New-York daily tribune., 1856-09-08

81 4 Tree postcrltN.
4 bloody civil war is now raging in Kansas, of
which to-day We give some further details.
What course the Government of the United
States will take on this momentous occasion be-
comes matter Of painful interest; and as throwing
further light on that subject, which We have dis
cussed III another article. We give at length the
documents published in Tie Washington Union of
Saturday, and of which tclcgraphc abstract ap-
pcared in our Saturdays paper.
Fully 70 understand the position of the Admins
traion toward Kansas, brief recapuaton OF the
facts of its short but eycntful history becomes
necessary.
The Kansas-Nebraska act by which the Terri
tory acquired political existence, was passed May
y, I-jl II was based on the doctrine OF Squattcr
Soycrcignty-that is, giving 10 the actual settlers
the right 70 determine their own domestic institu-
ton. and, among the rest, that of Slavery or It's
prohibition. Ii was said to the North to console
il Tor the repeal of the Missouri prohibition con-
tanned in the bill, and which repeal opened Kansas
10 Slavery, that the Northern people had only to
send in Free-State settlers, who would make 1t a
Free State. as nature designed it To be-. With this
view, Kansas Emigrant Aid Societies were formed
in Massachusetts and elsewhere, and their formation
was hailed by many Nebraska Journals as a step in
the right direction perfectly fair and legitimate
mode of operation. aud far better than mere
political agitation. II was understood. how
ever, from the beginning that the Administra-
futr.. .tf a
into Kansas: which, indeed. was the principal
occasion for the forming of Emigration Aid So
cietic. All or most of the United States employees
Indian agents, &c, in the Territory, who made up
when the act passed most of its inhabitants were
Pro-SlNery men, and all the nominations for the
ncw Territorial offices were made, or supposed to
be- made, in the same interest. What more fair
or just than that the persons, anxious to make
Kansas Free State should form voluntary asso-
ciations as a counterbalance to this official influence
in behalf of Slavery simultaneously, however,
with the formation of the Eastern Aid Societies to
vii, on the 29h of July, l-;j4, association was
formed at Weston in Missouri, called the Platte
County Defensive Association" of which the
ayowcd object was to prevent Free-State men from
settling in the Territory while secret association
of blue Lodges" so called, was organ
ized all along the Missouri border and
even i'll other Slave States, having the
same object in view. Gov. Reeder arrived in the
Territory October 6, lS51 and exhibited degree of
impartiaIity at which the PrO-Slayery men were
greatly dissatisfied On the 10Th of November, the
first election took pace-that of Delegate to Con-
gresS-on which occasion an invasive force from
Missouri took possession OF the polls, and returned
Whitfield as elected. In March, 1-J5, Gov.
Reeder issued his proclamation, appointing the Both
for the first Territorial election, and stating the
qualifications of voters. On that day, Il great force
from Missouri beset the polls, drove off the legal
voters, and returned elected Delegates of their
own. In 4 ma jority of the districts the Free-State
settlers were too much discouraged or inundated
Ia do anything, but from a number of them protests
and complaints OF violence were sent to Gov.
Feeder and being established BY proofs he set aside
the returns and ordered new elections. This exhi.
biiion of impartiality made him very unpopular with
the Pro-Slayery party and the Administration
at Washington sympathzIng with them, began
To seek preten,e for his removal on the trmped.np
'udI-c VI ep'tudth, III inlIdu ldlu>. W Urn the
members elect of the Legislature came together
July l2th the bogus or Border Rufiian majority
expelled from their seats the members duly elected
al the second trial, and reinstatcd the Border.Ruf
fans chosen by the invasive Mssourians. They
quarrrled with the Governor, removed close 10 the
Missouri border. and in spite of Gov Reeder who
refused any longer To acknowledge them. passed
the bogus code since become So Infamous appointeJ
,hcrs and other local officers for the several conn
ties, and found themselves seconded and sanctioned
in all these proceedings BY the suspension of GOV.
Ecedcr, July ljih, and his speedy remoya!.
Wilson Shannon, his irresolute and drunken
successor reached the Territory in September. and
at once threw himself into the arms OF the Border.
Huffan party,
The fTee->tate men now started the idea of
Free-Staie Constitution. on the Squatter Sow
,rei=niy principle. and held q Convention 70 make
arrangements for that purpose ou the 9TH of Sep
ttnber, IN which Gov. Reeder took IN active
share The 1T of October was designated b,
tie bogus Legislature for the election Of Con.
erc,sioual Delegate Whitfield was again chosen
- be'ore by body of Mis,ouriar,. who invaded
tAt Territory "ai :ooA possession Of the polls