Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-09
oe DOLLAR PER ANNJN, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.

|
ment is delusion.p Such are the doctrines
and principles now at work undermining the
very foundation of political system devised
by some of the best and wisest men the world
has ever seen, to promote and secure the hap
piness of all within its dominion
| will not insult your understanding by in
timating the other side of the argument in this
great cause it is familiar to ALL The whole
doctrine of Freedom as defined in the political
institutions of Free States, is founded on a
sentiment that requires no argument to support
it but there are other incidental issues which
are of not less practical Importance than the
abstract doctrine above referred to. Before
the electionof President Pierce the great qucs-
ton which had so often threatened to disturb
the harmony of the American people was set
tied satisfactorily to large Majority of them,
North and South. National Conventions of
both the great political divisions, convened be-
! fore that election, had so.cmnly pledged their
constituency against all future agitation OF the
t Slavery question. The Presidential election
of 1852 was placed on this foundation by both
parties and the present Chief Magistrate was
! specially chosen under the influence Of this i'm
! posing compact and in accordance Herewith,
when about to make his appeal to God rs a
witness to the sincerity of this oath of fidelity
to his trust, he pledged himself to the whole
! American people that his power would be eX-
| erted to prevent all further agitation Of this
dStractin@ and dangerous question Can any
! one conceive of u pledge more solemn or that
could have been made more irrevOcably bind
| ing than this voluntarily agreed upon by all
! parties and universally approved as a great
measure of public good and great national bles
! sing ?
The promise of Charles l. to mantain the
right OF petition, the violation of which cost
/ hn his head, could not compare in imposing
! solemnty with that which President Pierce
made on the 4th Of March, 1852
Can the history he credited which will re-
cord the fact, that, in less than nine. months
! from that time, he had engaged in a conSpira-
! Cy to accomplish, in its most obnoxious form,
/ what he had thus promised to resist ! That
he not Only used his official power to effect the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, and carry
! Slavery III to the Territory Of Kansas by law
! less violence, bnt that he entered in q couSpi
t racy for that purpose, is susceptible Of incol-
! trovertiblc proof
| David AtchGOn was President Of the Sen
| ate S. A. Douglas was Chairman Of the Com
mittee On Territories The first bill reported
| for the organization of Nebraska was silent as
| to the Missouri Compromise. The conspiracy
was not then organized The second bill con
tanned q declaratory clause that the Missouri
| Compromise had, by means of some previous
| legislation, become imperative. This frivolous
! disguise was, no doubt, the suggestion OF some
! timid member member of the conspiracy pro
| badly General Pierce "Conscience makes
towards Of US ALL" But it was soon exposed,
and the acting manager, Douglas was obliged
! to give the offspring new dress
Then, fer the first time the doctrine of
Squatter Sovereignty was introduced, and a
new clause repeating the Missouri Compromise
was clothed in q mincing phraseoogy, full of
affectation Of great regard for the right of the
inhabitants Of Territories TO make their own
Institutions
The plans Of the conspirators seem now to
have been settled and they threw off the mask
Atchison, having left his seat in the Senate
was busiiy completing his organization of Blue
Lodges of Brigands in Missouri to force Sa-
very upon Kansas by violence.
The President of the United States was eZ-
ertng al! his powers to aid Douglas and his
associates in repeating the Missouri Compro-
mise, with profcssed desire to establish Squat
ter Sovereignty in all the Territories. The
movements of Atchson, so far as the truth
could be drawn out of reluctant witnesses, are
fully detailed in the report Of the Gongresson-
al Committee to Kansas. -s-
1t may be well to notice some Of the con
Meeting links between the movements in Mis-
souri, and those in Washington. The Governor
of Kansas, true to his trust denounced the in
YaSion Of Kansas by AtchiSon and his banditti,
driving off by violence the Judges Of election,
taking possession Of the polls, making new
! franchise laws to suit non residents, and bring
, ing voters from foreign State to choose leg
islators for Kansas.
Atchison 10 turn denounced the Governor to
the President, and demanded his removal. The
President, perhaps still trembling under the
burden Of his pledge, or alarmed by Atchison'S
practical illustration of the Senatorial panacea,
"Squattcr Sovereignty" hesitated, and sought
to avoid the responsibility of an act so bold,
by getting clear of the Governor by other
means lie hattered, coaxcd tried to intimi-
| date. and finally to buy him off with a better
Office but all in vain-his integrity was in
! flexible. But Atchison must be obeycd, and
| a frivolous pretense was seized upon to carry
ont the plan Of the grand cOnspirator. The
direct cooperation between Washington and
Missouri President Pierce and Vice President
Atchison-dd not stop here. Work had been
prepared in Kansas for the courts. The Ter
ritorial Judge was suspected of being too high
minded and independent for the business Atchi-
son required, and was also removed and anoth-
er appointed, who fully answered the purpose
! for which he was chosen, and whose name will
fill niche in American history similar to that
occupied by the notorious Jeffreys in English
history.
Laws had been passed, which, Ike those of
Draco, might be said TO have been written in
blood To begue public opinion, the hue and
| CRY nf law and ordcr was raised by the same