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- It was argued that while we were two
- weeks distant from the disputed territory
- the “border ruffians” were “just over the line”
- & could go into Kansas any day to control
- elections or to drive our people from the
- territory, while we should be compelled
- to travel over 300 miles in the enemies coun-
- try before ever seeing Kansas.
- Again there were many who believed that
- Congress & the administration would put every
- possible obstacle in the way of the Em. Aid Co.
- and compel its absolute failure.
- Still further that this proslavery congress
- & administration were controlled by the
- slave power of the “Solid South” which
- had gone on increasing in strength until
- in the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
- it had shown itself stronger than even be
- fore. In all these arguments there was
- great force & even greater in others yet
- to be named. I mean the indifference
- of antislavery politicians & the
apathy (or perhaps better)The hostility of the numerous- antislavery societies of the north who believed
- in Garrison & succession.
- That slavery was stronger than ever before
- on the day of the passage of the Kansas Nebras-
- ka bill may be gathered from the speeches
- of Wade, Seward & Wilson in the senate &
- from the editorials of the leading anti-
- slavery newspaper in the country.
