The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1856-01-25
Letter Of the Hon. ID. r. Atchison, of Mis-.
souri, on the Affairs Of Kansas.
,5..S,gSE Platte Cry. Ter 5:1a6s

souri,, on the Affairs OF Kansas.
~ PLATTE Cry, Dec. i 5, 1855.
Dear Sir: / have read, with intense inter
est, SO much Of Governor Johuson's Mes
Sage to the Georgia Legislature, as refers to
our r"Federal Relations" The question of
/, slavery is the only one of vital Importance
Mt this time. Men who have the least inter
est in it are cntlcavoring to regulate and
control the whole subject. Massachusetts,
State as far removed from the institution
of slavery aud stakeholder rs any other in
the Uuion, leads the van in the crusade; a
State that has advanced as little money.
and certainly shed less blood for the acoui-
.sition of Territory, either slave or free, than
any4otlscr, "leads in. the war'' against our
Institutions have no disposition now to
go farther into this matter, but my object is
TO interchange opinions with you, and to
give very brief listoryeof parties in Kan
sas up 10 this time. must, however. be
permitted TO say, that, in my opinion, the
recommendations Of your Governor are wise.
and, If acted on by the Legislature, will
have tendency, at least for a time, to
check aggression OIL TIE part of the North.
It will furnish some evidence that one
Southern State is resolved to conccdc no
farther. 81 s 80
The Governor recommends, first that the
Legislature shall provide for the call of a
Convention, upon the happening of certain
contingency. What is that contingency 2
1t the Federal Government shall refuse
Kansas or any other Territory presenting
itself for admission into the Union as State,
because said Territory presents Constitu-
ton similar, if not Identical, with that Of
Georgia, THAT then Georgia, in Convention,
will take steps to protect herself and her
institutions in word, cut her connection
with the Union. II, however, Georgia
showsa determination, a fixed purpose, to
carry out recommendations Of the Governor,
the contingencies will not arise.
= Iexpect to be citizen of Kansas, and if
Kansas presents herself lcgitimateIy, having
all the qualifications for a State, and is re-
jected because her Constitution recognizes
and protects slavery, then, as a citizen of
Kansas, I will contend that Kansas is a
State, sovereign and independent, out Of
the Union.
When Kansas was opened up for settle.
ment, by white men, people from all the
States rushed into, and settled in it, each
carrying with him hisrwife and children.
his goods and chattels, ard his peculiar
opinions on all subjects I think I can
safely say that large majority of the pco-
pie above described were from slave States.
aud particularly from Missouri. There was
another class Of cmigrants to Kansas, and a
very large class too, men sent at the ex
pense and under the auspices Of certain
"Emigrant Aid Societies." for the express
and avowed purpose Of Selling upon the
Territory, and by their votes to exclude
slavery and shareholders. MANY of them
were rash enough to avow their purpose; in
the event Of failure at the ballot box, to
drive them by force of arms from the Ter.
ritory! The first trial Of strength between
the Abolitionists and pro-slavery men, came
OH in November, 1854. It resulted in the
election of Gen. Whitfield, the Pro-SIavery
candidate, by an overwhelming majority.
sin March last, an election was held for
members Of the Territorial Legislature, with
the same result. The Legislature met and
adjourned after enacting code of laws for
the government of the Territory. Tie Kan
sas code will compare we'll with the best
codes OF any OF the States. The Abolition
lists repudiate the Legislature, and declare
tito be their intention 10 resist the execu
ton of the laws. On the other. hand, Gov
ernor Shannon declares it to be his purpose
to execute the laws. In this he will be sus-
tainet by q very large portion Of citizens
Of Kansas. In the month of October. last
an election was again held for a delegate to
fGeDgress7-the time and manner oficonduct-