Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-12-06
Kansas.

World, is uncertain and contradictory, but
calculated to inspire uLsasiness. That If
regular and illegal m ovements of armed men
are going on thele, is certain; it is equally
true that considerable part of the PEOPLE
are on the verge of famine. That the terri-
tory has been in condition to breed unruly
spirits, and has been the scene OF deplorable
federal mismanagement, resulting IN exas-
perated feeling ard civil war, is matter of
recent history. When men. who feel oppres-
sed ard sore. fud themselves face to face
with starvation. we may expect to hear guns.
The border troubles, four years ago, brought
j ohm Brown to his rifle, and after briet ca
reer of fanaticaI heroisn, to the gallows.-
The seeds that fell from the tree 80 rudely
shaken then, have been Quickened by the
drought that killed the wheat, and now, in
stead of blessed harvests, we have an array
of armed men, sprung up from the soil
Dragons teeth grow best in parched fields
that dry up the seed-corn.
We stop a moment to say, that nothing il
lustrates the evils of excessive partisanship
more than the impossibiliiy of getting trust
worthy accounts of important events occurs
ing far from the great centres. Here is a
matter, OF which it is extremely important
that all paities should know the truth. Yet
i. is impossible to arrive at the truth. The
determination Of partisan newspapers, and of
their correspondents. to throw all the blame
upon the other side, leads to distortion. mis-
representation, and even positive mendacity.
1t was so four years ago, and it is so now,
ana probably there is nothing If equal i'm
portance less understood by cur people than
the precise merits of the Kansas case.
the famine, however, is conceded fact.
In Shawnee, Breckinridge, Linn, Anderson,
Allen, Bourbon, Wauhunsee, Usage, Coffee,
and other counties, the de titution is such
that a'careful division of all their provisions
would not keep the men, women, and chill
dren alive for four months, even if the cattle
were counted ont and let to perish. There
is, uuhay PLY no doubt Of this fact. 1t is
substantiated by statements made at public
meetings of the inhabitants of all the above
counties 1t is also fact, that in the face
of these distressing circumstances, demand
ing the immediate and paternal interposi-
tion Of the government. the people are unnsc-
essarily exasperated by pressing the land
sales, against their remonstrances, and at a
time when they have no money to pay their
pre- emptions. Uereupon tidings come,
which, howevever lamentable, were to be
expected. Men are up in arms, prepared, at
least, to resist the federal AUTHORITIES, and
nothing 10th, on small prov )eations, to pay
off old scores on their former border ene-
mics. Next, the United States troops are
being concentrated in Kansas, and the dam
ger is that the deplora bic conflict of 1861
may be renewed.
1t is a high Christian grace to bear inju.
"A - L
ceded that the people of Kansas-the most
gallant, industrious, and intelligent popnla-
ZION upon cur borders-have had severe les
sons. 1t is easy to preach patience and long
suffering at distance from the scenes, where
oppression and want provoke even just and
peaceful men to take up arms. But if ouI
voice could reach the people of Kansas, We
would say to them: Disarm your bands
trust to law abiding remonstrance; commit
yourselves to almighty truth suffer wrong
if need belt will not be long. The peoplt
Of the whole country will take care of the
question speedlly, and moral force, mean
while, will be yours which lies not in Sharp'c
rifles, persuasive though they be. Captain
Montgomery, whatever his motives, would
have done better, if he had used his iDfu
ence at the present crisis. to keep the people
quiet, and to organize means of relief from
famine. TO the people of the United States
20 Congress, to the President, he might have
| appealed. A resort to tie sword, while it il
! spirited, and comforts the angry mood, u>u
ally postpones the day of full redress. Th,
prevalent political party, to which Captain
| Montgomery is supposed to adhere, viii be
| fatally discrcdited by his proceedings, an(
especially if he should be tempted to nak'
excursions into Missouri. There is DO ev
Gence, however, that he has violated th
peace of that state. If he should, he woulC
/ Justly be treated as sn outlaw.
Yet, we must disapprove the action of th
general government toward Kansas, in tn
planesr and most emphatic terms. This i
a case calling for the utmost foEbeai ance. =
The lands upon which the peoI lie of south
/ arn Kansas had set,sd, and which it was tn
interest of the government that they saoulC
occupy and improve, are brought into mar
ket at time when they have not none,
enough to keep them from starving through
the winter. The circumstances are such tha
the gravest suspicion is justified that con
spiracy of spectators Is at the bottom of tn
oppressive measure-a combination which
of all others, should be frowned upon by tn
! governments. What is the obvious duty @
the President? ? To postpone the land sales
in the first place. No argument of uniform
ity of custom is of the slightest. weight. Thi
is an exceptional case, and must be treate
in it's own way. To send, as the next STEP
an intelligent and patriotic committee to n
territory, to ascertain, under executive com
mission, the exact facts which have beel
urged upon the government by Mr., Hyatt
and others, but which were received with
coolness and inattention which, to say tn
least, were in the orst possible taste. Fl
naly. to let it be known, fully and freely
that justice and eren Aberaldy a0iu sooern th
executive action in relation to the whole mat
ter, without fear or favor Of any party
A delegation was sent to Washington t.
urge a postponement of the sales which wer
to have taken place on the 25th inst. Th
country has righ. to expect that in hi
treatment of this delegation, and in his meas
ure thereupon, the President will show o
prompt zeal for the suffering people Of th
nation as, in the appointment of Gen. Han
ney, he has already exhibited for its laws.
Dereaou%ion in CnojO