Squatter sovereign., 1856-04-29
ADDRESS OF
HON. THOMAS L. CLINGMAN,
ON THE POLITICAL CONDITION AND PROSPECTS,
OF THE COUNTRY.
Continued from last Week.1

Two years since, when the act organiz-
ing the Territories of Kansas and Ne
braska, was passed, it repealed the restric-
ton of 1920, known as the Missouri line.
and left the people who might inhabit
those Territories, asliberty either to adopt
or reject slavery, as they saw fit. This
was right in h=elf, and in accordance with
the principles Of the constitution. Nor
was there any ground whatever for the
complaint of its enemies, that 1t violated
an old compromise, because the North,
the very year after that restriction was
adopted, refused to recognise it as COM
dated it, and utterly refused to extend its
operation to the new Territory. But it is
sometimes said that, though the repeal of
this prohibition was right in principle, yet
it was inexpedient. and has created agita-
ton. In my judgment, it was a wise mea-
sure, and the agitation to which it has
given rise, would have occurred on any
other practical issue that might, sooner or
later, have arisen. And if the strength
of the anti-slavery feeling in the North is
So great that such measure cannot be
sustained under the circumstances of its
passage, then that feeling has already at
tanned a power that will most probably be
fatal to the continued existence of the
government. On the other hand, the suc-
cess of its principles will give permanent
repose to the country.
When the bill was yet pending before
Congress, the abolitionists, and others who
sympathized with them, held large meet
ings, and declared that if it became law
they would raise money and hire bodies of
men to. go into the new Territory and ex-
clude slavery from it. They accordingly
formed societies, and collected large sums
of money, and sent off great many per-
sons to control the elections in Kansas.
Finding, however, that they were defeated
by the settlers in the first instance, they
continued to forward large bodies of abo-
litionists, and other ruffians, armed with
rifles, cannon, and the like weapons
They avow it to be their purpose to take
possession of and hold the Territory by
force, without regard to the laws passed
by the Legislature. In pursuance to this
determination, they have pretended to
| form State constitution for themselves,
and, stimulated by their leaders in the
northeast, declare it to be their purpose
to resist the laws already IN force in that
Territory. The President, therefore, in
| accordance with his duties as prescribed in
the constitution, has taken the necessary
steps to sec that the laws are enforced.
1t is, therefore, not at all improbable that
bloody collision may occur in the Terri
tory, between the traitors employed by the
tabolitionists and the friends Of the consti-
tuition and laws. That such an occurrence
is to be greatly regretted, cannot be de-
MED by any real patriot. The response
bility must rest on the abolitionists, In
spite of the efforts of some Of their secret
allies to charge it on the authors Of the
Kansas and Nebraska bill. If body of
infdels should enter church and create
disturbance, it might as well be said
that those who had built the church and
attempted to worship in it, were response
bic for the mischief, as that the Legislators
of the last Congress are to be blamed FOR
the efforts of those wrong-doers to defeat
| the operation of the law.
| Whether collision occurs there or not,
in nowise affects the Importance of the
great issue to be determined by the coun-
try during the next twelve months. The
coming Presidential election is more ina
portant than any which has occurred since
the organization of the government.
Should the party of the constitution tri-
umph, it is probable that the anti-slavery
feeling of the North, under the enlighten-
ing discussion which is taking place, aided
by time for reflection, viii subside, and al
low the government to move on IN the
even tenor of its way. But should our ad.
versaries succeed, it is hardly to be hoped
that our system would long survive. Il
any one imagines that they would stoI
with the restoration of the Missouri line
or any other partial measures, he is gross
ly deluded. The object which the mana
igers have in ylew, is the total abolition o
slavery. the raising of the negroes to equali
Ity with US, and the aInalgatlon of ths
white and black races, and. by conse
iquence, the destruction of our society ant
the ultimate certain extinction of the by
brid race. Nothing less than this vii
satisfy our enemies on the other side Q