Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-26
The Admission of X ansas.
FROM THE HON. HORACE MAYNARD
WASHINGTON February Is 1S5S


WASHINGTON, February IS, 1855
SIR: have the letter of Messrs Fremont,
Provost aud Others committee, of the 26th
inst, inviting me to participate in meeting
to be holden at Tammany Hall, New York on
the 4th prox- While it win be inconsistent
with other duties for me to be present in per-
son. cheerfulIy comply with the request to
give my "opinion by letter"
From the beginning, Kansas has been a
fruitful source of evil TO the country. Men,
artful, designing and unscrupulous, have used
it as means of promoting personal and par
tizan ends, with little regard to the general
good of the country Presses, unmindful of
any other consideration than the extent of
their daily and weekly issue, have found in
the unhappy strife which its affairs have en-
gendered a very gafnful theme with which to
stir up and exasperate the public mind. Peace,
reconciliation, quiet adjustment are the last
things they desire. With these their occupa-
ton is forever gone. The present juncture is
peculiarly favorable for the union of patriotic
and peace-loving men of all parties, to unite
in thwarting their baleful purposes. The
Territory now presents herself, asking for adj
mission to the Union as State, with a con-
stitution republican in form, and framed with
the formality of law. To that Constitution,
except in the single article of slavery, have
heard no serious objection, either from the
people of Kansas or elsewhere. While the
whole instrument is well drawn, there are
certain portions that in my judgment are adj
mirable, eminently wise and conservative.
Let her be admitted at once as a State under
this Constitution, and her character be settled
and known before the Spring emigration sets
in her people, secure of liberty under law,
will then go quietly to their prairie fields, pre-
ferring the industrial pursuits of life to the
stormy and improbable business of politics.
Outsiders, having no longer any decent pre-
text to NEEDLE in these affairs willSeek objects
of excitement and impertinent interference in
other quarters. | heed very little the cry of
alarmists who tell us that the people of Kan
sas will never submit to the outrage; that
there will be civil war, rebellion, rev olution.
In my Judgment. there will be no outrage in
the case to which the good, law abiding peO-
pie of Kansas will be called upon to submit,
and the disorderly will be made to submit to
the mandates of law. outrageous as they will
doubtless regard them for there as elsewhere,
presume,
'No rogue e'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion OF the law"
But must protest against the doctrine so
reluctantly inculcated by many that when adj
mitted to the Union the people of Kansas have
nothing to do but to overthrow the cOnstitu
ton, abolish slavery and inaugurate freedom.
A very general idea prevails III the Northern
States, that when slavery and " freedom
in the cant phrase of the day, come in cOllis-
sion. the latter by its mightier potency, will
inevitably prevail. The distinguished author
of the Kansas-Nebraska bill doubtless enter
tanned the same idea, and believed that by the
principles of that bill all the remaining Ter
ritories would eventually become free States,
and that he would be hailed everywhere
through the North as the great apostle and
MARTYR of the ''holy evangel of Freedom" But
the course of events in Kansas seems likely
TO overturn this cherished idea, and to demon
stcate its utter fallacy, thus depriving him of
all claim to apostolic renown-though it is
quite probable he may be IGNORED with
place in the pages of political martyrdOm. If
Kansas is admitted as a slave State, under
the LecomptOn constitution, as | fully believe
she will be, she will be very sure TO continue
a slave State. A large and substantial emf
grafton will flow in from the other slave
States, taking with them their slaves; the set
tiers already there, whatever may be their
present sentiments, will find their prejudices
against slavery disarmed by contact with it
will see that they have been fighting phan-
toms, that have no existence except in the
heated brains Of enthusiasts and fanatics, and
will let the subject drop-leave it where their
constitution leaves it.
And what harm will have been done, sup
posing slavery TO have been permanently es-
tablished there? In the fifteen States. where
it now exists. the people continue to live and
enjoy life and to accomplish its highest ends.
And in sixteenth State there is no reason
why they should not do the same. This, then,
Is the paltry question about which has been
stirred up so much strife. If the people
would rise in their might and stop the miser
able cry of demagogues, whether of the press.
the pulpit, or the political arena, | should
have much more confidence in the restoration
Of harmony and national good feeling. than
rom the most patriotic efforts of I" the Regu-
lar Democratic organization" of New York
City or any of their Northern compeers.
Justly approaching your polite invitation,
have the honor TO be very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
HORACE MAYNARD.
PETER b. SwEESY ESD, Tammany Hall, New York.