The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-20
AMERICAN LIBERTY IN KANSAS.

OI Mhsou uho biAoA hhss S"e "ho~o "s
has been cast in Kansas, Is not, vo appro-
hend, fully understood or appreciated By
the public. Tho real issue. as isn0w stands,
involves but remotely the Interests Of the
acknowledged slave: tho question Is, whesh-
or the white man Of tho North shall DO bond
or free.
Tho distinction between the sovereign
rights of tho States and tho powers Of the
general government, Is now universally rec
ogni.cd. The former, confined within the
borders Of State, arc sacred, and should the
general government overstep that limit, !"
panoplicd dignitics would fall away from It,
and II twould be assailcd as common enemy.
On the other hand. whom State or any COM
bination Of States, 60 beyond their borders
to invade territory Of the United States, II
needs not that we should pronounce the Act
an usurpation and a wrong.
The territory Of the Union Is the proper.
ty Of the government as nation; and the
citizens Of the nation. Us such, possess IL as
q heritage; they possess, too, asa necessary
incident, the absolute power to control 1t,
subject to the Constitution and they arc
bound, as correlativc duty, rightfuliy,
righteously, and in accordance with the
principles Of american liberty, to guard and
to govern 1t.
A community resident in tho territory Of
the United States Is the child, the ward Of
the nation. Tho people of the nation aro
its guardians. The patriarch statesmen
Benton, said rscently and rightly that
"Thc territories arc the property Of the
United States, and under the guardianship
of Congress, and subject to such laws as
Congress chooses to provide for thom, Tor
permit them to mako for thcmselycs) until
they become States and after that, (the
children arrived at twcnty-onc years Of aSeO
they are out Of guardianship, and have oil
the rights Of their father"
From these wcll.anchored truths, unques-
toned until southern aggression, allied with
northern treason, sought new and absurd
pretexts for war upon the Constitution, II
is certain that the people of the nation are,
of right, entitled to govern, and in duty,
bound to protect, every inch Of the nation.
al heritage. And each man is responsible,
in the forum Of conscience, for every wrong
committed within that jurisdiction against
which he has not to the uttermost contend.
ed. The duty is q grave and religious one:
if argument or reasonable concession will
fill the measure Of that duty, or If the in-
dignant rebuke of the ballo'-box will suffice,
it is well the patriot m.y be satisfied;
but il the usurpation aud wrong assume
darker and more fatal aspect, IL they men
ace and even effect the disruption Of the
most sacred obligations, and tramplc down
the most cherished and nccessaryrishts, then
the duty rises with the cxigcncy, and ws
cannot, without betrayal of tho trust re-
posed in us, shrink from such action rs the
nature Of the case, be it what 1t may, shall
invoke.
There is, in the Constitution, guaran.
tee Of republican freedom to every commun-
ity in the national family. 1t is in its spir-
it, still more obligatory upon our dependent
territories. That provision does not imply
an observance Of mere and empty forms,
but covers and consccratcs The hfsef liberty.
We find its meaning in the Bill of Rights,
and in the common law Of liberty inherited
from our fathers. Foremost in that sacred
category of vital privileges, are the freedom
of the press and the freedom Of spcech.-
No law that diminishcs, by the breadth ofa
hair or the weight of feather, the extent
or power Of that provision, can pcssess q
constitutional existence or authority. Tho
American atmosphere will not bear tho
voice Of the tyrant who prohibits that "a.
cred privilege. Tho American soil will not
endure the tread Of the slave who submits
to the mandate. The freedom Of the press
and speech is all Of liberty, for oTencc or
defence, that man realizes with that priv
ilcge men cannot be slayes-no matter for
'orH,S ol so'crhhe"'' "''H'a' J" "'" '"
not DO irce'
M . q, Ala, ,,.o s,,h;o;, crpsbca that rivht
The act that We suh)o'h crusncs 'n''f'sn
into the ear'h' anu covers u VIZ" wv "
aitics which are ohiy duc W '"c u'"A''
crimes There Is IN tins open ou'rass' no
aiiecta'ion oil concca'mch', no prs's.' ~
paiter'ns' no aPo'osy o'u's"' ue
po''Sm anu u ''''"' ''''' .Po" IN
hean' WIN nI,,s"'"' ,''v' ,, '''' '"' -.
need no secoha dow. anu '',N' "'' :" ,'o
Tree wiiicrhess-'n 'nc o''''" 'Po' =" %
continent dodica'ca 10 American pr'"V'P'"
and hopes In i'' a'rOc'oa' "fOnB anu