The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-15
onno.i,iop 10 the people of Kansas.

,, , scheme fell to the part Of this aptly chose
legislature. It became its duty to enact
code Of laws by which the Free State settler
, should be thoroughly dragooned into dunn
and blind submission to the policy OF IN
victors. Fearful Of the validity Of institut
ing slavery in territorial government by al
express law, they artfully assume that it oil
ready exists there, and then proceed t.
frame full array Of statutes for its defence
armed, as we see, with penalties that woult
give edge to the bloody code. Of Draco.-
Merely to bring INTO the territory anything
in print calculated to produce disorderly dis
affection among slaves, land border rufhar
judges and juries are to decide rs to the
tendency of any such document; for no man
who does not admit the right to hold slaves
in the territory is allowed to be juryman
in cases where slavery is at oil implicated),
subjects an individual to IMPRISONMENT AND
HARD LABOR for term not less than FIVE
YEARS. And merely to maintain by spoken
srords, that persons have not the right to
hold slaves in Kansas, is madea felony, to
be punished with imprisonment and hard
labor for term not less than TWO YEARs.-
And the statutes provide for the carrying
out of the penalty in this characteristic way.
The keeper is to set the convict at labor up
on the streets, highways, public buildin.s
and other public works, or to hire him out
to private persons, as slaves are hired out in
the South, and cause him while thus engag-
cd, to be securely confined by a chain sir feet
in length, Of not less than four.siIteenths,
nor more than three-eighths Of an inch
links, ,rith round ball Of iron of not less
than four, nor more than ar inches in dam
etr attached, which chain is TO be securely
fastened to the ancle with strong lock and
key. And in certain circumstances Of COM
mon occurrence, he is to add other refine
ments Of cruelty, which are specified in the
act alluded to. All this for the exercise of
the commonest rights, the denial Of which,
by authority, would, in the first hour create
universal revolt in Pennsylvania or in any
State Of the Union. We need not here ex-
anime the code any farther. 1t is these
laws that Senator Clayton, few weeks
since, proposed to repeal, denouncing them,
in detail, as in conflict with the organic law
of the territory, and aagrantly unconstitu.
tional as well as atrocious and bloody in
their character. The time will come when
no man will have the hardihood to defend
them; and even Stringfellow will yet blush
to be taxed with their paternity. Well
does Gen. Cass affirm, though ut very
late day, that they are a disgrace to the
age. .... -..
But it is said that the recent bill of Doug
las and Toombs provides for the repeal of
this code. 1t docs SO in part (; and, there
fore, excites some strange reflections in the
mind of one who has watched the varying
aspects of this question from first to last
We cannot but reflect on the melancholy
fate Of popular sovereignty, once so vaunt-
ed, but which Douglas himself has thus laid
at the feet of Congress,-its high perosa-
tive Of making laws, dcspoiled and lost for
ever. Yesterday, it might have stood
against the world /; now. none so poor to
do 1t reverence !" But the repeal of these
statutes opens our eyes to something more
than the folly, to the political depravity OF
men in high places. For more than year
these statutes have been in existence; yet
the authors and abettors of tho Kansas In.
iquity, have seen nothing fragrant in them.
They have met oil accusations to that effect,
with stout and indignant denial. Up to a
recent date every man who resisted these in.
famous laws and the authority on which
they were based, was stigmatized by the
reigning powers as q rebel and traitor and
all the strength Of the Federal government
was pledged to crush the traitorous recu
SAINTS, and maintain 1nd enforce these laws.
The pledge, thus far well kept, as unhappy
Kansas knows to its cost, was solemnly re-
newed, amid great pomp of circumstance, n,
Cincinnati. Trmes.'havc changed since then.
Perchancc the prophetic means Of coming
storm have been heard, the swelling and
gathering indignation of an outraged pco
pie, which threatens to sweep the land OF
those who have betrayed its dearest inter
ests and sullied its brightest glorics. What.
ever the cause, their eyes seem now to be
opened. And they do not hesitate, even by
the power of Congress, so lately contemned
and denied, to expunge and erase those
laws from the statute book of the distant,
sovereign territory. Thus have we learned
how far we may confde in both the intelli-
sence and the good intentions of those who
are to administer our government to the
fourth Of March next.
Whatever plausible appearance the new
Kansas bill (which under the auspices ol
Toombs and Douglas has passed the Senate,
and now awaits the action of the House, }
may wear on its surface, we are morally
sure that the authors Of It have not changed
their principles or abandoned thoir purpos.
es. There is q perfect unity of design in
all the acts Of this dark drama, for tho frs,
shameful violation of public faith in the re.
peal of the Missouri Compromise, down to
the latest act Of border rufRan outrage, in.
cluding the part that was performed on the
floor of the Senate, when distinguished
opponent Of the plot was laid weltering In
his own blood; and We may add that there
is a corresponding unity of political char
acter ON the part Of those who are carving