The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-01-20
Correspondence.
Reply to 8. n. Wood, ESQ.

reply to Mr.. Stearns. / do not propose
to engage in a controversy about thai
election. or to follow Mr.. Woods letter
in detail, but simply make few general
statements touching my own position.
| never considered myself committed
to vote for Wakefield, except on the con.
dition that no other candidate should ap-
pear that liked better; and when | heard
that Judge Flenniken was in the field, il
was well understood, | supposed, by all
who cared to know my position, that /
should support him, if [ was better suited
with him than Mr. w. / did remark
that if Mr.. F. did not make his appear
ance at Lawrence before had occasion
to go up the river, should decide to
support some other person. But he did
appear, and was satisfied to vote for
him, and do not think that I was under
the leas! obligation to vote for Mr.. W.,
from anything had ever told him or any
one else. s.
Mr.. F. said plainly that he was opposed
to slavery and slavery extension from
principle, and always had been; and he
was a consistent man, SO far as | could
know, besides being gentleman of ed
ucation and good manners.
OF Judge w. dislike to speak, and
have only referred to him in self-defense
but | believed at the time, and still be-
lieve, that he was two-faced. At Law
renee he might not have advocated the
black laws for Kansas, but Mr.. Wood
showed me report of his speech at
Leayenworth, wherein he was said to IA
vor them and asked him if he believed
his speech in tina. respect was correctly
reported, and he said he was Z" "afraid it
was" Several persons have heard him
express the same views elsewhere. In
regard to his indifference about the result,
as to freedom or slavery in Kansas, a
gentleman was present at meeting when
the Judge addressed our citizens, and
said he had heard him make remarks to
that effect. Although Judge w. had Just
before said he never had said any such
thing, and denied the accusation with an
oath, yet he then admitted he had said it,
but it was in sport. Also, the report of
his wanting to buy slave comes to me
so direct, and from such reliable. author
ity, that do not doubt the truth of it.
1 do not say that Mr.. W.. would buy a
slave, or that he is in favor of the black
laws. but / do say that have no doubt
he talks so at times, whether in earnest
or not cannot say but l believe he de-
signs to have those with whom he talks
thus believe him in earnest. If Mr..
Wood will look at my reply to Mr.. S., he
will see that did not charge the voters
for Mr.. w. with being turncoats'' in
anti slavery, and do not now. ! believe
those who voted for him did it conscien-
tiously, as did those who voted for Mr..
IF. In conclusion. let me say, that for
the past care nothing, except so far as
Int may serve to instruct us in future and
II am ready to unite with friend Wood
and his friend W., and all friends of free
dom, on any candidates who shall truly
represent the one principle, freedom for
Kansas, that may receive the nomination
of legitimate convention of the citizens,
whether they are Wing or Democrat,
Administration or anti-Administra.io ion,
Freesoil or Nothing. Men from
all these parties are with Us, and ready to
act with us in making Kansas free; and
if we ever expect to act in harmony, We
must throw to the winds all tests bu. the
one. Let it be understood that one old
party is to be prescribed, and none of it:
members trusted, and that party will i'm
mediately prescribe all others.
AS my views upon this subject art
fully expressed in a private letter from
| DR.. Webb, the Secretary of the Emigran
| Ali Company, | will take the liberty t
copy some extrac:s. C. K.
1--WE regret to learn" he writes, tn
result of the election. although We wer
apprehensive it would even:ua.e e as it has
more especially after learning that dissen
sions, or asleast divisions, existed among
our friends. This was a mater of grea
surprise here, and | fear may injure TIA
f prospects of the cause in which We ar
enga ged, and prove detrimental to the in
terests of the settlement. 1t was conf
dently believed that no side issues woul
be male. =
/ ""In the glorious cause wherein We ar
engaged We know neither Whig nor Dem
ocrat, bankite nor anti-banklte, Know
. Nothings, Hards, Softs, WoollyheadS
nor members of any otller of the numer
: Gus parties that now divide the eommuni
ty:. we are rea ly and glad to receive al
, and comfort from each AMI all; we ar
ready to stand shoulder to shoulder wit
all in the present stru 5yle for supremac
between anti-slayery and pro-slayery; an
he who is not ready to do this, IS far frar
; being prepared to encounter the enem
, with thai hearty will and right goo
earnest that is anxiously, looked for, an
confidently expected from all true sons {
freedom. Whilst We wish each to exel
f else the right of private judgment, W
: hope none will prove recreant to ou
, cause, or for the sake Of gratifying mer
personal preference or political predilec
lions. sacrifice the principles on whic
3 our movements are based.
i '.The plot of Lawrence City viii b
completed by the photographer tomorrow
!, lin season for Mr. p. to take along wit
him. The naming of the streets devols
ed on me, and the names selected, | hops
; viii prove acceptable. The reasons whic
Influenced me in making the seleetle
shall be hereafter given. With the cor
gratulations of the approaching annlvel
: saries to yourself and our friends, and th
settlers in general / remain, yours trul,,
t THOMAS II. WEBB.
! "December 81, 1854
Fsr tas Herald y Freedom.
Il - 81