The Kanzas news., 1858-03-27

statutes were adequate TO secure an uitImae
ascendency of the free States.
The policy of Intervention in favor OF
slave labor and slave States began with the
further removal of the borders of the Re
public. I cheerfully admit that this policy
has moi been persistent or exclusive, and
claim only that it has been and yet is pre-
dominant. / am not now to deplore the an
nexation of Texas. I remark simply that
it was a bold measure, of doubtful constitu-
tionality, distinctly adopted as an act of in
tervention in favor of slave labor, and made
or intended to be made most effective by
the stipulation that the new State of Texas
may hereafter be divided and SO re-organized
as to constitute FIVE slave States. This great
act cast long shadow before it--a shadow
which perplexed the people of the free States.
It was then that feeble social movement,
which aimed by moral persuasion at the
manumission of slaves, gave place to politi-
cal organizations, which have ever since
gone on increasing in energy and extent, di-
rected against a further extension of slavery
in the United States. The war between the
United States and Mexico, and the ac9uisi-
sition of the Mexican provinces of New
Mexico and Upper California, the fruits of
that war, were so Immediately and directly
consequences of the annexation of Texas,
that all of those events, in fact, may be re-
garded as constituting one act of interven-
ton in favor of slave labor and slave States
The field of the strife between the two sys-
TENS had become widely enlarged. Indeed,
it was now continental. The amazing min
eral wealth of California stimulated settle
ments there into rapidity like that of veg
10 IL III
IN the newly acquired Territories, dedicated
them to free labor, and thus the astounding
question arose for the first time, whether
the United States of America, whose Con-
stitution was based upon the principle of the
political equality of all men, would blight
and curse with slavery conquered land
which enjoyed universal freedom. The
slave States denied the obligation of these
laws, and insisted on their abrogation.-
The free States maintained them, and de-
manded their confirmation through the en-
actment of the Wilmot Proviso. The slave
States and the free States were vet in equi-
lbrium. The controversy continued here
two years. The settlers Of the new Terri
tories became impatient, and precipitated a
solution of the question. They organized
new free States In California and New Mex
leo. The Mormons also framed a govern
ment in Utah. Congress, after bewilder-
ing excitement, determined the matter by
another compromise. 1t admitted Califor-
mia free State, dismembered New Mexico,
transferring large district free from slavery
to Texas, whose laws carried slavery over
it, and subjected the residue to Territorial
government, as it also subjected Utah, and
stipulated that the future States to be organ
lied in those Territories should be admitted
either as free States or as slave States, as
they should elect. l pass over the portions
of this arrangement which did not bear di-
rectly on the point in conflict. The Fed
eral Government presented this compromise
to the people, as comprehensive, final and
perpetual adjustment of all then existing
and all future questions having any relation
to the subject of slavery within the Terri
tories or elsewhere. The country accepted
it with that proverbial facility which free
States practice, when time brings on a stern
conflict which popular passions provoke,
and at distance defy. This halcyon peace,
however, has not ceased to be celebrated
and labor required an opening of the region
in the old province of Louisiana north of
SO degrees 80, which had been reserved in
1920, and dedicated to free labor and free
States. The old question was revived in
regard to that Territory, and took the mar
row name of the Kanzas question, just as
the stream which Lake Superior discharges,
now contracting itself into rivers and pre-
cipitating itself down rapids and cataracts,
and now spreading out its waters into broad
seas, assumes a new name with every change
of form, but continues, nevertheless, the same
majestic and irresistible flood under every
change, increasing in depth and in vol
ume until it looses itself in the all-absorb-
ing ocean.
No one had ever said or even thought
that the law of freedom in this region could
be repealed, impaired or evaded. Its con-
stitutionality had indeed been questioned at
the time of its enactment but this, with
all other objections, had been surrendered
as part of the compromise. 1t was regard
ed as bearing the sanction of the public
faith, as it certainly had those of time and
acquiescence. But the slaveholding people
of Missouri looked across the border, into
Kanzas, and coveted the land. The slave
States could not fail to sympathize with
them. 1t seemed as if no organization of
government could be effected in the Terrific
ry. The Senator from Illinois Mr. Dou-
glas) projected scheme. Under his Wig
orous leading, Congress created two Terri
tories, Nebraska and Kanzas. The former
the more northern one might, it was sup
posed, be settled without slavery, and be-
come free State, or several free States =
The latter the southern one) was accessi-
bic to the slave States, bordered on one of
them, and was regarded as containing re-
/ larInu To cla g. -
be settled by them. and become one or more
slave States. Thus. indirectly, further
compromise might be effected, if the Mis-
souri, prohibition of 1890 should be abro-
gated. Congress abrogated it, with the