Record Data
“No Title,” National Era 11, no. 522, Washington D.C., 1 January 1857, p. 4.
Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and other typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
WISE SUGGESTIONS.—We are glad to see that the St. Louis Republican, which possesses very justly great influence over the pro-slavery party in Missouri and Kansas, is advocating the modification of some of the laws of the territory just named. It says, with truth, that the warmest friends of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and those most determined to maintain its principles, have not hesitated to express the opinion that the code of statues adopted by the Kansas Legislature must be changed. Toombs, Douglas, Crittenden, Cass, with the entire Democratic party in the United States Senate, have all, in the severest terms, uttered their condemnation of the spirit of the Kansas code, and earnestly recommend a change; and there can be no doubt that the pro-slavery party in Kansas will meet the views of their truest friends, consult their own interest, and remove all ground of complaint among ill-disposed persons, by a voluntary change in some of their statutes. They cannot be successful defended, and we doubt not would be modified or struck out by a unanimous vote of the Legislature. But, until they are changed, they must be enforced. There is no other alternative that would be tolerated in any State in the Union, under similar circumstances. Abolition Massachusetts, with the strong arm of power, would exact obedience to obnoxious statutes, until constitutionally changed. Why not counsel her sons in Kansas to similar obedience to objectionable laws there. It is the only Republican doctrine that is safe. Any other places all communities at the mercy of any faction that takes it into its head to object to existing statutes.—Louisville (Ky.) Courier.