The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-11

beholds as an impious enterprise that of our enc
mics, and cannot remain Indifferent seeing the law
of nstions trodden down and the weak oppressed by
the strong.
Message of the Governor of Michigsn-Kan-
sas and Slavery.
Governor Kinsley S. Bingham transmitted his an-
nual message to the Legislature of Michigan on the
9TH inst. The following are the views entertained
by the Governor in regard to Kansas and the sla-
very question:
At the last session of the Legislature felt it my
duty to call attention to the strenuous efforts made
by The general government to extend the area and
influence of slavery, and to the repeal of the Mis-
souri, compromise by the last Congress. Without
occupying your time with repetition of the reasons
then presented for resisting the ambitious schemes
of the few, comparatively, who are interested in
the extension of that baeful element of society,
embrace the occasion emphaticaly to reaffirm
them, and solicit for them your candid considera-
ton. Events which have since transpue !, which
now passing, and which are fOreshadowed in the fu
ture. confirm the gloomy apprehensions which were
inspired by the passage OF the Kansas Nebraska act
and utter voice OF warning which no patriot-no
lover of liberty and the right aud the privileges
cured by the constitution of the United States,
disregard. AS the bill itself was the work OF legis
lative craft framed, or attempted to be famed, in
such manner 10 enable the advocates of slavery
extension to insist that it authorised slavery in the
Territory, and those who dared not openly avow
that object, TO insist that it did notthus presenting
two opposite aspects to the country but being in its
visible purpose fraud upon the free States so has
the enforcement of il by the present federal Execu
tive and the instruments Of his power, evinced the
same spirit of fraud and injustice in which it had its
birth Scarcely had the Dill become law when the
people Of Missouri, inbabiting the borders, formed
associations with the avowed purpose of making
Kansas a slaveholdiDg country, and of excluding
and eXpelling all settlers who might not sympathize
with them To this end they early and unequivo.
caly announced their intention to employ force.
False and nfammatory rumors we're put in circula
ton, imputDg TO free State settlers the most crim
nal intentions, and among these the purpose to
discomfort among the slaves of Missouri, and to de-
coy them away from their masters. INSCRIPTIONS,
noisy and cunning demagogues performed tie work
of prOpagating calumny and false alarm, with such
skill and perseverance as to eectrify not only
the border population, but to attract to the
scene throDgs of reckless and lawless adventurers
from the slave States In November, 1854, at the
election OF delegate from the Territory to Con-
gress the different precincts we're entered by bands
of Missouri ans. all in favor of introducing slavery
into the Territory, but of them entitled to VOTE
who by intm dation and violence at the polls, u5urp
ed the elective franchise Of the people and sent a
delegate OF Il cir own choosing; 81 manifest was the
illegalty OF this cbO ce that the House refused
admit HIM 10 seat. But far more serious usurpa.
ton was practiced upon the people Of the Territory
the election held ia March, 1856. for members Of
the Territorial Legislature, Chat boiy to which the
| organic act gaze The power to permit or prohibit
slavery as they should think fit. Tie act declared
IN express terms, that the people of the Territory
were left perfectly free to and regulate their
own domestic institutions their own way subject
only 10 the constitution Of the United States" And
yet, although Kansas then contained not more than
three thousand legal vo'ers large majority OF whom
were unquestonsbly opposed to the admission OF
slavery, not less than $40 MissOurans having no
more tight TO vote at the polls had the inhabitants
of any other State entered the Territory in armed
bands with cavalry and artillery took possession Of
all the polls, save one, lnsulted, maltreaed, and
drove away the peaceable residents who came to
tlemSplvps
bers Of the Legislature persons known only for
| their violent hostility to the Tree State men.
The fact of this invasion and usurpation is placed
beyond doubt by mass OF testimony which there Is
no attempt 10 discred aud it furnishes to the
try and the world, the first instance where the will
oi an American community, professedly enjoying
the hight OF seli-goverument, has been completely
frustrated by violence. Tie fact stands q monu-
nent OF the Dangers to he apprehended from the
| slave power, and no right thinking man can view it
without the most fearful soliciude and alarm. This
| body Of men assumed to legslate for Kansas. They
enacted a code recognising the legal existence of
| slavery there, and INJECTING the severest penalties
| upon all who should act even speak against il
code whose atrocions provisions have been justly
pronounced, even by the supporters Of the Kans8
Nebraska act, as disgrace to the civilization OF
| the age
Ila, people from the free Sites should refuse to
| recognise the binding force Of laws thus imposed
| upon them, and reject a mseistracy to whose APP
pontment they had not consented. and whose prin.
| cpes and conduct we're hateful TO their feelings,
| was to lie eXpeoied-unless indeed, the deuson
was cherished that Northern men have no respect,
either ter their nights or for Themselves. That they
would not acquiesce in an election msnifestly
fraudulent nor in a Of legislation, which, by
violating the freedom Of speech and the press as
sailed the constitution itself-and by prescribing
odous test osths ard unhes ard Of disquaice ions OF
voters and jurors, sought to annul the most vital
provisions OF the organic act, easy 90 predict
as - know the character Of Northern ffeemen. And
yet the President Of the United States, fully aware
fba nxy.I al.
| Of the harbarous and unconsttu iona character of
the Legislature, has not scrupled TO lend hs san
ton to both, by actually employing the military
power as well as the appointing power, TO cons1m-
| nate the scheme OF forcing slavery into Kansas
and dragooniDg the free State men into sub
mission, or driving them out OF the Terri.
| tory. we haye no ground TO presume that this
scheme vii be abandoned The power which started
Will still prosecute ", aiming ~ II does, under
claim of constitutional right, to extend slavery into
all the Territories Of the United States The contest
between free labor and slave labor. between free
society and slave society, viii not probably termi.
| nate with the struggle in Kansas, whatever may be
the result there. History teaches us that privilege
| never restraiDs its ambition TO rule nor abates a
whit of its pretensons and long, in our couu-
try II surround tself with flatterers and para
sites, 1t will continue TO struggle for enlargement
| anc preponderance
Meanwhile we should not be unm'ndful OF the
| great Importance Of the question nov pending in
Kansas. Ii il not TO be forgotten that il WIS once
4
| has been wantonly ard ruthlessy wi,hdrayn-thlt
the authors OF the iaithless act have invited COM
petition between free State and slave Safe settlers
TO determine whether IL shall for the future be toe
happy home fer the tree abor ot the bar AZ pioneers
! OF our own, and the oppressed and banfshed Of
| other lands. or be blighted and cursed with
human boncaee-that on the part OF the slave
| power this contest which should have been peace
| ful one, has been marked by acts Of oppression
| and strociiy that would have disgraced a public
enemy processing TO be governed by laws Of war
| that free State men have been deliberately mur-
| dered-peaceful families guilty Of cnme save
dislke 10 slavery forcibly driven frCm then homes
| by narauders, their houses burnt or demolished,
| their effects pundefed and their lands taken from
| them--that whole settleDcn OF free Sta'e men
| have thus been broken up, robbed, and dispersed -
that others entering The luutry have been stJppei
their arms and property taken from them and they
| compelled 10 grapple with pinching want OF to 70
turn 10 their friends as best they cOud-that for d,
| tending their lives and property against armed
assailants of the opposite parry, settlers from the
free States including our own, have been seized and