The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-15
The Ultimatu.i, of the Pro-slaysry
prorsaeandista

a.tzs propagandists.
Under the above caption the Missouri
Democrat has the best article of the
times, with which we have come in
contact, on disunion. We commend
it, Notwithstanding its great length, to
the attention of every reader. No man
in his sober senses can doubt but that
it is the intention of Southern dema-
agogues to dissolve the American
Union; and this, whether JoHN G. FIRE.
MONT is the next President, or James
Buchanan They think the task easier
with the latter the Chief Magistrate of
the country. and it is for that reason
they supported him. Again we say,
read the following, and remember it is
supporter of Buchanan who writes
thus-one who is behind the curtain,
and knows of what he is diseoursing.
Says the Denocrat:-
The questions involved in the Presi-
Dental election, and every other ma
tional contest, present themselves to US
in two-fold aspect-in relation to the
Union and the State. 1t is evidently our
duty to support every legitimate meas
ure, or ormovement calculated to promote
the good of the whole country, and our
own state; and when the interests of the
State and the Union clash to contend for
a just and equitable settlement.
1t requires no argument to prove that
the dissolution of the Union would be a
general evil; and but very little argu-
ment TO prove that the general evil
would be permanently felt in the slave
States conterminous to free soil. Were
the Union dissolved, Missouri would
have Canada at her very threshold.
But few strides or few strokes of
the swimmer or bold leap and the
slave were free. The length ofthe under
ground railroad wonld be the breadth
of the river; except on the Iowa frontier,
where the boundary is mathematical
line. The proximity of free soil would
tempt the best eontented negro to flee
from bondage, and but few years
would elapse before they all had flown.
Should war break out, Missouri and
the border slave States would be the
battle ground of the two powers, just
as the low countries have been the bat
tie ground of Europe for generations.
The condition of the border counties of
England and Scotland before the Union
of the Scotch and English crowns,
would be the condition which disso-
luton of the Union would impose upon
Missouri. If the underground railroad
should not have previously swept the
field, the phrase carrying the war
into Africa would be no fgurative
expression, for if the fanaticism which
the South ascribes to the North be a
genuine diabolical fire, the abolitionists
would seek to destroy slavery as Others
have sought to extend it, by armed In
vasion; and even In time of peace we
should be compelled to sleep on our
swords. Fanaticism is not restrained
by considerations of justice or policy;
and assuming the truth of the aeeusa-
. tion against the North, the abolitionists
would precipitate themselves upon us
as the Arabs did on Syria, or the Goths
upon the Lower Empire. An invasion
might or might not subjugate the slave
owner but it would certainly unshaekle
the slave, although it might finally ex-
terminate him.
Should we enter the Southern
Confederacy," the effects of peace and
the effects of war would be equally dis
astrous to slavery in Missouri. and we
should soon find ourselves in very
anomalous position--slavery in our
laws, in our politics, theoretically in
our whole organization /: but yet hay-
ing no slaves in our houses or fields
slave State without slaves, compelled
to bear the burdens of the institution,
to guard it, to fight for it, to pay for it,
but forbidden, by our geographical po-
sition, TO possess it. Our Territory
would be merely the blank white mar
. gin of the dotted page. The only COM
pensation we could derive from this
state of things would be the glory aris-
ing from disinterested devotion to the
cherished 8. institution.''
But other interests than slavery
would be imperiled and prostrated in
Missouri by the dissolution of the
Union. The maritime States would
oppress us by tariff unfavorable to us.
The following extract is from South
Carolina journal, and should be pom
dered upon by those to whom it is ad-
dressed -
Wha. would be the condition Of the border
States In the event of a dissolution Of the
Union We have No hesitation IN answer
ing, that It would be much better than it IS
now. By their simple power over the tarin Of
duties, the Southern Confederation could
make It's own terms as to the laws necessary
for the preservation Of the peace and the prop
erty Of the frontier States We could give
them, If we chose, absolute free trade, and the
unobstfucted navigation Of the Mississippi !;
We could, if we chose, shut up that great ar
terry Of trade, and levy such duties as would
annihilate Northern commercial intercourse.
We have no necessity for them We can put
Earepe IN their place az any moment They
have no Europe to which they can resort for
~nat we supply them. We have them IN cur
power. and can make cur terms with them
8 SO the Mississippi, that great ar
terry Of trade, " would be $ shut up by
our new masters, unless We did their
bidding. This opens q wide field of
spscHlasion, regarding the fate of our
kra1s and commerce, which our mer-
sntlie men cen investigate for ti,sIn-