The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-21
KANSAS AFFAIRS.

The Herald OF freedom, OF the 10th ultimo,
published at Lawrence, Kansas, says that prep
arstions are going ON in Missouri, along the
border, for another invasion, military compa-
MES being organized and stores collected.
Generals Robinson and Lane have adopted
precautionary measures at Lawrence, organized
a regiment, and repaired the Notifications. To-
peka also being menaced, is preparing for de-
fence. The Herald Of Freedom says:
1.-The friends of Freedom in the East may be
prepared at any time to hear of the blow being
struck. When the war shall be opened again
in Kansas, it will be under different auspices
than on former occasions; it will be a struggle
IN earnest; and We appeal to our friends in the
North and East to hold themselves in readiness
to march at a moments notice to our rescue.
They may rest assured that the people of Kan
will stand upon the right, and that they will
die before they viii surrender"
Agents, commissioned by the People of Kan
sas, are already in the States, addressing public
meetings. At indianapolis, few days ago,
Judge Conway, formerly of Maryland, and Sam
uel C.. Smith, addressed crowded audience.
The deepest sympathy was shown in the Free
State movement, and preliminary measures,
without respect to party, were taken, to give
this practical form.
The Pro-Slayery party in Kansas, or, rather,
Missouri, is not less active. At meeting late
ly held at Leavenworth, agents were appointed
to visit the Southern States.
The Proclamation of the President can have
no effect III arresting emigration into the Ter.
ritory. So soon as the weather shall permit,
bands of emigrants will pour into Kansas, and
what authority will dare arrest them?
The Sqaatter Sovereign says:
General Atchison, with a company CT two
hundred of his neighbors, have made arrange
ments to move to this Territory early ir the
spring. He will locate in the neighborhoOd of
Atchison, where himself and friends will meet
with cordial welcome from the squatters in
this section of the Territory. 1t is the inten-
ton of General Atchison to engage in farming,
and for that purpose he will bring with him
number of slaves. Many of his companions,
who will accompany him. are capitalists and
large shareholders, and their settlement in this
section of the Territory is a consummation to
be devoutly wished for
He and all his company will go armed-but
will they be met and turned back by officers of
the United States, with the military at their
heels? Hundreds of armed emigrants, too, will
90 in from the free States-and who will arrest
their march? The Proclamation of the Presi-
dent, so far as it is intended to check such
movements, will prove dead letter. Neither
the Governor nor the United States officers
can act, so long as the emigrants shall abstain
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movement is intended by the Free State emf
grants-that they are not men of violence
that their purpose is honest and praiseworthy-
that they will not resort to force, unless COM
PEELED to do so in self-defence. If Atchison and
his followers adopt the same policy, there will
be no conflict, no call for the interposition of
the Federal Power. But who believes, after
the repeated outrages they have committed,
that they intend anything less than an armed
invasion of Kansas, and violent Intervention in
its affairs
Governor Shannon is now on his way +" d.
rect" to the Territory, having left this place
on the 10th. He will establish himself at lie.
compton, and thus be enabled to see the be-
presume, orders authorizing him to call upon
the United States military, if necessary. 1t is
evident that the power OF peace or war is, to a
great extent, lodged in his hands. His late
experience has no doubt taught him to look
before he leaps; to ascertain where the blame
lies, before attempting to inhict punishment
to distinguish between actual emigrants and
armed intruders; to avoid invoking the citizens
of one community to regulate the affairs OF
another; to rely first upon the real militia OF
Kansas, and then upon the arm of the Federal
Power. Should the military companies now
in training in Missouri make descent on
Kansas, and attempt repetition of the out
RACES which have already imperilled the best
interests of the Territory he cannot enroll them
as his militia, and carry fire and sword against
the people of Kansas who shall be acting in
selfdeience. Should he do so, civil war would
be inevitable, and no one could expect that il
would be confined to the plains of Kansas
Let him use the power with which he is in
vested, promptly, to prevent aggression and
violence, and there will be no danger; for the
| people of Kansas are neither aggressive noI
violent, but stand simply on the defensive
Defend themselves, however, they WILL and they
ought, all the Proclamations in the world to the
contrary notwithstanding. The right of self
defence no American citizen will surrender to
] any mandate.