Buffalo (NY) Daily Republic, "Nebraska and Slavery," July 24, 1856

                     Nebraska and Slavery.

   JAMES REDPATH, of Kansas, writes from Topeka, under date of the 7th, and sends an important communication to the Chicago Tribune. He says:

   The important communication subjoined was handed to me this morning by a gentleman direct from Nebraska City. I will go there immediately and investigate its statements:

                               NEBRASKA CITY, June 28. 

   DEAR SIR: So far, in two discussions of the question and prospects of the extension of Slavery into the territories, the people of the north have passed by Nebraska to Kansas, the immediate victim. They have supposed that Nebraska was safe for freedom, let the result of the contest in her sister Territory be whatever it might. But, if Kansas falls, all is lost; Nebraska will become an easy conquest to the slave power. 

   In proof of this assertion, satisfactory proof is not wanting.

   Of the four newspapers in Nebraska, not one has ever dared to utter a single word in favor of freedom, either there or in Kansas; but, on the contrary, have always opposed the Free State men in the latter, as bitterly as STRINGFELLOW's Squatter Sovereign, or any of the border presses. The outrage on Senator SUMNER they pass silently by, or in congratulation of chivalric Brooks. 

   Gov. IZZARD, and most of the other appointees of the President, are warmly in favor of the introduction of Slavery. Until the commencement of immigration the present Spring--since which time the new settlers have been of a more Northern character than previously--the majority of the people of the Territory, especially of the portion of it lying South of the Platte River, were in favor of ignoring Freedom, not directly establishing slavery. By ignoring Freedom is understood the policy which the Slavery propagandists have deemed best to pursue in that Territory--that of branding as treason every attempt to make it free, and finally establishing a Constitution, entirely silent on the question. The Legislature, it is claimed, could easily regulate the matter; but that body would also adopt the ignoring principle, until the stampede of a few slaves, aided by whites, would make it necessary to directly acknowledge its existence, by providing for the punishment of persons giving such aid. Slavery already exists here; and in so thinly a populated country, with no laws as yet to punish the enticing away of slaves, it is necessary to treat them kindly; and Northern men--especially doughfaces--are prompted to this good treatment, and told that such is universal at the South--that Slavery is not half so bad as they are accustomed to suppose it. More slaves are on their way there; and it is asked of the ignorant from all sections, what is to be done with the slaves of the Territory when a Constitution is formed? For nearly all the Southern people, and many from the North, would much prefer seeing Slavery legalized, to having a few free negroes about them. 

   Nearly all the towns are owned by Pro-Slavery men, who give employment to a great many of the lowest class of citizens, and on election days put tickets into their heads, and send them to the polls, like sheep to the shambles. 

   The Methodist Episcopal Church is in as bad repute there as in Missouri. Every man who dares to express a word of sympathy with Kansas, is loaded with every supposed disgraceful epithet imaginable; concentrated efforts are being made to ruin the business of Anti-Slavery men, and threats of mobbing are not unfrequent. The Pro-Slavery Party manifested great joy on learning the sack of Lawrence, and arrest of ROBINSON, BROWN, and other prominent Free-State men; and many have been made to express a desire to enlist in the service of the Missouri clans. So great is the prejudice against Anti-Slavery men, that many of the prominent ones hardly consider their lives safe. They place no confidence in the Courts, for murderers find in them protection, not punishment; their only confidence is in the determination of their friends to revenge the wrongs which any of their number may receive on political accounts. 

   And besides of these advantages to Freedom in the Territory, as great ones are in readiness to be brought without as in the case of Kansas shortly before the election last Fall. In a conversation between Judge BRADFORD, one of the proprietors of Nebraska City, and Gov. Whitfield, the latter offered to take up an army sufficiently large to carry the election for the Pro-Slavery ticket. He said he was able to do so, and would if they required it; that the Border Ruffians were determined to make Nebraska a Slave State also. As that party were confident of electing their men, the requisition was never made; what course would have been pursued had that party been a minority, can only be left to supposition. 

   A train of migrants, which passed through Nebraska on their way to Kansas, by adopting a ruse, found many who have heretofore professed to be rather partial towards the institutions of the Free States, to be, in reality, strongly in favor of the established the peculiar institution. 

   One addressed a man of considerable influence in the Southern part of the Territory, something like this: "I tell you what, friend, I've got sick of trying to farm it in the North; they won't allow a fellow to hold slaves, or let him treat a white laborer otherwise than as an equal; I want to go where I can drive things; I believe that Kansas will be a Slave State--that our glorious Democratic Party will make it one, and I'm going there."

   "Oh," replied the gentleman addressed, "you need have no fear of stopping in Nebraska, if that is your position, for there is a strong determination to make Nebraska a Slave State, and I've no kind of doubt that we shall triumphantly exceed."

   Any careful observer will see that this disposition among influential men is far from being uncommon. 

                                  J.H. Kape.

                      From Trumbull Co., Western Reserve. 

   P.S.--Judge BRADFORD made the statement of his conversation with Gov. WHITFIELD in the office of the Nebraska City News, on the evening previous to the last election for Delegate to Congress. I was in the office at the time, and overheard him. I have resided in Nebraska City a year.               J.H.K.