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

beholds as an impous enterprise that of our enc
mics, and cannot remain Indifferent seeing the law
of nations trodden down and the weak oppressedb by
the strong.
Message of the Governor OF Michigan-Kan-
sas and Slavery.
Governor KiDsley S. Bingham transmitted his an
nual message to the Legislature of Michigan on the
9TH inst. The following the views entertained
by the Governor in regard to Kansas and the sla-
very question:
At the last session of the Legislature felt it nv
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 baleful element of society
embrace the occasion emphatically to re.afrm
them, and solicit for them your candid consdera-
tion Events which have since transpire which
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 pstrios-no
lover of liberty and the right aud the privileges,
cured by the constitution of the United States can
disregard. As the bill itself was the work OF legs-
lative craft framed, attempted to be famed, in
such manner as 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 tree States; so has
the enforcement of it by the present federal Execu
tive and the instruments Of his power, evinced the
spirit of fraud and injustice in which it had its
birth. Scarcely had the bill become law when the
people of Missouri, inhabiting the borders formed
associations with the avowed purpose of making
Kansas a slaveholdipg country, and of excluding
and eXpelling all settlers who might not sympathize
with them. To this end they early and unequvo-
cally announced their intention to employ force.
False and inf1ammatory rumors were put in circula
ton, mputDg to free State settlers the most crimi
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 End false alarm, with such
skill and perseverance as to electrify 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 ntm dation and violence ut the polls, usurp
ed the elective franchise OF the people and sent
delegate OF IL cir own choOsng 81 manifest was the
illegaity OF this choice that the House refused 70
admit him to seat. But far more serious usurpa.
tion practced upon the people Of the Territory
AT the election held ia March, 1866 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 FORM and regulate their
own domestic institutions IN their own way, subject
only TO the constitution of the United States" And
yet although Kansas then contained not more than
three thousand legal o'ers large majority Of whom
were unquestionsbly opposed to the admission of
slavery, not less than 800 NissOurians, having no
right TO vote at the polls than 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, insulted, ed, and
drove away the peaceable residents who came to
trd md hucr ntn
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 OF testimony which there is
attempt TO discredit and il furnishes to the coun
try and the world, the first instance where the will
oi an American community, professedly enjoying
the light OF seligoverumeDt, has been completely
frustrated by violence. Tie fact stands as monu-
nent Of the dangers to be apprehended from the
slave power, and right thinking man can view it
without the most fearful solictude and alarm. This
body Of men assumed TO legislate for Kansas They
enacted code recognising the legal existence of
slavery there, and INJECTING the severest penalties
upon all who should act or even speak against il.
a code whose atrocious provisions have been Justly
pronounced even by the supporters Of the Kansas
Nebraska act, as q disgrace to the civilization OF
the age
Tia, people from the free Stltes should refuse to
recognise the binding force of laws thus imposed
upon them, and reject a magistracy TO whose ap-
pointment they had not consented, and whose prin
ciples and conduct we're hateful to their feelings
was to he eXpecied-uness, indeed the delusion
was cherished that Northern men have no respect,
either for their nights for Themselves. That they
would not acqulesce IN an election SO msnifestly
fraudulent, nor in course Of legislation, which, by
violating the freedom Of speech and the press, as
sailed the constitution itself-and by prescribing
odlous test 0sths ara unhesrd Of disquacs ions of
voters and jurors, sought to annul the most vital
provisions OF the organic act was as easy 90 predict
as - know the character Of Northern ffeemen. And
yet the President Of the United States, fully aware
that .A... ..sIl
Of the haIbarous and unconsttu ional character of
the Legislature, has Dot scrnpled TO lend his sane
ton to both, by actually employing the military
power az well As the appointing power, to cons1n.
rate the scheme OF forcing slavery into Kansas
and dragooning the free State men into sub
mission, or driving them out OF the Terri
tory. we have no ground to presume that this
scheme viii be abandoned. The power which started
will still prosecute IT, aiming ~ 1t does under q
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, will not probably termi.
nate With the struggle in Kansas, whatever may be
the result there. History teaches that privilege
never restraDs its ambition 10 rule nor abates a
whit of its pretensions; and long, in our couu-
try II can surround itself with atterers and para
sltes, II VIII continue to struggle for enlargement
and preponderance
Meanwhile we should not he unm'ndfu OF the
great Importance Of the question nov pending in
Kansas. Ii is not to be forgotten that IL was once
has been wantonly ard ruthlessly wi,hdrawn-thit
the authors OF the athess act have invited com.
petition between free State and slave ate settlers
20 determine whether il shall for the future be the
happy home fer the tree labor Of the bar Az pioneers
Of our own, and the oppressed and banished of
other lands. or be blghted and cursed with
human bonoage--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 atrocify that would have disgraced a public
enemy processing 20 he governed by laws Of war
that tree State men have been deliberately mur-
d-peaceful families guilty Of crime save a
dislke to slavery, forcbly driven frJm then homes
by narauders, their houses burnt OF demolished,
their effects plundered and their lands taken from
them--that whole settle ncpts OF free Sta'e men
have thus been broken up, robbed, and dispered-
that others entering the untry have been stopped,
their arms and property taken from them. aud they
compelled TO grapple with pinching want or to re-
turn to their friends best they cOud-that for d.,
tending their lives and property against armed
assalsnts Of the opposite party settlers from the
free States including own, have been seized and
charged with murder, and tried for that hig