The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-03-29
Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana,

: with arms, by the robbery Of the I. S. Ars-
email at Wes,port, Mo-, they entered the un-
| happy Territory with all the paraphernalia
| and appointment of q regularly organized
f war The robbery of the Arsenal at West
port was but the prototype of the seizure OF
} the Arsenal at Harper Ferry. By that mys-
terious chain of events which cannot be fore
, seen and can 1ly be realized, the tide OF in
|. vasion rolled back from the level plains OF
Kansas to the mountains of Virginia. But
the strangest thing remains yet to be told.
! for the of aggression set on foot by the
Shareholders of Missouri for the propagation
OF slavery in Kansas, has recoiled upon Mis-
souri,, not in war, in violence, or blood, but
in the development Of an emancipation move
ment, possessing such remarkable vigor and
making such remarkable progress as to threa
ten the speedy extinction of slavery in that
State. 1t is therefore not impossible or even
improbable that the attempt made by the cit
izens Of Missouri to fasten slavery upon Kan
sas by force Of arms, may result In the legi-
innate and peaceful expulsion of slavery from
Missouri. But in that contest. we have no
right to mingle. 1t is one that under the shield
of State sovereignty pertains exclusively TO
the citizens of that State. and no people, par
ty or tribunal out of it have any right what
ever to dictate what shall be done. The bloody
page that records the infant history Of Kan
sas. and the criminal adventure and death of
John Brown. may be read with profit by the
people North and South, and from it they
may deduce the lesson, that the security and
tranquility of the nation. can only be preser-
we'd by the people of each section scrupu-
lously regarding and protecting the rights OF
the people Of every other section.
AGITATION OF THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
The agitation of the slavery question can
be traced directly to the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. As clearly as ever effect
can be traced to cause, or punishment to the
sin that occasioned it, SO can the troubles
which now aff1ict cur beloved country be re-
ferred to that mournful and disastrous meas
ure.
1t found the country at peace. and has left
it stained with blood and torn by civil dissen-
tions. 1t rs-opened the question in form
most offensive and under circumstances most
aggravating to the anti-slavery sentiment OF
the North. 1t was the deliberate breach of
time-honored Compromise, which had its
origin in the most critical period Of our politi-
cal history and had given peace to the nation.
History will pronounce Judgment upon 1t as
a wanton ard wicked act, without circum-
stance to palliate or excuse the perpetration.
and as having its origin in the political neces-
sites and reckless ambition of partizans. The
object to be gained was the united favor Of
the South, and the means Of obtaining it an
extravagant and reckless devotion to her sup
posed interests. Both parties are likely to be
cheated; the South will most probably fail
to derive any benefit from the measure, but
on the contrary is likely to be seriously dam
aged, and the ambitious and desperate politi-
clan who devised it is likely to be foiied and
defeated in the grand purpose of his life.
Allow me to read brief extract from a re-
cent letter addressed by Ex-President Fill
more to Union meeting in New York which
be had been invited to address. The senti-
ments contained in it are so beautifully ex-
pressed aud manifestly just as to command
the hearty appreciation OF all intelligent
minds;
"After severe struggle. which threatened
the integrity of the Union. Congress finally
passed laws settling these questions. and the
government and the people for a time SEEM
ed to acquiesce in that compromise as final
settlements of this exciting question; and it is
exceedingly to be regretted, that mistaken
ambition or the hope Of promoting party
triumph should have tempted any one to raise
this question again. But in an evil hour this
pandora box of slavery was again opened by
what l conceive TO be an unjustihable at
tempt to force slavery into Kansas by a re-
peal of the Missouri Compromise and the
flood of evils now swelling and threateningto
overthrow the Constitution, and sweep away
the foundation Of the Government itself, and
deluge this land in fraternal blood, may all
be traced to this unfortunate act. What
might have been the motive, few acts have
ever been so barren of good. and SO fruitful
Of evil The contest has exasperated the pub
lie mind, North and South, and engendered
feelings of distrust, and may say, hate, that
l fear will take years to wear away.
THE lamentable tragedy at Harper's Fer
~ is clearly traceable to this unfortunate con-
troversy about slavery in Kansas, and while
the chief actor in this criminal invasion has
exhibited some traits Of character that chal
lenge the admiration. yet his fanatical zeal
seems to have blinded his moral perceptions
aud hurried him into an unlawful attack up
on the lives of a peaceful and unoffending
community in 3 sister State, with the evident
intention of raising a servlle lnsurrection,
which no one can contemplate without hor-
ror. and few believe very few can be found
so Indifferent to the consequences of his acts
or so blinded by fana.ical zeal, as not to be-
lieve that he justly suffered the penalty of
the law which he had violated. cannot
but hope that the fate of John Brown and his
associates Will deter All others from an uniaW-
full attempt to interfere in the domestic af-
fairs Of sister State. But this tragedy has
now closed, aud Virginia has vindica,ed the
supremacy OF her laws, and shown that she
is quite competent to manage her own affairs
and protect her own rights. And thanks to
an overruling Providence, the question about
slavery In Kansas has also been settled in
| favor Of freedom. The North has triumphed,
and having sriumphed let her magnanimity
and generosity to her Southern brethren,
show that the contest on her part was one OF
principle. and not of personal hatred. or tie
low ambition of sectional triumph"
WHAT Is TIE CAUSE OF THE PRESENT HOSTILITY
| OF THE SOUTH TOWARDS THE NORTH?
| Ire fact is not to be disguised or evaded
that there is a deep feeling of hostility perva-
/ ding the people of the South towards the
great body of the people of the North, and