The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1856-12-27
Selections.
From the Missouri Democrat.


From the Missouri Democrat
The Fate of Kansas-The Relations
of that Territory to Missouri.
Kansas has been the scene of a
great act in our political drama, the
battle-feld of parties, the arena in
which hostile ideas and institutions
have encountered in prolonged and
deadly strife. Upon its organization,
it was placed under the regime of
novel and fantastic principle, the es-
sence of which was identical with
that of the trial by combat. Con-
gress, like the Scottish king of old,
summoned the hostile clans to COM
bat, prepared the lists, and undertook
to preside as judge, and give both
sides fair play. Whichever triumph
ed, whatever would be-would be
right, slavery or freedom. Everything
was left to force, to accident and
chance. Wisdom, policy and justice,
were banished from the tribunal 1t is
true the Pierce administration inter-
fered from time to time, striking a
treaeherous blow in aid of its favor
ite, but this was contrary to the terms
of the combat which secured fair
field, and freedom from all outside in
reference. No such goddess and in
sane policy was ever devised, as the
late Territorial policy, under the aus
pices of Jefferson Davis and Caleb
Gushing, and it has produced after its
kind, begetting anarchy, rapine and
sectional hatred and in the meantime
filling mems minds with the belief
that the worst is vet TO come.
Missouri, in common with all the
States, has general interest in the
fate of Kansas but, unlike other
States. she has special interest, and
one of paramount importance. 70
restore the balance of power between
the free and slave States, to establish
freedom or slavery, because more con-
genial to Northern or Southern feel
ing, to extend the frontiers Of the fu-
ture southern confederation, was the
aim of parties which revolve round
either extremity of the axis-round
the North or South pole of our sys-
tenn. Missouri has material interests
to consult, which should not permit
her to be influenced by either Northern
or Southern sympathies.
The repeal of the Missouri Com
promise was, undoubtedly, a stroke of
southern craftsmanship to restore the
balance of power between the slave
and free States, lost by the admission
of California. This was the ayowed
purpose, but there were others also,
such as South Carolina glories in
ayowing By the institution of Sla-
very, Missouri is apparently identified
with the South. but the great material
and commercial interests of our State,
as well as our central position, should
impel her to the immediate overthrow
of the balance of power, or any other
purely Southern or Northern theory
and to the promotion of policy cal
eulated to develope her agricultural
and mineral resources, to improve her
commercial facilities, and give her
the commanding position in the con-
federacy. which her natural advantages
entitle her to. In one word, Missouri
should shake herself free from South
ern prejudices, and assert Western
policy. Why should we adhere to a
system which has retarded our growth
and taxed our energies? We require
the title of the government, to the
public lands, to be extinguished with
in the new States. The Southern pol
iticians have always opposed this, and
since Missouri became State,a period
of thirty-si years, she has been de-
prived of the power to tax more than
one half the land within her limits.
Our people have improved the value
of Uncle Sans domain tenfold tax
ed themselves to build railroads, and
all other sorts of roads, and then had
to purchase of the government at the
rates determined by tho value which
their own labor conferred upon the
article. Again. we want our rivers
and harbors improved. and the South
has always opposed any improvements
except on the seaboard. The South
ern men invariably interpose with
their constitutional objection, unless
the place is situated between high and
low water mark, unless washed BY the
tides of the ocean. Do the people OF
Missouri believe that the constitution
ebbs and flows with the tide? Do
they admit that the Mississippi river
Eeannot claim consideration under the
Iconstitution because its foods refuse
to be Influenced by the phases of the
moon? If not, why should they con-
tinue to identify themselves with the
moon-struck theorists of the South
The struggle for the balance OF
power keeps alive an issue In which we
have but little interest; keeps down
issues Of vital importance to us and
arrays us on sham question against
our real friends. We are deeply In
|terested in getting rid of this balance
lof power system, for whichever scale
kicks the beam, we have to bear the
weight, We ara in the position OF
the ass between the panniers. aad the
sooner we shake off the burden and re-
Ideem ourselves from the ignoble posi-
ltioa the better for us, and the better
lfor the country, too. We borrowed
this idea of the balance of power