Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-09-10

tee on Territories. That he gave the
Senator from Illinois time TO reflect on
the proposition, who subsequently agreed
to it.
The Senator from Illinois has also
given substantially the same account as
to the origin of this policy, which has
now ripened into civil war. The histo-
rian will not be embarrassed on this
point. Those who come after us will
see that this plan did not originate with
the people. They will see that it com
menced in this city, with these two
slaveholding Senators one of them an
aspirant for Presidential honors-the
other, acting Vice President of the Uni
ted States and both members of that
body which now insists that we shall
surrender the proyiso in this bill, thereby
enabling the President to consumate the
outrage conceived in ambition, and
brought forth in violence and bloOdshed.
And it was perfectly clear that the first
step in the attainment of their object
must be the repeal of the Missouri pro-
hibition. For this purpose bill was
reported, and with it every STAKEHOLDER
appeared gratifed. Northern members,
who belonged to the Democratic party,
were astonished at the audacity of the
movement, and many refused to sanction
it. But it was soon declared to be a
Democratic measure and as the princi-
pal mover was prominent candidate
for the Presidential honors, it was soon
regarded as an adroit movement on the
Presidential chess board. The acting
President determined not to be outbid-
den by his rival for Southern support,
and came out by his acknowledged or
gan, the Union, of this city, and declared
that no true Democrat would hesitate to
support it. 1t was proclaimed to be a
measure of peace, necessary to restore
harmony to the country; and from high
quarters it was announced that its pas
sage would quiet all further agitation of
the slave question. They even preten-
led that the right of '.pouLar sovereign
g' included the right to enslave men
and women f; that self government, !"
properly understood, included the right
to buy and sell our fellow-men, and
scourge them into submission. With
these arguments and pretences, they
combined sufficient force to pass the bill.
The morning after its approval, an aged
Senator from Michigan, a statesman of
great experience, of grave and reverend
character arose in the Senate Chamber,
and with great solemnity announced to
that body and TO the country that all
agitation upon the slave question had
come to an end, and thenceforth radiant
peace would gladden. the hearts of the
people.
Sir, the bloCdshed, the devastation in
Kansas, the piratical outrages, the pira
cies on the Missouri. now lest the intel
ligence and candor of these false proph-
cts. If they believed what they then
declared, they were too ignorant to Judge
of the popular feeling; if they did not
believe their own declarations, they
were too dishonest to guide political
party.
But no sooner was this prohibition re-
pealed, than, true to their purposes, they
entered upon the next step. The acting
Vice President went directly from the
Senate Chamber to the western counties |
of Missouri, called public meetings, ad
dressed them, urging the people to use
every effort to establish Slavery in Kan
sas. He formed secret societies for that
purpose, and commenced preparations
for invading the Territory with an armed
force, for the purpose of carrying the
elections.
We have no direct and positive evil
dence that the Senator from Illinois, and
other leading members of the party,
counselled, advised and assisted, in get
ting up this armed invasion of Kansas
But we know that they were instigated
by leading members of that party; that
their movements were open to the public
view-were published our newspapers
that the entire force of near five thous-
and men, who invaded Kansas in March
1854, was composed of Democrats. We
see the President and all the party now
and supporting the move
meut. And l think few men doubt That
it was fully understood by their leaders
in this city, when the Vice President
left the Senate to e..ter upon a work
which he must have had assurance would
be maintained by his party. They now
approve and sustain it. and the President
has supported it with the army; and
now the Senate demands that be shall
be permitted to continue his support, or
hey threaten to defeat the bill before US.
Having involved themselves in this work
Of violence and revolution, they demand {
hat we, too, shall become involved in
its guilt and disgrace, by aPprOpriating
funds to carry it on, and enable the
Presiden: to consum ale the damning
deed.