Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-07-11
Highest Of Al N Leayenng Povu-Latex u Govt Report
@A!!a!l! R Rs&assz
ABSOLUTELY PURE

superficial. The wound had been
cauterized, but the germ Of disease
still remained.
In Jsnuary, 1854, Stephen A.
Douglas brought before the senate a
proposition to organize the territories
OF Kansas and Nebraska, and give
the people the right to say whether
they should have slavery or not. This
was a virtual repeal Of the Missouri
compromise, for both Of the new terri
tories lay north of the parallel of Sc
degrees and thirty minutes, above
whichline it had been provided in the
Missouri compact that slavery or in
voluntary servitude should not exist.
No sooner had this act for the
organization Of the two territories
been passed than the battle which
had been waged in congress was
transferred to Kansas. Whether the
new state should admit slavery or ex-
clude it now depended upon the vote
OF the people. Free state men aud
slave state men both made a rush for
the territory in order to secure the
majority, and both parties were
backed by factions throughout the
union. As a result Kansas was soon
filed with an agitateJ mass of people
thousands of whom had been sent
thither to vote. With only a modest
river between the western borders of
Missouri and the prairies of Kansas,
she easily discharged into the territory
a large part of her floating popula-
ton, to be sent back when the pur-
pose for which it was sent across the
boundry had been subserved.
In November, 1854, the state legis-
lature assembled at the town of Lee
compton, organized a government
and framed a constitution permitting
slavery. The free soil party declared
the election invalid by reason of
fraudulent voting. A general con-
yention of this party was held at
Topeka, where a convention exclud-
ing slavery was adopted. A rival
government was organized and civil
war broke out between the two fac
tons. The turmoil and violence
which had its center in Kansas had
extended to all parts of the union.
In the fall of 1856, James Bucha-
nan was elected to the presidency.
1t was about this time that the Know
Nothing party was organized. The
origin of this apparently absurd name
is found in part of the pledge which
the members took on initiation. They
promised to know nothing but the
union, and to know nothing but
America for Americans. The Ameri-
can Protective Association of today
very strongly resembles the old Know
Nothing party of 1856.
1t is not only absurd but i. is sell
fish to wish to exclude from the land
Of the free and the home of the brave
those who wish to cast their lot with
us. Let us welcome to our shores
all good citizens, let them come from
where they may. Let US, side
by side with the stranger from other
lands, unfold to the world the hidden
treasures that lie buried in our noun
tains. Let the energy and frugality
of ths foreigner, in changing the
boundless prairies CT the west into
rich, valuable farms, be met with
words of praise and encouragement.
Extend the right hand of fellowship
to him hat has left the fatherland to
cast his fortunes with US. We have
a great big magnificent country and
there is plenty of room for all good
citizens, let their nationality Cor re.
ligion be what it may. But / have
wandered from my subject.
Buchanan had been president but
q short time before there was issu ed
from the supreme court what is
known as the Dredd Scott decision.
The opinion of the court ia the
matter involved was so extraordi.
nary, and the subject matter SO
important to the country, that it
an for a id..a -