The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1855-06-09
Far TIE Krald If Freedom

none more delightful and inviting can be
found in all our unoccupied domain.
Fcr TIE HeralI IF Freedom.
Freedom of Kansas.
The late overwhelming importation of
Missourians into Kansas, to override the
freedom of election, fortunately SO unde-
niably violent and aggressive, will it may
be hoped, ultimately result rather in fur
therance, than obstruction, to the restric-
ton of the slave power. For time
perhaps the peace of the Territory may
be disturbed or emigration to it be
checked by this unprincipled encroach-
ment; but Kansas thus becomes only a
martyr for liberty, and its suferings will
be renovation of it through the extent
of the Union.
The combined influences of CONNER
cial intercourse, fear of disunion, preiL-
dice against radical abolitionists, attach
ment TO party ties, and belief that the
North had no concern or power respect
ing slavery, had kept most of the citizens
of the Free States in a cold conservative
apathy towards the wrongs and suffer-
ings OF the American Slave. The first
awakening from this perilous dream was
at the canvas for the election of General
Taylor to the Presidency; when a con-
siderable secession from the parties took
place. and the Freesoil party was formed
by multitude at Buffalo. The parties
alarmed. and still holding an immense
majority, mel this movement by the
compromised legislation of 1859 and
with the madness, which we are told
precedes the doom of destruction, enact
ed the unconconstitutional, inhuman and
Intellectual Fugitive Slave Bill, by which
the fires of freedom, raised from their
ashes, were again rekindled, and spread
forth to warm every benevolent heart in
the free States. The GROWING act of in
sanity was the passage of the Nebraska
bill, by which the Missouri Compromise
was annulled, and the beautiful Territory
of Kansas was opened to the free ingress
of slavery. That measure commenced a
revolution the spirit of freedom now
predominates at the North; the old par
ties, with all their quietudes and fnalities,
are broken and divided; the great con-
testbetween liberty and slavery has come
to its crisis, and must be pursued on
more equal terms.
1t would have been happy had the in
strument which inflicted the destructive
blow on the parties, been stamped with
the conspicuous device of freedom, in
stead of one. which, protesting to be
Ignorant of every hing, is only unmind-
ful of the real danger Immediately i'm
pending, while it is too sharp-Sighted to
one, which is foreign, remote and uncer-
tain. Still though ignoring the great
question on which the fate OF the Union
now depends, it cannot avert or protract
the contest, now unayoidably at hand !;
and in which it must of necessity par
ticipate. The first battle ground of this
conflict is Kansas; and there is the field
of heroism, of patrio ism. and of true
glory. Citizens of Kansas: be awake
TO the solemn importance of your posi-
lion! You are not only called to strug-
gle with the various privations incident
to an u1subdued region, but with the
-deailiest obstruction to your prosperity
of the determined enemies OF your rights.
In the contest now incumbent on you,
you are not merely to strive for the ex-
emption of your land from the desolating
miscultivation of slave labor, and the
still more desolatiny influence of slave
holding immorali y; but upon your res
olution, in the first event, depends per-
hapS the liberty or subsection of our
beloved country in all its vast extent. In
the political war between the ruthless
aris:ocsacy of the South and the equal
izing democracy of The North, Kansas is
the Bunker Hill of incipient resistance,
and the honors of the patriots of that
field are to be Won by you. The eyes of
a continent are turned to you in your
victory the need of everlasting fame and
gratitude are yours.
Be inspired. then, not only with a
sense of responsibility, but with the ami
nation of hope. Your truly excellent
Governor will endeavor to obtain from
the Cabinet of the United States protec-
ton to your rights ofsufrage; but should
that Cabinet, led, as heretofore, by pro-
slavery tendencies, refuse that projection,
despair not; let not man of you depart
in fear; the Free States will take up your
cause. for it is their cause. Should an
other avalanche of Missouri barbarians
come upon you, the North will be united
in freedom, and the prohibition of slavery
will be restored. j. p. B.