Popular indignation at the North knew no bounds at this new retrograde movement.  The Whigs uttered protests, while the Free-Soil party, just coming into notice, composed mainly of moderate antislavery men from both the old parties, were loud in their denunciations of the encroachments of the South.  Even some leading Democrats opened their eyes, and joined the rising party.  The newspapers, the pulpits, and the platforms sent forth a united cry of wrath.  The Whigs and the Abolitionists were plainly approaching each other.  The year 1854 saw a continuous and solid political campaign to repress the further spread of slavery.  The Territories being then thrown open, there now began an intense emulation to people them, on the one hand, with advocates of slavery, and on the other, with free-soilers.  Emigration societies were founded to assist bona fide settlers, and a great tide of families poured into Kansas from the Northern States; while the Southern States, and chiefly Missouri, sent also large numbers of men.

At the South the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was universally welcomed, and the Southern leaders felt encouragement and exultation.  The South had gained a great victory, aided by Northern Democrats, and boldly denounced Chase, Hale, Sumner, Seward, and Giddings in the Congress as incendiaries, plotting to destroy precious rights.  A memorable contest took place in the House of Representatives to prevent the election of Banks of Massachusetts as Speaker.  But the tide was beginning to turn, and Banks, by a vote of 113 against 104, obtained the Speakership.

Then followed “border ruffianism” in Kansas, when armed invaders from Missouri, casting thousands of illegal votes, elected, by fraud and violence, a legislature favorable to slavery, accompanied with civil war, in which the most disgraceful outrages were perpetrated, the central government at Washington being blind and deaf and dumb to it all.  The bona fide settlers in Kansas who were opposed to slavery then assembled at Topeka, refused to recognize the bogus laws, and framed a constitution which President Pierce—­“a Northern man with Southern principles,” gentlemanly and cultivated, but not strong—­pronounced to be revolutionary.  Nor was ruffianism confined to Kansas.  In 1856 Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, one of the most eloquent and forceful denunciators of all the pro-slavery lawlessness, was attacked at his desk in the Senate chamber, after an adjournment, and unmercifully beaten with a heavy cane by Preston Brooks, a member of the House of Representatives, and nephew of Senator Butler of South Carolina.  It took years for Sumner to recover, while the aristocratic ruffian was unmolested, and went unpunished; for, though censured by the House and compelled to resign his seat, he was immediately re-elected by his constituents.