Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-10-15

hai iuOug VI lhS huSliOah DCOPiC va
settled satisfactorily 10 a large majority
of them, North and South. Nationa
Conventions of both The great polilica,
divisions. cunve' ed before that election,
lad solemnly pledged their constituency
against all fuure agitation of the Sla
very question. The Presidential elec
ton Of 1859 was placed on this founda-
lion BY both parties; and the present
Chief Magistrate was specially chosen
under the influence of this imposing
compact, and in accordance herewith ;
when about TO make his appeal 10 God
as a witness to the sincerity OF this oath
OF ftelity 10 his trust, he pledged him
self 10 the whole American people that
his power would be exerted ro prevent
all further agitation of this diSiraciina
and dangerous question. Can any one
conceive of pledge more solemn, or
that could have been made more irrevo
cably binding. than this, voluntarily
agreed upon by all parties, and univer
sally approved as great measure oI
public good and great national bless
ing
The promise Of Charles l to maintain
the right of petition, the violation OF
which cost him him his head, could not
compare in imposing solemnity with that
which President Pierce made or the 4,h
of March, 1858.
Can the history be credited which will
record the fact that, in less than nine
months from that time, lie had engaged
in conspiracy to accomplish, in its
most obnoxious form, what he had thus
promised 10 resist That be had moi
only used bis official power 10 effect the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and
carry Slavery into Kansas by lawless
violence, but that he entersd into con.
spiracy for that purpose, is susceptible
of incontrovertible proof
David AlchisOn was President of the
Senate S. A. Douglas WIS Chairman
Of the Committee on Territories. The
first bill reported lor The organization o.
Nebraska was silent as to The Missouri
Compromise. The conspiracy was mol
then organized. The second bill con.
tanned Jeclaraiory clsuse, that the Mis-
souri, Compromise had. by means OF
some previous legislation, become mop
eratiye. The frivolous disguise was. nc
doubt, the suggestion of some timid
member Of the conspiracy, probably
Gen. Pierce. Conscience makes cow
ards Of u all" But it was soon exposed,
and the acting manager, Douglas. was
obliged to give the of,Pring a new
dress.
Then, for the first lime, The doctrine
of Squauer Sovereignty was introduced,
and new clause. repeating the Missouri
Complomise, was cioILed in mincing
phraseology. full of aiiectation OF great
regard FOR the right of the inhabitants OF
Territories to make their own insti!u-
tions.
The plans of the conspiraiols seem
now to have been settled, and they threw
of the mask. Atchison, having left his
seat in the Senate, was busily completing
his organization Of Blue Lodges of orig
an Is IN Missouri, to force Slavery upon
Kansas BY violence.
The President of the United States
was exerling all his power 10 aid Doug
las and his associates in repeating the
Missouri Compromise, with a professed
desire to establish Squatter Soy we're ignty
in all the Territories. The movements
of Alchison, SO far as the truth could be
drawn out of reluctant Witnesses, are
fully detailed in the report of the Con.
gressional Committee 10 Kansas.
But it may be well to notice some OF
the connecting links between the move
ments in Missouri and those in Washing
ton. The Governor of Kansas, true tc
his trust, denounced the invasion Of Kan.
sas by Atchison and his banditti, driving
off by violence the judges of election,
taking posses ion of the polls, making
new franchise laws 10 suit non-residents,
and bringing voters from foreign Slate,
to choose Legislators Tor Kansas.
Atchison in turn denounced the Gov.
ernor TO the President, and demanded
his removal. The President, perhaps
stll trembling under the burden of bis
pledge, or alarmed by Atchison's prac,
teal illustration of the Senatorial paBa
cea, "Squatter Sovereignty" hesitated,
and sought TO avoid the responsibility o.
an act so bold, by getting clear of the
Governor by other means. He fattered
coaxed, tried 10 intimidate, and finally
10 buy him off with better Office, bu
all in vain his integrity was inflexible
But Atchison must be obeyed /; and q
frivolous pretenee was seized upon Il
carry out the plan of the grand conspi.
raior. The direct CO operation between
Washington and Missouri-Presiden
Ptirce and Vice President Atchison, die
not stop here. The Territorial Judg,