Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-07-22
TOT t0e OPectUVT.
The Kansas Emhraglio.

uC lAduSoo 4<NAUAVSAAVs
MesnY Editors In the last Petersburg Intel
igencer there is communication bearing the
signature of Mr. r. K. Collier, gentleman o
vast intelligence and great moral worth, in ref
erence to the difficulties that have grown ont Of
the Kansas Nebraska bill, in which he asserts
that, so far rs he knows, he and another gentle.
man (Hon. John NJ. Bolts, presume he means
though lie leaves him nameless) were the only
two gentlemen in Virginia who expressed, at the
time Of its passage, opinions against the enact
ment Of the Kansas Nebraska bill, and foretold
the evil results that were TO flow from it. Now
this is not the first time have heard this, or aslIn
liar statement made, and yet am surprised that
man of SO much intelligence and general lntor-
nation as Mr. Collier, should fall into so gross al
error. There were several other gentlemen III
Virginia who entertained and expressed" o.
pinions against the passage of the Kansas Ne
braska bill, and predicted,a in the most emphat-
ic terms, that it would prove Pandoras box
out of which would flow unnumbered ills to the
whole country, and to the South particularly
Among others who entertained and expressed
these opinions may be named the late lamented
Tyre Maupin, then editor Of the HarriSon6urg
Republican; DR.. G. X. Gilmer, then editor OF
the Virginia Messenger, of your own town, and
the editor of at least one other paper--aE up
Valley paper, the name of which have forgot
ten. The Va. Messenger of the 9Th of April,
1854. speaking of the Kansas bill, pronounced
it "tho most entirely unwise and uncacd for
measure ever introduced into our National
Councils-a measure fraught with more danger
to the perpetuity of our glorious Union than a.
nytling the vilest tiend incarnate could have in
vented 1t is one of those things that have not
a single releeming trait about them-not par
ticle of palliating Or reasonable excuse to stand
upon"
The HarrisOnburg Republican was equally
emphatic in its condemnation of the whole
scheme, denuuncing it US a fraud and a swindle,
and predicting that the day would como when
the South would rue the step she was then TAX
ing and mourn over it in sackcloth and ashes.
Indeed, so far as know and believe, the same
sentiment was almost universal among the
Wings of this region, and was entertained by a
great many Democrats, who loved their country
more than their party. The men who gave ex-
preston to these views were neither prophets
nor the sons of prophets" but plain common
sense men, who predicted results from the oper-
alton OF known causes So much then for Mr..
Golfers statement. Now, few words as to the
results predicted Are they not likely to be
more than verifed2 Let us see 1t was urged
by the friends OF the KansaSNebraska bill in
The South that the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise line would open up the whole country
mort of that line as well as south of it to the
settlement of slavery; that the government was
bound to protect all alike in the enjoyment Of
their property whilst the Territories remained
under territorial governments; and, hence, that
the South would derive great benefit from the
restrictive line of SO degrees and 80 minutes
The opposition, on the contrary. maintained,
with reason, that the repeal, whilst it might be
correct in theory, would be most deleterious, in
fact. in its consequences to the interest OF the
South, as it would cause agitation, and agita
ton, contest between North and South in the
settlement of the Territories, and perhaps re-
sultin conflict between the two sections, and ul
imately in dissolution of the Union. Hence,
they argued that the game was not worth the
candle. They could conceive of nothing but e.
vii to flow from provoking contest between
parties so unequal in point of numbers as the
North and South. They were satisfied that if
such contest were once begun by the repeal OF
the Missouri ine that instead of resulting in the
extens on of slavery north of that line it would
eventuate in the total overthrow of the South in
all the territories whether north or south Of that
line And are not their predictions about to be
turned into verities2 tits given up now on all
hands that Kansas will be admitted as a free
State. And if Kansas be made free will ever
there be another slave State added to this I'm
ion? The writer thinks not. The contest has
begun, and where it will end God only knows.
That this result has been caused by the impru-
dent and unwiso repeal of the compromise line
of SO degrees 80 minutes appears to me to be too
ploin TO admit of O doubt The Democracy of
the South have pulled the temple down on their
own heads; they have sown the wind and are
now reaping the whirlwind. Upon the Democ-
racy, then let the responsibility rest. Let them
wrangle and fight over their own follies as they
may; they deserve all they say of each other
and more AS for me, the only sympathy | have
for them is to say, clay on McDuff and ID
be he who cries hold enough"
LOST LUGeAeE.-People in the United States
are rather careless of their lives when travelling