White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-26

After severe struggle. which threat.
ened the integrity ofthe Union, Congress
finally passed laws settling these questions;
and the Government and the people for
time seemed to acquiesce in that com.
promise as final settlement of this OK :
citing question and it is exceedingly to
be regretted that mistaken ambition; or
the hope of obtaining party triumph,
should have tempted any one to raise this
question: sgsin.7 s But in an evil hour this
Pandora'S box of slavery was again open
ed, by what I conceive to be an unpar-
donable attempt to force slavery into
Kansas by repeal Of the Missouri Com
promise, and the food of evils now swell
ing and threatening to overflow the Con
stitution and sweep away the foundations
Of the Government itself, and deluge this
land with fraternal blood, may all be
traced TO this unfortunate act. What
ever might have been the motive, few
acts have ever been so barren Of good,
and so fruitful of evil. The contest had
exasperated the public mind, North and
South, and engendered feelings of dis
trust, and, may say, hate, that I fear
it viii take years to wear away. The
lamentable tragedy at Harper's Ferry
is clearly traceabls to this unfortunate
controversy about slavery in Kansas.
and while the chief actor in this crimi-
nal invasion has exhibited some traits of
character that challenge our admiration,
yet his fanatical zeal seems to have blind
ed his moral perceptions, and hurried
him into an unlawful attack upon the
lives of peaceful and unofending com
munity in q sister State, with the evident
intention Of raising a seryile instruction,
which no one can contemplate without
horror; and few, very few believe. can
be found so indifferent to the consequences
Of his acts, or SO blinded by fanatical
zeal. as not to believe that he Justly suff-
cred the penalty of the law which he had
violated. l cannot but hope that the
fate Of John Brown and his associates
win deter all others from any unlawful
attempt to interfere in the domestic
affairs of a sister State But this TRACE
dy has now closed, and Virginia has
vindicated the supremacy Of her laws,
and shown that she is quite competent to
her own affairs and protect her
own rights. And thanks to an ovsrrul-
ing Providence, the question Of slavery
in Kansas is now also settled, and set
tied in favor of freedom. The North
has triumphed, and having triumphed,
let her, by her magnanimity and gener
Osity to her Southern brethren, show that
the contest on her part was one of prin
ciple. and not of personal hatred, or the
low ambition of sectional triumph.
Finally, if l had the power to speak.
and there were any disposed to listen to
any COUNSEL. wsnld say to my brethren
IF the South Be not alarmed, for there
IRE few, every few, at the North who
would justify in any manner an attack
lpon the institutions of the South which
ire guaranteed by the Constitution. We
IRE all iAnti.Slsvery IN sentiment, but
We know that we have nothing to do
With it in the several States, and we do
lot intend to interfere with it. And
would say to my brethren of the North,
aspect the rights of the South; assure
hem by your acts that you regard them
9 friends and brethren. And / would
onjure all, in the name of all that is
scred, to let this agitation cesss with
he causes which have produced it. Let
Iarmony be restored between the North
nd the South, and let every patriot rally
round our National flag, and swear
pom the altar of his country to sustain
nd defend it. aa 80 nsihi-s 's
lam, with great respect,
o. hae Your obedient servant, T9e.t
sl1 v1i WILLARD FILLMORE.
q MeSsrs. Sam'l L. NJ Barlow, Wilson
J. HINT and flames Brooks, Commit