The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-27
From the Louisville Journal.
THE BRIDE swINDLE.

This new swindle offers immediate admis.
sion into the Union, if the people of Kansas
will swallow the Leconpton swindle or the
alternative of Indefinite postponment if they
refuse. The difference to them is of great
money value. Admission will rapidly accel-
crate the influx of population, and thereby in.
crease the value of their lands. They will view
this money value of submission as even greater
than what it is ihtrinsically worth. To their
leaders and guides it holds on. the temptation
of filling high and lucrative offices. 1t is a
bride to these leaders to magnify to the people
the value of the bribe.
That is one phase of the bride, but not even
its worse or more direct aspect 1t offers five
million acres of land as reward if the people
will swallow the Lecompton swindle, with no
promise that they shall have single acre if
they wont, and prefer another Constitution.
The absence of direct promise that they shall
have an equal amount of land hereafter, under
whatever Consultation they may adopt, is
equivalent to threat that they shall have
none unless they now accept the bride. These
live millions of acres are worth at least six
millions of dollars. Though they are not to
be Immediately converted into money, and the
money distributed among the voters, yet they
know they will be equally benefited by the
enhanced value which the donation will give to
their individual lands. The direct money, value
of the bribe is six millions of dollars, distribu.
ted among some fifteen thousand voters, or four
hundred dollars hesd. Is there Compression.
al district in the Union that could stand bride
of four hundred dollars head to each voter.
Nor is this even the worst aspect of the
bride swindle. Southern extremists, for ute
rior objects of their own, dsunion included,
avaied themselves of their predominance in
the Democratic party to drive the nation into
an angry sectional strife by the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise. Their great pretext for
this was, that the compromise was unjust, mas.
much as it made an invidious distinction be-.
tween the two sections, and, as they said, to
the great prejudice of the South. This argu.
ment consolidated nearly the whole South in
their support, and availed many of their fol-
lowers, even in the North. If they were to be
believed, it was purely obstinate justice and
equality between the two sections alone that
they were contending for.
Now, see how this justice and equality have
been attended to by these Southern leaders and
heir Northern tools in the fitting up of this
bride saoindle. 1t offers admission to Kansas
with population of only forty thousand, if the
people will swallow the Lecompton swindle /;
but, if they will not submit to that, then they
are to be indefinitely postponed until they Of
tain a population of ninety-three thousand
That is, if you will agree to be come a State
under the Lecompton Constitution, You NAV
come in with population of forty thousand
but you shall not come in under any other
Constitution with less than ninety three thou
sand. This is tre-eating justice and equality
when it holds the power. This fre.edtinq
clique are great at the Inauguration of new
principles. They now cast aside their mask,
and, after having inaugurated a disastrous sec.
tional contest, they unblusingly proclaim that
the infamous Democratic motto, +" the spoils
belong 20 the victors," belongs to and will be
followed even in these great sectional contests.
In other words, thst whilst power is retained
by them, they will use it for the benefit of
section or party, without regard to Justice or
equality. They inaugurate the principle that,
after sectional contest, the victorious section
shall use its power FOR its own exclusive adyan.
tsge, REGARDLESS of justice and equality between
the sections. Whatever doubt there may be
of the truth of the old maxim, honesty is
ala0ays the best policy" there can be no doub,
that such short.sighted dishonesty is al,oays
bad policy. "These instructions being taught,
do but return to plague their inventors" as the
South will find to its sorrow when its own
poisoned chalice comes to be presented to its
own lips. ..-..
1t is a waste of national Indignation to ex.
pend it all upon such small fly as Eaglish and
Senator Green. Mr.. Buchanan, Mr. Hunter,
and Mr., Stephens, are men of talent, education.
refined breeding, and proudly claiming to be
honest. 'Tis they, and such as they, who claim
10 have character to lose, that should be
made to feel the responsibility and shame of
this foul bribery Sl0indle.