Demoine courier., 1856-10-09
seen. to prom ole and secure the happi
ness of all within its dominion. 1

ness OF all within its dominion.
j I will not insult your understanding by
J iniima,ing the other side Of the Argument
/ in this great cause; il 10 familiar to all.
The whole doctrine Of Freedom, as &C.
fined in the political institutions Of Free
States, 10 founded on sentimen. ,ha. re.
quires no argument to support it, but
there are other Incidental issues which
are of 70. less practical impor.ance than
the abstract doctrine above referred 10.
Before the election of President Pierce,
the great question which has so often
threatened 10 disturb the harmony Of the
American people was settled>saiisiaetori-i
ly to large majority Of them. North
and South. National Conventions 81
both of the grea. political divisions. con-
vcned before ,ha, election, had pledged
their constituency against all future ag-
tation Of the Slavery question. The
Presidential election Of 1852 was placed
| on this foundation by both parties, and
President Pierce was specially chosen
under the influence Of this imposing
compact, and in accordance herewith,
when about to make bis appea! to God
as witness to the sincerity 81 his oath
of fidelity 10 his trust, he pledged him
self to the whole American people that
his power should be exer,ed to preven.
all further agitation OF This dissracting
question. Can any one conceive
pledge more solemn, or tina. could be
made more irrevocably binding ,ssn this,
voluntarily agreed upon by all parties.
and universally approved as measure
Of public good and great national bless.
ing? r. a sae. .s
The promise of Chares I. TO maintain
The right of petition. the violation Of
which cost him his head. could no, COM
pare in imposing solemnity with tha.
which President Pierce made oh the 4,h
oil March, 1893. i
Can the history be credited which will
record the fact that, in less than nine
, months from ,La. time, he had engaged
, in conspiracy TO accomplish. IN its most
: obnoxious form, wha, he had ,hus prom
iseG TO respect! Thai he not only used
his olllrial power to effect the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise, and carry
Slavery into Kansas by iawless violence,
!, but that he entered into a conspiracy for
,ha, purpose, is susceptible Of inconiro-
ver,ible proof.
David Atchison was President OF the
Senate, 8. A. Douglas was Chairman Of
the COMMITTEE on Territories. The
tirst bin reported for the organization Of
Nebraska was sileh. rs to the Missouri
Compromise. The conspiracy was no,
then organized. The second bill con.
iained declaratory clause that the Mis-
souri, Compromise had, by means Of
some previous legislation. become mop.
eralive. This frivolous disguise was,
no doubt, the suggestion Of some timid
member of the consp racy probably
Gen. Pierce. "Conscience makes cow
ards Of Us ALL" Bu, il was soon ex.
posed, aad the acting manager, Douglas,
was obliged TO give the offspring new
dress.
!, Then, for the first time, the doctrine
Of Squatter Sovereignty was introduced.
. and new clause repeating the Missouri
Compromise was clothed in mincing
phraseology, full Of aRecta.ion Of grea.
regard for the inhabitants Of Territories
to make their own institutions.
II The plans Of the cons nspirators seem
now to have been settled, and they threw
of the mask. .A.chison. having left his
seat in the Senate, was busily complet-
ing his organization of Blue Lodges of
Brigards in Missouri. 10 force Slavery
upon Kansas by violence.
! The President Of the United States
was exerting all his power TO aid Doug.
Lac !and his associates in repeating the
Missouri Compromise, with professed
desire TO establish Squat'er Sovereignty
in all The Territories. The movements
Of Aichison, so far az the truth could be
drawn ou, Of reluctant Witnesses. are
fully detailed in the report of the Con.
gressional Committee 10 Kansas.
\ l. may be well 10 notice some Of the
connecting links, between the movements
Iin. Missouri and those in Washington
The Governor of Kansas, true to his
trust, denounced the invasion Of Kansas
by Atchison and his bandit,i, driving off
by violence the Judges Of election. tax
; ing possession of the polls. making new
franchise laws 10 suit non.residents, and
bringing voters from foreign State 10