Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-10-02


hostile array upon the plains Of Kansas and
settle 6y the sI0Ord a contest about political
principles, which could easily have been set
tied by the people Of Kansas themselves, but
for the interference of intermeddling politi-
clans, within the States, who seem TO care less
about the peace, quiet and welfare Of the coun-
try, if not the existence Of the Union, than
they do about the result Of Presidential
election. Had this class Of our citizens been
content to let Kansas alone, had they permit
ted the people there, to settle their own in
stitutions in their own way, there would have
been but little mole, if any difficulty amongst
them, than there has been among the other
Territories of the United States. But the act
for the organization Of the Territory had
scarcely passed-the ink with which the
President wrote his approval of il, was scarce
ly dry, before a society Of Congressional poll
iticians was formed with a view to control
the elections there, and make them subssrvi-
ent to their party purposes. The example
thus set was Immediately followed in other
sections of the country, and the State Of Mass
achusetts, one of the most distant Of all the
States from Kansas, provided by law for the
organization of a company Of her citizens,
with large capital, to do what is now pro-
posed by you, that is ''to act decisively upon
the elections there" In my judgment, these
organizations are the foundation Of all the
difficulties in Kansas They constitute the
Inauguration of policy in the North, which
it was quite natural that the South should
consider as aggressive. 1t was in proof before
the investigating committee of Congress, that
the State of Missouri did so consider il, be-
cause its citizens saw that the men who were
most likely to be carried to Kansas by these
means, were those who, after their arrival there
would both encourage the escape Of their
slaves, and resist their recapture and return
under the requirements Of the Constitu-
ton the fugitive Slave Law, and thus by
destroying their property, inaict a Sc
rious injury upon them. And subsequent
events have tended to confirm these impress
sions by showing that very many of those
who have gone TO Kansas through these in
strumentalities, have been guilty Of the
most offensive acts towards the citizens Of
Missouri.
So that although it has been conceded
that the latter have also been guilty Of
wrongs, yet all candid men must be forced
to admit that their incipient steps were most
ly of e defensive character. The struggle
was an unequal one. Missouri was young
State, while Massachusetts, was an old one
possessing great wealth and ample means of
enforcing any policy she might choose to
adept And as it advanced, it became more
unequal, because it lead to the formation of
great political party throughout the North,
which by aggravating what were at first but
slight injuries, managed to excite the North
ern mind, and to enlist in its cause large
portion of the Northern people. as was
doubtlessly designed by this party, and GER
tainly, as might have been expected, this led
necessarily to other defensive and perhaps
offensive acts, upon the part Of citizens Of
the South, which have kept pace with those
to which 1 have referred, until q civil war
has already broken out. And yet this crisis
alarming as 1t is in every respect, does not
seem to have arrested the course of those
who haze begun the party organization. IL
has been continued by them, with every ef-
fort to increase, rather than diminish the diff
Guilty, until it has been necessary to concen-
trate in Kansas con siderable portion of the
army of the United States, as the only means
of restoring order and quiet That these
means will be speedily effectual, / do not
doubt, if Presidential election were not so
near at hand, and if the party with which
you are acting did not consider the agitation
of slavery as its greatest source of strength.
am very sure that the people of Indiana
are anxious that they should prove effectual
at once, that peace may be restored, and there
| fore should act in dsobedience TO what /
consider their wishes, il / could be induced
to place any impediment in the way, by
adopting the course you suggest There are
no people more obedient to law than they
are, and they would neither DO themselves,
nor countenance me in doing anything in re-
sistance to the legitimate authority Of the
United States. Your policy could not be
carried out without such resistance. and there
fore you will not be surprised either at the
sentiments have expressed, or the conclu-
sions to which have come. / am sure that
they are the sentiments Of large majority Of
the people of this State, and that whatever
view you may take Of them, my conclusions
will be approved by them
The occasion will justify me in saying,
that unless something shall occur to arrest
the course Of the sectional party with which
you are cooperating, the country must soon
be plunged into deeper difficulties than airy
now existing in Kansas, great as they are ac-
knowledged TO be. The recent action of this
party in Congress, has exhibited degree OF
desperation hitherto unknown in this coun-
try. With large majority in the House OF
Representatives, elected under pledge TO do
something in behalf Of Kansas, il has per-
mitted session of nine months TO pass away
without passing single measure Of relief
Under every obligation, express and implied,
TO abrogate certain obnoxious and unconstitu-
tional laws passed by the Kansas Legislature,
it has failed to do it. II has failed even 10
act upon bill passed by the Senate, declar-
ing that these laws were void-thus convinc-
ing all who look calmly at the matter, that il
had 10 design to annul them, but desired
that they should remain untouched, because
they would furnish them with POLITICAL
CAPITAL. Instead of consummating a single
measure they had promised, those who COM
posed this majoity chose rather to make an
attempt to arrest the course of the Govern
ment, by Withholding supplies to the Army
Of the United States, and thus entering upon
a career of REVOLUTION.
/ deplors the present condition Of things,
and hope that the time is not far distant
when the conservative judgment Of the
country will condemn those who have pro-
duce1 it. The people Of the United States
have enough to do in attending TO those vari-
Gus pursuits which have so largely contributed
to their elevation, without engaging in sec
tional contests about matters IN reference 10
which differences Of opinion should be toler-
ated. If they shall permit any party under
pretext of advancing the welfare Of a section
so as to array the other section against it as 10
destroy the kindly feeling that should exist
between the two, there may be now living,
those who shall see the termination Of our
national existence. But il they shall be
true to themselves and the Union as Il came
from the hands Of the trainers Of the Con-
stitution if they shall cherish that fond
recollection OF common ancestry and q
common fame which has so long cemented
them together if they shall swallow up
all sectional strife in the idea Of common