The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-03-15
1.-THE TRUTH OF HISTORY

Northern preachers, Northern guns, and
Northern money. | propose 10 inquire lit
tie into the acts of the so-called "law and
order mem Of the Missouri border, aud see
il they were so innocent Of aggression as only
to ssdeiend themselves when attacked. TO
understand the spirit Of luminosity that existed
between the political parties OF the day, we
must 90 back to the early history Of our gov
ernmsnt. There is no doubt that the Fathers
Of the Republic looked upon the institution
Of slavery as an evil, and designed its early
extinction. The Ordinance Of 1887, prohibit
ing slavery from the territory north and west
Of the Ohio river, aa act of the Fathers them
selves, and the prohibition Of the importation
Of slaves after 1908 engrafted in the Constitu-
ton confirm this belief jefferson, ''the
Apostle Of Liberty" believed he had mis-
sion from God TO establish universal liberty
in our land. Abiding to the wickedness Of
slavery he said;- tremble for my country
when | remember that God is just A, II.
Stephens, Of Georgia, said;-"1he prevailing
idea entertained by jefferson, and most Of
the statesmen at the time of the formation Of
the Constitution, was that the enslavemeut OF
the African was violation of the laws Of ma
ture; that it was wrong in principle, socially,
morally and politically Il was then an &C.
knowledged evil which all the patriots hoped
would be of short duration. These were the
views Of the Fathers, and they gave proof of
their sincerity by liberating their slaves. But
their degenerate sons did not follow in their
footsteps. They soon began to justify slavery
and after lapse of years defended it as d.
vine institution. Their zeal to foster this
twin relic Of barbarism" became so strong
that in time they disregarded all the inaliena-
BILE rights Of their opponents Freedom Of
speech and Of the press was not tolerated
within the scope of their power, and life itself
was not too sacred to be taken when an indi-
yidual avowed his disapproval Of their favorite
institution.
Jefferson, the father of democracy, had he
lived until 1855, and expressed his honest
convictions, would have been in danger of a
coat Of tar and feathers.
As the slave oligarchy grew in power de-
mocraey began to pander 10 its demands.
When slavery demanded more territory, the
leaders Of the democratic party said, We must
not oppose this power; we must conciliate it.
When Texas was demanded, democracy nod.
ded its assent. As the slavery power became
more and more arrogant in its demands, de-
mocracy became more and more obsequious
to serve its interests. After all the foreign
territory attainable was appropriated to the
spread Of the ''diyineh institution, the terri
tory made sacred to freedom by the compro.
mise Of 1890, was demanded and the time.
serving democracy offered up this large do
main to the pollution Of this accused institu-
ton by the passage Of the Kansas. Nebraska
act. The insatiate power Of slavery, still uR.
satisfied, so long as it was excluded from any
and oil parts of the country, demanded that
the free'StatGs themselves should be suTren.
10, ~ ~ he
racy said by the bred Scott decision the sac.
rifce must be made.
Thus we see that the aggressions of slavery
never ceased until every foot of soil within
this vast area included under the name of the
United States, was deseerated by the unhal.
lowed touch of African slavery. Is there any
wonder that the North was aroused and alarm.
ed by aggressions, which, If unchecked, would
soon sap all political, social and religious lib.
erty from our cherished Republic of freedom?
1t was their right, their duty, to resist these
usurpations, these entertainments upon their
inalienable rights.
The organic act by which Kansas was
thrown open to the introduction Of slavery,
was, ms we have said, democratic measure.
Stephen A. Douglas, democrat, with dem.
ocralc congress and democratic president,
passed the Kansas Nebraska act. The "Squat.
ter Sovereignty clause of this bill was the
sugar coating intended to take away tho naus.
eousness Of the dose.
1t was generally supposed at the time of the
passage Of this bill, that by the right Of the
people Of a territory TO govern themselves |
without the Intervention OF congress, which |
was termed popular sovereignty, or as ex.
planned in the act; their being free to form |
and regulate their domestic institutions in |
their own way;' the authors meant the right |
TO prohibit as well as to permit slavery. But |
It was subsequently, eontepded that the right |
10 hold slaves in the territory existed under |
the Constitution, and that the people by their |
territorial legislature cannot prohibit or abol- |
Ish slavery; that the power is possessed by |
the people, only when they are authorized to |
form State government. With these con-
flietng opinions. the tide of immigration be-
gan 10 roll into Kansas. Immediately after
the act was made known, meetings were held |
by pro.slavery men within the territory, at |
tended by leading citizens Of Missouri, at |
which were passed resolutions similar 10 the |
two following, adopted at one Of these meet |
ings:
THAT we will afford protection to no aboli. |
ZIONIST as 0 settler of this territory
"Ihat we recognize the institution of slay
advise shareholders to Introduce theirpfoperty /
as early as POSSIBLE
As these resolutions declare slavery as al |
ready existing in the territory, the term
''abolitionst' as used above meant all north. |
ern men not pledged to favor slavery extern
sion,
Before any election had been held in the
territory, secret political society was formed |
IN Missouri, known by different names, as
Social Band, ''Blue Lodge" "The Sons
Df the Soush.n its members were bound to-
yether by secret oaths, and had passwords,
signs and grips. Their avowed purpose was
10 extend slavery into Kansas by organizing
and sending men there to vote at elections.
The Kansas Congressional Investigating
Committees report spTs Of these secret or
plantations IN Missouri III hat It's members
we're bound together by secret oaths, that they
mad passwords, signs, and grips, by which
hey we're known 10 each other. Their avow-
ID purpose was not only to extend slavery
nto Kansas, but also into other territory Of
he United States, and TO form o union Of all
he friends Of that institution. Their plan OF
operating was to organize and send men to
lote at the elections in the territory, TO collect
money 10 pay their expenses, andif necessary,
o protect them in voting. While the great
,ody Of actual settlers Of tho territory we're
elying upon the rights secured to them by
he organic law and had formed no organize
ion or combination whatever, even Of . party
this conspiracy against their rights
vas gathering Strengthen neighboriag Slate,
md would have been sufficient at their first
election to have overpowsFed them If they had
zen united TO n man.
Under the auspices Of these secret societies,
md in harmony With their avowed purpose,
public meeting was called in July, 1854, OF
Vest Port, No. An ass3ciation was formed
i thia meeting, which adopted the following
esolntioR.
Resolved, That this association will,
whenever called upon By any OF tie ciiizens
If Kansas territory, hold itself Ia readiness
oQether to assist TO remove any and all emf
rants who 20 there under the auspices of the
Northern EmiRrant Aid Societies.f
On the 9Th Of October 1864, in accordance \
with the above resolution, learning that emi. \
grants sent by the Northern Aid Societies had |
arrived at Lawrence, a large body Of armed |
men marched to that place 10 dispense these
free Stale settlers. These invaders demanded
that The new arrival from New England should
fold up tie tents and be of. The immigrants
prepared TO defend Ehemselves, which was uu-
expsalsd, as these iptrgdeFs had never imsg-
ined the possibility Of on abofiiopist showing
fight. The fame 81 those sbarp's riaes which
we are told Beecher informed The settlers
were better than bibles, bad even F6scked
Westport, and when they were displayed, the
gsloFous troop with many threats OF future
Fengesnees marched back again.