The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-08-08
Slavery in Kansas.
I.ETTEI, FROM SENATOR MASON, OF VIRGINIA.
WINCHESTER. Va, July 22d, 1851.

WINCHESTER, Va, July 20, lSo"
To the Editor Of tie ".Sowh':
Dear Sir In your paper of Monday last
in an article headed "Nalker's Usurpation,
| observe the following paragraph:
but we are told that Hunter and Mason, and
other distinguished Southern Senators. in the
debate Oh the Nebraska Kansas bill. expressed
She same opinion, that Kansas must be free
state" &c.
I cannot undertake to say what opinions
may have been expressed by my honored
colleague. Or by other senators from the
South, in reference to the probable condition
of Kansas though. from u general know
ledge of their views in regard to that territory
| should not doubt that any opinions so cx-
pressed would have reference to circumstances
and contingencies necessarily qualifying them.
To avoid misconstruction. however. | think
it proper to say that never expressed the
opinion ascribed to me because never en-
tertaincl it. At the time the law passed
organizing the territorial government, there
were few with whom | conversed who did
not believe that the future state would take
its place with those recognising and cherish
ing the condition of African slavery. There
was at that time. certainly, every reason to
believe why this should be so: and none why
It should not The state of Missouri. Dor
,!ering It's eastern frontier, was slavehold-
ing state. holding at that time nearly an
hundred thousand slaves, and these were
chiefly held in the border counties.
The state OF Arkansas, adjacent to the ter
-. u, 81 ,nnl !
my state. The soil and climate Of kansas
were well adapted to those valuable products
chiefly hemp and tobacco, which gave value
to slave labor in Missouri The proximity
of its populatirnwith the attractions Of nc".
fertile and cheap land, believed would lca'!
the slavehol lcrs in Missouri to dltiusc them
selves speedily over Kansas. and the pro
hihitory Inc Of So 30 being ohlitera;ed. there
WAS no reason why they siiould not. had
no fear Of fair competition in such appropria-
ton of the new territory from any quarter.
lnf;,ir competition did no; look to.
What may Vet be the rcsul, Is to the con
dition of Kansas. Notwithstanding The extra
ordinary and INSCRIPTIONS efforts of Northern
-thclition;sts to force = population :hcr'. !
cannot undertake t" say. Nor VIII ai!'H'
in this rllcr to the new and unexpected
aspect now exhibited Of affairs in that telrl-
tory. with so mucii propricty rcprehrMdci III
III" columns Of the" South." Whatever may
be the Information of others. | certainly an
NJ: Sufficiently informed Of the existing STATE
Of things in t.",.Sa, to form 4 clear opinion
one way or tie ether; ", VII! venture 10
say this much. that if African slavery he
ultimately excluded trom Kansas, il viii be
effected hy tn numerical fore cr organized
m,joritic>, operating against the usual law ;
which govern crni grafton aid viii present
a ROW ard most instructive lesson to tic
Southern States.
Very respectfully, al yours, &C.,
J. Vi. Mason.
From the known influence Of the Virginia
Senator with the Administration. as well =
from recent events il Kansas. we infer that
. TIE now aA unexpected aSi cct Of "i'a!s II
tina, Territory with 50 much prophet! rep
rcE,ndeI in IT, columns Ct II, .>,':t. must
hcnccf,r;h hr rccho.eL among, the thing. ;ha'
were. Tn. >.u.h-not merely Tic Richmond
Journal hy"ri:.., Mat name Lat Tie people o.
the South tie a:i>,otracy OF Shareholders
Who mad" IN. present Administration. AND
by ri.ai Of e., ..;,a intend - control it, d.
maid tina, il :. Ii h. othc'w;sc Ans. what
is. or rather w., lhi~ terrible aspect q: a.
fairs in Kansas. tina, 81 st;rs In" Indignation
Of So;:;hprn Stockholders? Nothing mort
then simple declaration .ae!r and repeated
Ivy Gov. Walker. lha' he rr:nciple "t Pop"
lnr Sovereignty >ho'.ld be !'ay 4! apple! to
settle the controversy in regard to tn ii.>,i
tut us the future State III" SANE principle
which Northern Democrats. under tn" lead
Of Dougl:s X Co.. have been for four years
tyumpvtiuS to the public admiration in III.
free States: AND which they are still yaun,-
irc wherever it VIII serve their purpose tc
win peculiar favor. We would not without
reason d;,,ru>t the professions Of an: pol;'i-
c:l party. and We have no doubt that leading
u mocrsts North ard Seth have intrndyd
a;.A st:!! j.: :il to cary out III prnciri" Of
"Squa.tcr Sovereignty wherever they IMP
pen to constitute 4 minority Of the sovereign
party: but beyond that we confess to somc
doubts about their integrity. Circumstances
alter cases. The doctrine Was good in Kan
sas so low, as Strinrfrllow and AtriliS,n with
their hordrs Of Border Rutians had their own
WAY. but new when ,hc Free State settlers
can outIumbcr and outvotc them a: the polls
It must not even be talked Of thcrc-ccr:;i.i-
" ret bv the Governor Of the Territory. TIL,
theory too was good in the estimation of the
party in Minnesota while the Republican Del
esatcs to the Constitutional Convention wcr,
supposed to be in q minority. but not a whit
longer.
"But have not We lat the North) been told
that Hunter and Mason and other distinguish
ed Southern Senator's in the debate on tn,
Ncbraska-Kansas Bill, expressed the same
opinion that Kansas must be q free State?
We believe so, and thattao by the most rclia-
bic democratic authority. But it seems now
that we were misinformcd. for the Virginia
Senator aAirms that, At the time the law
passed, organizing the Territorial govern
mcnt, there were few with whom he convcrs
cd who did not believe that the future State
would cherish African Slavery: and further
more that there was at that time every reason
it would not This is, in effect. we believe
just what the Republican Press had from tho
fret crorfn1 op1 what II ctill ,OointoOc tl,,1