The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-05-29
a Terrible Responsibility Where does it Be-
IourT


A Terrible Responsibility Where does it Be-
long!
We publish to-day additional news from
Kansas, and shall endeavor to keep our read
ers fully posted as to the struggle going on
there. There is terrible responsibility rest
ing somewhere for the past and present of
Kansas, and the promised bloody future. We
have seen the beginning, but Heaven only
knows where the end will be. The free States
will send men to Kansas, and the slave States
viii not be behind. A terrible civil war seems
to be in prospect, which will transfer the title
dark and bloody ground to the fair territory
OF Kansas. Upon whom shall rest the respon-
sbility of this worst of all agitation on the
slavery question, which has yet blotted our
country's history? Does any one Doubt
Does the most ultra Democrat who throws up
his hat for Pierce, doubt that the Pierce Ad-
ninistration is responsible for this?
How stood we when this administration
came into power? Was there agitation and
strife, and section armd against section, and
brother armed against brother and father
against son, on the Slavery question, when
Fillmore gave the reins ofgoyernment into the
hands of Pierce? No. The whole country was
at peace. The slavery question was not only
considered settled, but the pronunciamentoes
Of party conventions had declared it settled.
There scarcely ever was less agitation on the
subject of slavery than when Pierce went into
power.
Every true patriot considered it his duty to
preserve the precious peace on this dangerous
question: which we were then enjoying, after
a bitter strife The National Democratic Con-
vertion told the people before they were called
upon to vote for Pierse-"that the Democratic
party will resist all attempts at renewing, in
Congress circuit of it, the agitation of the sla-
very question, under whatever color or shape
the attempt may be made The people be-
ieved them, or at least ri8hed them. How has
that pledge been redeemed? The Kansas-Ne-
braska bill is the foundation of all this agta-
ton. To the Democratic Administration,
pledged not to renew the slavery agitation in
or out of Congress, rests the responsibility Of
this measure. 1t was started by Douglas, and
endorsed by Pierce and made an administra-
ton. measure. The Democrat who refused to
endorse the iniquity, was no longer Demo
GRAFT. 1t was made test of party fealty. An
outrage in ITSELF a wrong upon the North, an
iIury to the South, and an insult to the whole
eauntry-to declare it such, or refusing to
yield it approval, was in a Democrat the de-
Ginning longer to be a Democrat. He was read
treated accordingly. Dare any one dispute
this? Yet acknowledging it, dare any one dis
pute that the Pierce Administration is respon-
sible for. the present slavery agitation. and
through it for the terrible scenes, the damnabla
outrages, now being enacted in Kansas?
If these scenes shock humanity-if through
them the very spirit Of true republicansm is
being outraged-if that which is now trans
piring in Kansas is appalling to the contem-
plation Of all good cltizens-why should not
their responsibility be brought home to where
it belongs? Even nolo the power of the ad-
ministration is against right and justice and
humanity, in Kansas. Yet are we to look
idly on? We do not urge the arming of forces
to be sent to Kansas to aid either party there
but we do insist that the great multitude Of
evils row inficting the people of Kansas and
disgracing the Union, were planted, nursed and
brought to full fruition by the Pierce admin
istration-that there is weighty responsible
ty-that this responsibility belongs to the
Democratic party and to them only-and that
the people should crush the party which has
voluntarily taken upon itself the responsibility
of creating civil war where before all was peace,
of arming neighbor against neighborand broth
er against brother, and drenching free-soil
with the blood of freemen.
GT Prof Larrabee, as editor of the State
Sentinel, endorses the acts Of the Border Ruff
fans in Kansas, their MURDERS destruction Of
printing presses, and outrages of every shape
Yet he wishes to be made Superintendent o.
the Free Schools of Indiana Before he car
l..