Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-07
Kanzas and the cause of +ba s,n+,


 In glanclng over an exchange we notice that Ooi. Aipheus Baker, gentleman of high po- sltlon and enviable character, in point of elo quence, talent and enthusiasm in the advocacv ot southern rights, has been engaged for some time in canvassing the southern States. and particularly the State of South Carolina in be- half of the national democracy in Kansas He IS " soliciting material ad' to be applied to the benefit of the democratic party and the demo- cratic press of the territory engaged in the SUD- port otrights and interests of the South. There are now in Kansas only four sound pro-slavery papers-the HeraW and .3urmal of Leaven- worth City, the Union at Lecompton, and the Constitatonaljst at Doniphan; whilst in almost every little town and hamlet there are it is said, one or more papers conducted under free State auspices.
 We hope that Col Baker has met with li beral encouragement, for he is engaged in work of patriotism-a labor of love- The following from the Yorkville (S. O Enquirer, in refer- ence to this gentleman and his efforts in behalf of democracy and State rights in Kansas con- tains warning which it would be we'll for the South to heed:
 His (Col. Baker's) fame already preceded l him; we had been told of his eloquence; we knew the importance of the cause he came to | advocate but 1t was only after hearing him illustrate the past and present of Kansas trace | consecuhvely the series of aggression that had brought about the present crisis, and invoke in thrilling words the aid of the south to prevent the hordes of abolitonsts from tearing the last sole refuge of our institutions and civilization | from the bosom of Missouri, that we realized | fully the necessity of immediate and prompt | assistance.
 Clearly did he show how the south had been busted from one new territory after another, | plundered at one time under the fiction of a compromise, deceived with the hollow promises of peace, and bullied at another time out of rights she had sworn to defend Grandly did he unrol the page of history and show whose blood purchased Texas, whose valor had swept the plains of Mexico, and whose ill.starred policy had lost them the fruits their valor had won-Buena Vista, bathed in southern bio d still glistens before Us! Yet has the south no monument to attest the victory and mark the triumph of her sons. That magnificent coun- try, rich in minerals and land, which sleeps in the arms of the Pacific, and which, both from its adaptation to slave labor, and because it was l purchased by southern blood, belongs to us, and was unceremoniousy taken from us by the violation of solemn compromise. Empty fame was all that the valor of the south achiev- ed. And after we have acted with so little 1 policy and firmness as to have lost nearly all the west, we are called upon to decide whether l Kansas, too shall go in the same way! It is the last territory left by the greedy nav of the north. Let the eye of the southwest be put out, and the destiny of the south is wrapped | ln impenetrabe gloom.
 By Securin. it permanently to the south, we | will be able to present an unbroken front to the | foe; but let 1t be aboGtiouized, and Missouri | will lower her proud crest, and Atchison, 1 Strngfellow, Russell, and other brave defend 1 CTS of the south, will be sacrificed through our ! supiueness and indifference. Kentucky will ! follow in the wake of Missouri; and Virginia, noble old Virginia, will next bow her head to | the stroke.
 | Hopeless is the cause of the south. if this ! last appeal does not re>usctate her zeal. Let 1 kan,ts go, Missouri Kentucky and the old do- miuion fellow: and the slave owners of the ! south will then awaken- when 1t is too late 1 when their princely fortunes are reduced to one fourth their present value, and the very | source of their wealth tottering to ruin. Those | who now feel SD indifferent, will then wonder at their want of foresight, but the march of aboltonlsm will be moro steady and irresistible, and the spirit of the south will crouch lower and lower. Fear i~ the lass argument to appeal | 10, but there are times when it proves more 1 potent than the soul dest logic And the south may we'll tremble.-Twclve months of iuac- ton, and her fate is sealed Ths beautiful heritage of ours, the cherished institutions of our forefathers, the best civilization under the | Sun-will become but traditionary talc--a | legend of romance.
 What other can or should be our destiny, if we desert those who are perilIng their lives, | and spending their fortunes in a cause common to Us ali! Should we not expect from our ! knowledge of human nature, that those who | are now our stauncheSt friends, repuIsed by our ingratitude, and defeated from the want of ad aud sympathy on the part of the south will give up all for lost, and in the hopelessueaa ot despair, affiliate with our assaiants, and wreak upon us the vengeance so justly due. | This is one of the times when peace is more | dangerous than agitation or war; You may | hile from danger to-day, but it will rise more | imminent tomorrow. Like the victim of con- sumption, ease may be mistaken for health, and the hectic glow of prosperity which now mautIeS oer the south, may be mistaken for the evidence pemaLency and stability. The ! iusjai0us disease can be cured most easily by immediate applications before 1t has 9uaVcd | in two the chords of lfe But the south suf- fers herself to be luled into repose by the first ! gIenm of peace. She permits the disease to | prov upon their vitals
 II anything can arouse her from this fatal security 1t is the burning words of Col. Baker A native of South Carolina and the adopted son of Alabama, wherever he goes, he will be recommended by the politeness and modesty of hs manners, and the noble bearing of gen. tleman. He goes from this place to Union vile. We wish him success in the great cause in which he is enlisted