The Oxford signal. (Oxford, Miss.) 1856-18??, 1856-10-09
THE KANSAS QUESTION.


What is the most distinctive feature
of the Kansas and Nebraska act?
Simply Viudica.ion of the principles
of the copeemise measures, advoca-
ted by f6 Sasler, and Cass in
1920 tot ~ Il named, nominal
comprcE s ,OOer nlhad existed, It's as
.nevet.3 - " e nat atlherns - nalics
H. that long, iiiteiAal, their waf against
the geographical line, Their designated,
was fierce and incessant. They kept
no faith even in that one-sided measure
and replied il in all ther associations
and conVenlions-in their party con-
claves, their speeches, and their pub
lie acts CT every character. As long
as il lasted they denounced ii as the
curse of the land, against which they
said they were compelled, by their
grieved cOnsciences, 10 bear testimony.
In 1850 the public men from the slave
holding States proposed, as measure
of final adjustment and pacificaion,
TO run the line Of 36 80 to The Pacific.
The question was tried in Congress,
and rejected by compact and nearly
united vote OF the non>slaveholding
States. The South was not inclined
to complain captionsly of this. Laying
aside the question of the unconslitu.
Iionali,y of the act Of 1920, of which
we entertain 10 doubt, il had no singIe
element of political philosophy or prac-
lical stateSnianship 10 recommend II.
l: was an attempt, under most art
fully created pressure OF excitement,
suddenly started by sectional prejudice
and animousity, TO establish an arbi
trary geographical line as applicable
TO social question. 1t was, how,
ever, rcpudiated by real sentiment o.
The North and the South. The love
OF The Union, deep aud strong amongs
the good men on both sides, alone sus
tanned it, In 1850, when ,he question
again inevitably aroseby the acquisi
ton of more territory, no appeal OF
the part ofthe Soulh would be listen
ed TO, and no spiEit on the part of lh'
North was found willing 10 sustain i
, ISne pradicaftf h tilen first imptess
ed Itself ukpl a EklTt@a rnait me sas
ger and The more numerous woul,
seize npon the whole heritage, or else
5 in the struggle 10 do 50 in Congress
f. rend this Union asunder? Could il b
. supposed thai, under such circumslan
!; ces, any portion Of the States Of thi
D Union would abandon their equa
constitutional rights? The stareslne
10 whom we have before adveFe
= thought not. They were compelle
10 resort Ia some other di6nilive mea
. sure. That turned out not 10 be a neN
one, but wisely adapted by The prir
: ciples Of perfect justice 10 secHe pc,
O manent relief against the repeated ag
lalions which had so often threaiene
the destruction OF our political system
:" In this connexi0n II is most inStructiv
10 know that the statesmen Of that da
- found il necessary 10 go back and TAX
}, the wisdom of our fathers as the be
= nd only guide. With the institulio
of slavery as il existed from the fir
j. and with our constitution, they fouu
lie no other means of rescue except II
plain fundamental principles establis
ed by that instrument. They were, tn
the States should be absolutely equ
= in their rights, privileges, and imm
mites. The people Of each territor
instead ofhaving an arbitrary, geogr
'e phical line. 10 settle political quesiio'
al effecting their social relations, we
I'd 10 be the only power to determine 4
lie character OF their domestic inslitulio
lust as everytold Stale had done
al itself in establishing its organic Law
or conforlnably to the guarantees OF I
DO constitution can live together as a vi
e. ted government of States. Is it r
equal and jpsi? Can that be answ,
: ed IN Tue negat z2 Nobody has eN
yet so answered il; and we demar
-. instead Of idle piaiiludes, that the m
=; who questions il shall boldly make
IL ~ charge against lhe wisdom of
-, fathers,
va w ueh Wo Sd HO iIA"" ''AS OuS !" -
~ " it we de- nol mean to include Garris
=. ~. and his platoon. who have long inc
w GATED the idea that this constitute
which had not only the sanction
ed Washington and sages OF the revo
he lion, but may be said 10 have be
i'm stepped in the blood shed for our In
pendence. is a league with hell;
'ur we mean that the proposition has n
it er been answered by any man ctal
log 20 love the Institutions oil our CO..
Try. In 1854 The Indispensable necess
pIesented itself Of organizing the !
~, riloTies Of Kansas and Nebraska. !
euterptising, emigrating spirit OF
people could mol be'reprcssed. !