however, it was thrown out; but on being presented again on the 18th, it was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, and its author at length had the satisfaction of seeing it passed.

CHAPTER III.

The Troubles in Kansas-History of the Territory--Efforts to Organize it defeated by the South-The Kansas-Nebraska Bill-Its true Character--Repeal of the Missouri Compromise-History of the Measure in Congress-The Efforts of the Free Soil Members defeated-How the Bill was passed-Opening of the Territory-Organization and Outrages of the Border Ruffians-Emigration to the Territory-The War on the Free State Men-History of the Troubles in the Territory-Outrages of the Bogus Government and its Officials-The Sacking of Lawrence-Laws of the Bogus Legislature-Efforts of the Free Soil Men to locate a State Government-The Border War-The Case laid before Congress-Report of the Committee-Noble Speech of Mr. Colfax in behalf of the Free Settlers-The Ball and ChainThrilling Scene in the House.

WHEN the Thirty-Fourth Congress assembled, a matter of grave importance was at once presented to it, which was the condition of affairs in the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska. In order to make the necessity for Congressional interference plain to those of our readers who may not be familiar with the occurrences of that day, it will be necessary to present here a brief account of the troubles in Kansas; and in order that the narrative may be complete, it is our purpose to extend it to the admission of Kansas in 1861.

Until the year 1850, the vast region lying between the western and northwestern borders of Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, was called by the general and somewhat indefinite name of "the Platte country," the name being derived from the Platte River, which flows

through the principal part of this section. It was known to be a region of vast fertility, and great mineral wealth. Across it swept the grand trails of the overland route to the Pacific, and the only highway to Utah; and it was believed by those who ventured to look into the future of the country, that this would one day be among the most valuable portions of our territory. At that time, however, the eastern portion of this region was covered by Indian reservations; and these reservations were, by the terms of our treaties with the tribes occupying them, closed against all white settlers.

To the people of the overcrowded Eastern States this fair region seemed a very "Land of Promise," which needed only their energy and industry to become the seat of a mighty empire; and it gradually came to pass that the people of New England and the Middle States determined to colonize this region as soon as it could be legally done.

As early as the first session of the Thirty-Second Congress, petitions were presented to that body for the organization of this region; but they failed to receive any attention until the 13th of December, 1852, when Mr. Hall, of Missouri, presented in the House a bill for the organization of the "Territory of Platte," which embraced the country referred to. It was referred to the Committee on Territories, which, on the 2d of February, 1853, through its chairman, Mr. W. A. Richardson, of Illinois, reported a bill organizing the "Territory of Nebraska," covering the same area mentioned in Mr. Hall's bill. This bill was referred

to the Committee of the Whole, where it was opposed by the full strength of the South. The Committee of the Whole reported it to the House, with a recommendation that it be rejected. When it came before the House, Mr. Letcher, of Virginia, moved that it be laid on the table; but his motion was lost on a call of the yeas and nays, and the bill, after being engrossed and read a third time, was finally passed by a vote of 98 to 43, and sent to the Senate.

The bill, as passed by the House, was presented to the Senate on the 11th of February, 1853, and was at once referred to the Committee on Territories. On the 17th of the same month, the chairman of this committee, Senator Douglas, reported it to the Senate without amendment.

It was well known that the measure would meet with the unyielding opposition of the pro-Slavery element in the Senate, inasmuch as the new Territory was to be devoted to "free labor," for which alone it was suited. No movement to colonize it had been set on foot, or was even thought of, in the South; but it was well known that nine-tenths of the emigrants would come from the Free States, and would naturally desire to have free institutions in their new homes. Notwithstranding this, however, the pro-Slavery men were determined that those who were to bear the brunt of the task of settling the new Territory should be forced to submit to a system they despised; they were determined that the new Territory should be "Slaveholding," or that it should not be organized; so, when Mr. Douglas called up the bill on the 2d of March, 1853,

the last day but one of the session, the Senate refused to consider it by a vote of 20 yeas to 25 nays. He tried to call it it up again the next day; but Senator Borland, of Arkansas, moved to lay it on the table, which motion prevailed by a vote of 23 yeas to 17 nays. The session closed the next day; so the bill was lost for the time, and one of the fairest sections of the country allowed to remain a wilderness, through the blind folly of the Slaveholding interest. The only pro-Slavery Senators who favored the bill were those from Missouri.*

The subject was revived at the first session of the Thirty-third Congress, by Senator Dodge, of Iowa, who, on the 14th of December, 1853, presented a bill to the Senate, to organize the Territory of Nebraska, the area to be covered being the same as in the other bills. It was referred to the Territorial Committee, and on the 4th of January, 1854, reported to the Senate, with amendments, by Senator Douglas. Judge Douglas had the bill recommitted, and on the 23d of January reported it back to the Senate with some important alterations.

The reader will remember that by the terms of the Missouri Compromise, that part of the territory of the Union lying north of 36 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, was forever closed against the admission of

*Should any reader doubt that there was a preconcerted determination, on the part of the Southern Senators, to oppose the organization of a new Free Territory, let him read the speech of Senator Atchison, of Missouri, on the subject, delivered in the Senate, December 15th, 1852, in which he will find a distinct intimation by the Senator that he was aware of such an arrangement, but hed no faith in it.