Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

In the presidential election of 1852, when Pierce and Scott were the candidates, both political parties substantially united on a platform in regard to slavery. That platform, like most platforms, was an evasion of the point actually at issue. At the election, Pierce was chosen by the vote of all but five States.

Meanwhile a fruitful subject of turmoil, anxiety, and political agitation had formulated itself in the question of the admission of the Territory of Kansas. That agitation first took form in settling that Territory. It lay on the westerly side of the slave State of Missouri and its southern boundary was the Indian Territory, where slavery was practically established among the Indians. Most of the early settlers of the eastern portion had come from Missouri and brought the institution of slavery with them. Thus Kansas seemed at first, to have the elements for the formation of a slave State. Great exertions were made on the part of the Free-Soilers to settle Kansas from the East, so that the majority of the inhabitants should be opposed to slavery. The Emigrant Aid Society, a very strong organization duly incorporated in the State of Massachusetts, sent into that Territory great numbers of emigrants; and they went also, although more spontaneously, from other free States. The southern slave-holders likewise made exertions to have those of their people who desired to emigrate, go to Kansas and aid in making it a slave State.

The emigrants on both sides went there armed. When attempts were made to hold elections, armed bands went from Missouri to control those elections. A convention was held to provide an organic law for the State, and it resulted in a constitution providing for slavery, known as the Lecompton Constitution. This was considered by the people of the United States rather the expression of the will of the armed intruders of Missouri into Kansas, than the voice of her own people. Meanwhile the “free settlers” of Kansas elected delegates to a convention which provided that Kansas should be a free State, and that slavery should be prohibited in its organic law, and then set up a State government for Kansas before its admission as a State by Congress.

There have been several States admitted under such proceedings, but none where the struggles upon great and vital questions were so