The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-10-18
FROM KANSAS.
LEAyENwoRTH CITY, X. T.,
September 25. 1855.


September 25, 1856.
To the Editor of the National Era:
The case of McCrea has been disposed of for
the present. in an unexpected manner. | will
briefly state the course of Judge Lecompte in
the case. He excluded from the bar gentlemen
whom the prisoner had employed as his coun-
sci, because they declined to swear to support
the laws of the Territory, which were not vet
published, and they had not seen. He also re-
fused to allow the prisoner, by his counsel to
challenge the grand jurors. Sixteen or seven
teen grand jurors were empanelled, and recev-
ed the charge of the Judge; then, at another
time, two or three other Jurors were introduced
making the whole number nineteen After
having the case in hand for two or three DAYS
without finding BILL the jury came into court
to obtain instructions some points of the law
from the Judge. They were instructed that
twelve must agree in finding bill. The fore
man of the Jury announced that the Jury stood.
three for manslaughter, five for willful murder,
and eleven for finding no bill. The Judge re-
proved him for making this statement, and sent
the Jury back to their room. On their return
they summoned other witnesses, and continued
their session for two days longer without being
able to indict him. The time then arrived for
closing the present session of the court. In
stead of discharging the jury, after their pro-
tracted labors, the Judge adjourned the court
and jury till the middle of October. McCrea is
tn us left in prison and in chains, after jury,
selected by pro-slavery officers, had failed, after
weeks trial, to find an Indictment against
him. Under such circumstances, ought he not
to have been discharged? And is not his con-
tinued Imprisonment an act of pro-slavery and
judicial tyranny?
The Convention at Topeka, called by the
70 To Con 49,
organization, was we'll attended, and an excel
lent spirit of harmony prevailed. The National
Democrats go into the measure heartily.
Platte county STAKEHOLDER, now q resident of the
Territory, a delegate to the Convention.
An Arkansas man, who said he was the owner
Of fifty slaves, gave in his adhesion. A Vir-
ginia stakeholder, at a previous meeting, had
adopted the Free State platform. l am inform
ed that other pro-slavery men are coming over
to the Free State side. 1t is proper to say that
a large body in the Free State party is intense
ly anti abolition, being opposed to Slavery
merely from considerations of political econo
my, and not because of its unrighteousness.
The Convention called a Constitutional Con-
vention, and fixed the qualifications of voters
and of delegates. A voter must have resided
in the Territory thirty days, and delegate six
months. The election is to be held on the sec
ond Tuesday of October, the day appointed by
the previous Free State Convention for the cleo
ton of delegate to Congress. The Convention
is to meet at Topeka, the latter part of October
1t is expected that it will be engaged three or
four weeks in the work of framing Constitu
ton. This will doubtless be forthwith submit
ted to the people for ratification and at the be-
ginning of the next session of Congress Kansas
will ask for admission to the Union.
The unsettled and disturbed condition of af
fairs here is in part the reason for urging this
matter so rapidly. But l apprehend the cues
tons of National party politics are in no small
manner involved. 1t is believed that the inter
ests of the Democratic party can only be sub.
served by the immediate settlement of the Kan
sas question. The prospect is, that it will ruin
the party if it is left open. The Nebraska
Democrats, who so suddenly have allied them
selves with the Free State men in this move
ment, manifestly expect the cooperation of
their party abroad. 1t is confidently maintain
ed, by old politicians, that Kansas will be early
received into the Union. If this should be the
result, a new era in American politics would be
inaugurated. The Democratic party will cease
to be the conservator of Slavery, but, by the
necessities of its existence, it will be driven to
interpose an impossible barrier against the fu-
ture aggressions of Slavery.
1t will be wonderful if Providence should
employ one of the corrupt parties of the coun-
try to set the metes and bounds of oppression.
If Kansas now comes in free, it is doubtless
true that no future slave State can be admitted
and such success, it may be hoped, will be
decisive victory over the Slave Power.
Yours, truly, JOHN H. BYRD.