Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-31

God, I know not what course others may
take but, as for me, give me liberty, or give
me death "
Appropos to the above we make some ex-
tracts from the Charlestcwn (South Carolina) |
Mercury:
The following letter of Gen, Atchison is of
tho highest poactical interest to the Southern
people, and it opens to them question which
they are to solve, either to their honor or dis
honor;
{From the Atlanta Eraminer
LETTER OF THE ION. D. r. ATCHIsoN, OF MISSOURI,
ON THE AFFAIRS OF KANSAS.
We embrace the earliest opportunity of pre-
sentiug to the people of Georgia and the South,
a letter from Hon D. R. Atchison, on the sub
iect of the affairs of Kansas, addressed to the
senior editor of this paper. 1t is letter we
feel satisfied will be read with intense interest
by every citizen of our state.
The distinguished gentleman who has penned
it, and by whose permission it is published, has
occupied, fora quarter Of century, at least,
an eminently high position among the states
men Of the Union; and, in the Senate OF the
URited States, over which he presided with so
much satisfaction to that body, at very recent
period, he fairly earned q reputation of which
few can boast, as an able and influential Sena-
ter, and an ardent advocate of Southern rights.
Upon the statement of such man, every Geor-
giau can rely. To his appeal every Georgian
should respond. He speaks of Kansas to the
South, for the sake not only of those who are
fighting its battles there, but for Missouri, our
sister, whose doom is certain in the event that
Kansas is abolitionized
Let your young men come forth to Missouri
and Kansas Let them come well armed, with
money enough to support them for twelve
months, and determined to see this thing out
One hundred true men will be an acquisition.
The more, the better do not see how ave are
to avoid civil war. Come it will Twelve
months will not elapse before war, civil war of
the fercest kind, will be upon us. We are
arming and preparing for it Indeed, we of the
border counties are prepared We must have
the support of the South. We are fighting the
battles Of the South Our institutions are at
stake. You far Southern men are now out of
the naive of the war, buff we fail, it will reach
your own doors, perhaps your hearths. We
want men, armed men. We want money; not
for ourselves, but to support our friends who
may come from distance. have now in this
house two gallant young men, from Charleston,
South Carolina. They are citizens of Kansas,
and will remain so until her destiny is fixed
Let your yonng men come on in squads as fast
as they can be raised, we'll armed We want
none but true men. Yours truly,
D. r. ATcHIsoN.
P. 81 would not be astonished if this day
laid the ground work for a guerrilla war in
Kansas have heard rumors of strife and bat
tie at Leavenworth seven miles from this place,
but the ice is running in the Mississippi river,
and have nothing definite. | was peace
maker in'the difficulty lately settled by Gov.
Shannon. | councilled the Ruflians to for
bearancc but will never again council peace
D. R. A."
Who can resist such an appeal! What citi.
zen or state in the South, can turn deaf ear
to it, and withhold that material aid which our
brethren in Missouri and Kansas so much need
Where are our young and adventurous men .
Where are the old with their slaves and their
wealth! Surely, if in the past, we have been
Indifferent and laggard, the time has arrived
when the South should awake to its peril, and
when Georgians whould maintain the reputation
for patriotism and fidelity to Southern insttu-
lions bequeathed to them by their fathers. The
Empire State of the SOUTH in all that is
enterprising, must also be foremost in repelling
the aggressions of the enemies of the South and
when she fails at the call of ssterstate to cx.
$ tend helping hand in a time of peril, such as
now threatens Missouri, we trust that the proud
appellation she bears will be heard of no more
e "PLArTE CITY, Dec. Is, 1855.
S Dear Sir Il have read with intense interest
e 50 much of Gov. Johnson's message to the Geor
4 gia Legislature, as refers to our Federal Rela
tions The question of slavery is the only one
OF vital Importance at this time. Men who
have the least interest in it are endeavoring t.
4 regulate and control the whole subject
The Governor recommends first, that the
: Legislature shall provide for the call of con
vention, upon the happening of a certain con
e tngency What is that contingency! If thu
! Federal Government shall refuse Kansas or an,
s other territory presenting itself for admission
: into the Union as state, because said territor,
: presents constitution similar, if not identical
= with that of Georgia, that then Georgia, in con
vention, will take steps to protect herself anC
It her institutions; in word, cut her connection
}, with the VI Mon. If, however, Georgia shows Il
}, determination, fixed purpose, to carry out tn,
e recommendations of the Governor, the contin
If gencies will not arise.
% expect to be u citizen of Kansas, and i
l. Kansas presents herself legitmately, having al
II the qualifications for state, and is rejected be
= cause her constitution recognizes slavery, then
Is as a citizen OF Kansas, | will contend that Kan
sls IS state, sovereign and independent, out O
the Union.
l. Kansas and Missouri have the same latitude
If climate and soil, and should have the same in
s. situations The peace and prosperity of bot
l. depend upon it. Kansas must have slave insti
1t buttons, or Missouri must have free institution
IS hence the interest the border rutHans tax
f. in Kansas affairs.
}, The border 'rufhans, assert and believe
n have shown more amiable, Christian and for
bearing spirit, than any other body of me
/ would have shown under similar circumstances
t Battalons OF men came on from the North, wit
a the open and avowed purpose of excluding slave
n holders from Kansas. Not only that, but pam
l. phlets were written, newspapers argued, an
v preachers preached that to abolitionze Kansa
d was to drive slavery from Missouri In this the
;, were right. 10 DO the one, is to do the othc,
Under these circumstances, what does it becom
US to do! What we have done, has been don
y in selfdefence. What we shall hereafter dc
h time alone will show. We are preparing fo
n the worst
IT the settlement of Kansas had been left I
, the laws which govern emigration, it would hay
III been slave territory as certainly as Missouri
ls a slave state. But inasmuch as those laws hay
So been violated and perverted by the force of NOR
i. ey', and powerful organization in the Mort
and East, 1T becomes the South to be IN an
)" doing and to send in population to counter
IN act the North. This can be done with a litt
of exertion. Thus far II few counties in Wester
ID Missouri have successfully encountered and d
:" feated this powerful organization. Let Georg
ar set the example What is to be done should
be done quickly. This course on the part of tt
ID South, will save Kansas to the South
.h bloodshed, civil war, and perhaps dissolutic
'n q f the Union itself.
re Your obedient servant, D. R. ATCuIsoN.
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