The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-21


been the expectation and desire by them
that the struggle should be as it was hos
tile and a bloody one.
It is my deliberate conviction, that on the
day on which the opponents of this new
and most unfortunate measure aided BY
few of its original friends, defeated its le-
gitimate consummation by defeating the
passage Of the so-called Lecompton bill,
which sought to enforce upon the people OF
Kansas constitution they abhorred and
which would have required for its enforce
ment the aid of federal bayonets,-on that
day, the union OF these States met and
escaped the greatest peril to which it has
yet been subjected. But happily for oil,
unexpectedly to the fears of many, adversely
perhaps to the wishes of some, that great
peril was escaped, and Kansas, with con-
stitution which aecords with the legislation
which, in the last generation dedicated her
to freedom, and with the wishes Of her
people, stands ready to ask admission into
our Union as free State. do not recur
to these past transactions for the purpose
of again stirring up Ill feelings now meas
urably appeased, but for the light, which,
in my opinion, they throw upon present
events. II is as true now as it was in the
slden time, that 6 they who SOW the wind
shall reap the whirlwind." During the
struggle in Kansas which makes her story
blot on the page of our country's history,
the free State men of that territory were
treated by their pro-slavery brethren in that
territory, and in the States, and by the
General Government, as if they had not
any rights, legal or natural, which either
were bound to respect. Is it strange that
some Of them should have ceased to respect
the rights of those whom they looked upon
as their oppressors ?-should have learned
to hate the Institution for whose advance
ment they were oppressed? During the
same period that other new policy called
fllibusterism, and the doctrines by which
it is sought to be upheld, attained full force
and vigor. 1t was insisted in substance,
by our southern brethren, and either openly
or tacitly approved by many in the north,
that if our people should find upon our
borders, or within reasonable reach of US,
weak and helpless nation, who could be
attacked with comparative safety, and
whose form Of government did not attain
to our standard Of perfection, it was not
only the privilege, but the mission Of such
VI Jul EObplV uo bCSliCu " CHRuSV Az eaS
laudable undertaking, to invade her terrific
~ with fire and sword, to bring upon her
peaceful inhabitants, men, women and
children, all the horrors of war and hav-
ing thus carried through and perfected a
process Of "regeneration," to establish on
the ruins of her government, our own free
institutions, prominent among which, ac-
cording to the advocates Of this doctrine,
stands human slavery.
Is it strange that the bare PRONUNCIATION
of these doctrines, acting upon the minds of
men maddened by the recollection of wrongs
inflicted upon them in Kansas of their love
Of freedom should lead them to the conclu-
sion that they should do and dare as much
at home for liberty as those who have op-
pressed them were doing abroad for slavery?
1t seems to me most natural, and while
deeply deplore and unqualifedly condemn,
cannot wonder at, the recent unfortunate
and bloody occurrence at Harper's Ferry
But while we may not wonder at, we must
condemn it. 1t was an act of war-of wal
against brethren, and in that greater crime
than the invaders of Cuba and Nicaragua
were guilty of, relieved to some extent Of
its guilt, in the minds of many, by the fact
| tHul tHc DiOV WIS slIuCh AOE 1ACSuDLup ubS
not far slavery. Still it was o wrong, ant
as such the deliberate public sentiment Of
the north, as well as we'll as of the south
condemns it. In my opinion, much misap
prehension exists on this subject among oul
southern brethren, and this misappehensior
renders proper the present allusion to it,
The mass Of them relying on the statement'
of the leading men of the south, who shoult
know better, and of prominent men in tht
north, who do know better, but falsify foI
purpose, believe that the sympathy ex
pressed by many of our northern people TO
the leader of that invasion, covers and con
tains an approval of his act. This is a great
and it may become a dangerous error
While the great mass our northern peopl
utterly condemn the act of John Brown
they feel and express admiration and sympa
thy for the disinterestedness of purpose b
which they believe he was governed, and 70
the unfinching courage and calm cheerful
ness with which he met the consequences o
his failure. Many, very many, of our nor
thern people felt deep sympathy for tn
gallant Crittenden, who died so brayaly i
| Cuba, for an act they strongly CONDEMNED
and the tears of many of the best and brav
est Cl OuI Ola SS OvoCnNAShh NJ
I grave of Andre, who, by their own judg
ment, died the death of n spy, his sentenc
approved by Washington. When passio
has passed away, and calm reason has re
sumed its place in the minds of our souther
i brethren, they will fully appreciate our fee
fincs, and then, if do not mistake their
while with us they condemn yet pity job
Brown as misguided but not base minde
man, they will also with US detess and scor
4 these men in our midst who now seek b
distortipg our language and falsifying on
sentiments, to use the passions and preju
diccs Of our southern brethren as near
to pave their own base way to power an
place. q. ..Sa
cannot concur in the opinion expresse
BY some persons, that the constituted ar
thorities of the States of this Union hay
discharged their entire duty, when the
have looked to and cared for their own il
ternal affairs, and that they travel out {
their legitimate sphere when they in an
manner concern themselves with the affaii
of our General Government. The sever
States, as such, are the constituents Of or
branch of the National Congress, and if
be true that the constituent may and shouI
concern himself VIII Wuas Is uohe ny II
representative, it must be true that eac
State may and should concern herself vii
the actions of that General Government I
which her representatives are part il
be true that the States Of our Confedcrnt
are interested in the administration ar
preservation of that compact but for whi'
4 they would be wholly independent and riva
:. perhaps hostile sovereignties, instead of OF
great nation, it must be true that they m;
and should concern themselves with Il
manner in which those to whose hands tn
! administration and preservation are commi
ted, discharge their trust.
The passage by Congress- of the measu
commonly known us the Homestead Bill
/ would, in my opinion, be productive, I,
, much good, preventing in great degree I
! acquisition by spectators, of large hodi
of the public lands, to the injury Of the a
tual settlers, and by enabling many hone
i and Industrious poor men who cannot no
do SO, to enrol themselves in the class
/, independent farmers who are the suppo
! and strength Of the country. The Cover
|, ment price of quarter section Of land m
i appear to many a small insignificant sui
/ but the many thousands Of the farmers