The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-11-22

the superior yigor of the Pro- Slavery
party in the United States. In the great
battle e-6eld of Kansas, that party has so
far succeeded iu overcoming their Free
State opponents with lan,entable results.
Much blood has been spilled and prop
erty- destroyed. That's collision was st
hand was only too evident when the ve-
hement spirits of both parties had been
iocking TO this arena on the systematic
scheme of Strengthening their respective
causes. The tone adopted by both-es-
pecially by the representatives of south
ern interest--has been such as could not
possibly be expected to end in idle va
poring, unless the Americans are differ
ent from ourselves. When, however,
whole population goes about armed, not
only with aeopious vocabulary of provo
cation and abuse, but with reyolyers and
knives, and when natural sympathy be-
tw cen man and man, citizen and citizen,
had given way to natural thirst for de-
struction, it was clear that the outbreak
might come any day. There had been
several small outbreaks. and it was mat
ter of accident they did not spread fur
ther. Now, it appears that there has
been one more extensive, more sanguin-
ary, and, We fear we must add, more de-
cisive, than any before. The slaye-own-
ers and their friends feel more and more
that their cause demands the most reso-
lutte and desperate measures. 1t cannot
stand the test of numbers, it must be
beaten in debate it does not appeal 10 a
cold -blooded reason it is positively at
war with what is commonly called hu-
manity; it has not leg to stand upon.
1t must go to the wall, then, unless it
makes up for its weakness by greater en-
ergy, daring, promptness, and unscrupu-
lousness. The man who resolves at any
risk to destroy half dozen others who
have no such resolution, or who are
merely thinking what to do, is danger
GUS enemy, for, though they can do more
harm than he does, he does more than
they. The three or four hundred thou
sand slave owners in the Southern States,
whom few years ago it was the fashion
to represent as in daily fear of their lives
from their own slaves, have actually car
ried the war into the enemy's country,
and are formidable to the Free States ol
the North.
Many viii be surprised at the news,
and still more at the comment that this
is likely to prove no insulated fact, NO
mere accident, but the operation of a
great social law. No doubt there are
certain institutions and certain opinions
and habits that tend to powerand donin-
ion. The Romans were not more civil
lied than the Etrurians and their other
neighbors they were not more moral OF
more religious. or superior in any good
sense, but simply determined TO conquer
at all events, while the others. were not
The Macedonians were no better than the
Athenians in aRy respectable sense. Ii
like manner, the Normans were hard.
determined, tyrannical race, accustomed
to lord it over their vassals, living il
continual alarm, familiar with battles
forays, seiges, plots and all kinds OF hor.
rors. They held life very cheap. regard.
ed the lower class as different order o.
beings, created for the pleasure and con.
venience of their masters. and for their
own part, preferred death to submission.
In this rugged school-not in colleges
or merchants offices, nor in senates OF
libraries-were trained the men who con-
quered half of Europe. and founded fam
lilies that flourish to this day. Now, il
is rather remarkable that it has often been
observed the Americans have not passed
through the feudal system, and to this
have been ascribed some of their national
weaknesses. On the other hand it has
also been remarked that slavery is the
best substitute for the feudal system, and
the nearest approach to the Norman bar
on is to be found in the planter, lording
with rod of iron over his vassals, and
well knowing that he can only keep up
his superiority by meeting every emer-
gency with the rapidity of lightning, by
making the seyerest examples, and by
leaving it in no mans power to say that
be had defied or insulted his lord with
impunity. The people who write novels
and essays against Slavery, who form
associations and collect subscriptions
they also who deliver interminabie har-
rapgues in the Congress, are no match
for antagonists who pounce with the ra-
pidity of an eagle on their prey. and cut
short deep policy or an elaborate train