufans. The attempt at a negotiation on their
part can only have occurred at the instance of other
Influential men who did not like the responsibility
of making IT themselves; or it may have been an
effort to win some share of popularity for them
L III tl.L 70 in
case of the ultimate success of the latter. Who
shall or who can, give Us assurance that the BOr-
der Ruffians mean to do fairly and act hon Orably
from this time henceforth! Have all the we'll
panr ed attacks on the freedom of Kansas, all the
murders, robbery and fraud, been merely slight
eaervescence that did not mean anything Has
Border kufiianism merely been joke, and is the
mask to be pulled off, and all the fruits of years of
toiiul and expensive wickedness to be given up for
a smile and a clasp OF the hand ! -
There has Ebeen great anxiety among the Pro-
Slavery men TO induce the Free-State meg ~ vote
al the bogus elections. BY such recognition OF the
bogus laws they would fall rremediably before the
Ruffians. No effort will be spared to make the
free settlers 20 in and be slaughtered deceDtly.
The aim of these negotiations may be this but sus-
pect that the handspring lies elsewhere. do not
wish to wrong his Excellency, but there is
Gearyish look about all this.
In this interesting and partially developed pro-
gramme, there are some slight shortcomings
which are likely to upset the whole.
The Border Rufiians are tdead yet The ruff
fan oligarchy. by the aid of the National Govern
ment, have seized Kansas they hold it in their
grasp and they are not likely to let the coveted fruit
turn to ashes on their lips II they see any system
adopted that will endaDger their success, they will
fight it with all their vigor and malignity. They
keep on good terms with the Executive just because
the Executive of the nation has been fighting for
them In spite of the little lodges aud bubbles
ard small favors thrown like dust in the eyes of
the Free-Siate settlers, the Pro-Slavefy men see
and kao,o that all the advantage yet lies with
them; and 20 long as it does, the compact between
them and the authorities will be good one.