KANSAS (ante) was a part of • the territory of Louisiana ceded by France to the United States in 1803. When Missouri, also a part of the same territory, in 1820, prayed for admission to the union as a slave state, a fierce controversy arose, the people of the north generally contending that congress ought to exercise its constitutional power to refuse the request until Missouri should agree to abolish slavery, while the people of the slave slates demanded its admission on the ground of constitutional right. The con troversy was finally settled by the adoption of what has since been. known as " the :Mis souri compromise," the substance of which was that Missouri should be admitted to the union as a slave state, but "that in all the territory ceded by France to the United States under the name of Louisiana which lies n. of lat. 36° 30' n., excepting only such part thereof as is included within the limits of the state [Missouri] contemplated by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall be and is forever prohibited." The effect of this provision was to leave Arkansas, lying wholly s. of 36° 30' n. hit., open for the introduction of slavery, and it was accordingly admitted to the union as a slave state in 1836, with but slight opposition from the free states. Iowa, being also a part of the Louisiana purchase, and lying n. of the line of 36° 30' n. lat., was admitted to the union as a free state ten years later without opposition from the slave states. The "Missouri compromise" up to this time had been treated by both sections of the country as a finality.• In 1854, when it was proposed to organize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, the supporters of slavery incorporated in the act of organization a proviso declaring that the prohibition of 1820 was "inoperative and void," thus proposing to .remove the barrier to the extension of slavery which had been created by congress 34 years previously, and to the maintenance of which, during all that period, both the northern and southern portions of the union had held themselves to be "forever" bound. The plea by which it was sought to justify this act was that "the compromises of 1850," so called, which had been adopted by congress as a "final settlement" of all the differ. ences respecting slavery which then existed, operated as a " virtual" repeal of the Mis souri restriction. It was not contended that the acts constituting "the compromise of 1850" contained any specific reference to the restriction of 1820, or that in the debates preceding their passage any hint or intimation was given that they would have the effect of repealing the restriction; but it was insisted that the legislation of 1850 was in principle incompatible witk that of 1820, and therefore that the latter should give way. It was the avowed purpose of the supporters of slavery to introduce the system into Kansas and Nebraska, and to bring them into the union as slave states. Ilere was the beginning of the later series of events which led directly to the great rebellion and its war. By the vast majority of the people of the free states the proposition to repeal the Missouri restriction was held to be perfidious, and an intense excitement ensued. Numerous remonstrances against the act were sent to congress, among them one from 3,000 northern clergymen; but in spite of all opposition the act was passed. Emigrants
from Missouri rushed into Kansas in large numbers, with a fixed determination to make it a slave state. The enemies of slavery determined to defeat this plan, and a tide of emigration flowed towards the new territory from the free states. Emigrant aid socie ties were formed and incorporated to assist those who were disposed to enlist in the struggle to save Kansas from the blight of slavery. Attempts were made to resist by force the entrance of emigrants from the north into the territory. A secret society had been organized in Missouri for the purpose of extending slavery into Kansas by sending voters into the territory, and public meetings were held to promote the same object. One of these meetings was held at Weston, and it was declared by those who were pres ent that they held themselves in readiness, whenever called upon by any of the citizens of Kansas, " to assist in removing any and all emigrants who go there under the auspices of the northern emigrant aid societies." On Nov. 29, 1854, an election was to be held for the choice of a territorial delegate to dongress. The polls were taken possession of by armed bands from Missouri, and, of the 2,843 votes cast, 1729, it was afterwards proved, were illegal. In Mar., 1855, an attempt was made to elect a territorial legislature, and again the polls were taken possession of by armed bodies of men from Missouri, who elected pro-slavery delegates from every district, and then returned to their homes. An investigation showed that of 6,218 votes cast in this election, only 1410 were legal, and that of these 791 were given for the free state candi dates. Gov. Reeder set aside the returns from six of the dist•icts, and ordered new elections therein, which resulted in the choice of free state delegates, except in Leaven worth, where the polls were again invaded by armed Missourians. The pro-slavery party, by fraudulent means, gained a majority in the territorial legislature, which expelled all the members chosen at the second elections ordered by gov. Reeder, and gave their seats to the melt elected by the armed raiders from Missouri. The same body passed an act making it a capital offense to assist slaves in escaping either to or from the territory, and felony to circulate anti-slavery publications, or to deny the right to hold slaves; also an act requiring all voters to swear to support the fugitive-slave law. The struggle between the free state and the slave state parties did not end until 1859. The latter was con stantly supported by the national executive, as well as by bands of armed men from Mis souri. Governors whose sympathies were with the pro-slavery party at the time of their appointment were summarily removed by the president when they were found too hon. orable to connive at the most palpable frauds. The free state party, knowing them selves to be a majority of the actual settlers of the territory. refused to be cheated out or their rights. They met force with force, and were so courageous and persistent that the other side was at length compelled to give way, and in 1859 a constitution prohibiting slavery was framed by a convention of delegates at Wyandotte, and ratified by the pop ular vote-10,421 citizens voting for it, and 5.530 against it. This settled the question. and Jan. 29, 1861, Kansas was admitted to the union with a constitution prohibiting slavery.