New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-03-06
EANsAa IN CONGREss.

es,d and Peeder case The interest which attaches
TO the subject, as well as the ability with "acn
ia treated will secure to it general perusal.
That the essential spirit of Border Rufiaulsm has
supd if. wa, into Congress is evident from the sim
nile fact that minority of the same Committee haze
had the face to make report against an lnvestlga-
ton the circumstances relating to the election oil
Whitfield. Il is not only universally known 'ha'
the Kansas elections have been carried by armed
MissouriaDs overpowering, and in many cases actu'
ally driving the legitimate voters OF the Territory
from the polls, but the fact is acknowledged and
even boosted of BY the chief actors and leaders OF
the infamous invasion. Stringiellow, Atchlsoo,
and their confederates, have repeatedly admitted,
in repy 10 the accusation OF Border-Rulfan inter-
ference, that the Missourians did interfere and
carry the elections in Kansas; and that they meant
to do il agaiu.
With this fragrant boast thus before Congress, l
is surprising to fId anybody unwilling to enter at
once into full ard detailed examination oil tne
case in order that its merits may be reached with
absolute precision. To oppose such an inVesnsa-
ton beirays spirit of violence and Injustice, es-
sentially the same with that which inspired the
outrageous proceedings under review. For Con
ertss, or any party among its members, 10 refuse
TO adopt the Only means of an impartial exanlna-
ton of this question: is something disgraceiul to
any deberative body pretending to honesty or fair
ness No doubt legal bubbles enough can be found
upon which to rest such refusal. The subterfuges
and crooked ways of the Law are sufficiently nu-
nerous to hide any amount of lodging, kulvery
and chicanery. But the plain comm N sense and
common honesty Of the nation will revolt at this
unNilljnQness TO investigate such bold criminality
as was manifested at the Kansas elections. The
people everywhere believe that Of all the important
duties of this Congress, the most important is to
probe this Kansas question TO the bottom. They
are convinced that if the representatives OF the
people have any business at all at Washington, 1T
is to hold torch to the face of the vlllainy prac-
tced upon the unOfiending settlers of Kansas, and
TO unmask the wickedness that seeks TO enforce its
tyraDnical sway over them.
If Congress is unwilling to perform this duty, II
il undertakes virtually 10 indOrse the doctrine OF
the Border Rufiians-that might is right, and that
the rule of Kansas belongs no! to the people OF the
Territory but to the strongest battalions from
OIuCT BIdlts az ITO N'NN''"" S''
let il look well to the consequences II
could be guilty of no more serious, no
more inccndiary, no more revolutionary act. 1t
would be equivalent to saying to the people OF all
the States that Kansas is simply a battle-ground
that force is the measure of justice and equity for
that Territory; and that all that remains is for those
interested to 90 there and fight it out. Let
Congress beware let its action should stimulate to
intense heat the already burning sentiment that
fills the breasts of millions in the North.
The country expects Congress to be measuraoiy
honest and decent in treating the Kansas question
Ii expects the National Legislature to protect the
people of that Territory in the exercise of the rights
that have been trampled upon by the armed and
staggering sem-savage hordes who prowl around
its borders and drink whisky in the wake
Of Atchison and StringfellOw. The people
everywhere mean that the settler OF Kansas
shall be fully protected, and that those
who have wIested his rights from him shall
be made to disgorge the plumber. What sort OF
Justice and fair play is that advocated by Toombs
in the Senate and Stephens in the House, when
they say that Kansas having got "a legislature and
representative in Congress, no more questions are
to be asked; and that the people of that Territory
must quietly submit to their lot without inquiring
into the awless Outrages which have imposed these
yermin upon them as legislators and law-gvers
Such nsoence as this is something more than ESPECIAL
pleading and quibbling over legal forms. To as
sert such monstrous proposition is to outrage and
insult every manly impulse. If Congress is to
take its inspiration direction from such counsels
as these the sooner it adjourns the better. 1t will
prove to be no allayer of strife 10 harmonizer of
irritatiOns, but promoter OF both.
Kansas is to-day enduring an infamous tyranny.
1t is ruled by robbers. Not robbers of gold and
silver, but robbers of deeper dye and worse
grade of crime BY men, who are the agents of
political highwaymen, who have ruthlessly seized
the rights of the honest settler, and left him des
titute as the Carolina negro, of every political pre-
negative, save those which his own right hand,
grasping one of Sharp's rifles, can secure TO him.
To hear Senators and Representatives declare In
their seats that investigation into this state OF
things should be made, and, of course, no steps
taken to right this mighty wrong, is enough to stir
the bones of our Revolutionary sres in their graves
No investigation, Mr. Toombs No investigation,
MIR. Stephens This doctrine might go down yer
well on the plantation touching an inquiry into the
nature Of the rule exercised over the enslayed
blacks. But it is a doctrine which will not 60
down when the right of the Slave Power to rule
the free werkingmen of the North in Kansas
is the issue at stake. The Legislature of Kansas is
usurpatioD. Whitfield, the sitting Member in Con-
cress from that Territory is pretender The whole