The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-10-27


ing an original Pro-slaTery man. and The
first person who made a speech on that
side OF the question in Kansas Territory.
The Governor promised to go to Fort
Scott, TO be present at similar meeting.
Whether he did so or not We are not al
vised. It is said he went still further
and voted for this pro slavery candidate,
thus virtually endorsing his principles.
The Governor has apparently studiously
avoided anti-slavery towns, and associa-
ton with anti-slavery persons, and a pub
lie reception from the aduolsettlers in the
Territory. He has declared his inten-
ton TO enforce the cnaciments of the
representatives of Missouri fraud and in
reference, and in his letter to us justifes
the movement, and Otempts to throw the
censure upon Gov. REEDEE. With all
these facts as they appear to the free State
settlers of Kansas, the public can judge
whether the Governor was laboring under
"a wrong impression when he penned
thai letter to US, as well as we can.
We had supposed the evidence of the
Governors position was too palpable to
admit of denial. He ougM to know
what he said at Westport, and his posi-
ton elsewhere, better than any other per-
son; and yet the evidence is all against
him. One gentleman has offered to fur
nish us an affidavit of the truthfulness of
Mr. REDPATH's report of the Westport
speech, as published in the Missouri
Democrat, and subsequently copied by
us. We are assured that any number of
afidayits can BE procured of pro-slavery
as veil as Of anti-slayery men in proof of
the Governors pro-slavery position. His
speech was first reported in the Missouri
Democrat, and We shall expect to see in-
controvertible proof furnished of its cor
reetness to that paper. Nevertheless, it
would afford US the greatest pleasure to
be satisfied, with all this array of evil
dence against the Governor, that We, and
the whole public, were in an error, and
that he was in favor of freedom i'm Kan
sas. We will be satisfied, even, if he
will be silent upon the question, and
show by his public acts that he is in ia
vor of the principles of the Kansas Ne
brasha bill, and will favor the action of a
majority of the actual residents of the
Territory in settling this vexed question.
We do enter our protest, however,
against his attempting to foist code of
laws upon US, enacted by a people foreign
to our Territory, and by representatives
not one of who.a would have occupied a
seat in the Legislative Assembly of Kan
sas Territory. could the principles of the
Kansas Nebraska bill have prevailed
And we say further that we neuer will
submit to their infamous laws.
Gov. Shannon has the evidence, ere
this. of the feelings of the people of
Kansas Territory on this subject. 1t
matters not whether Gov. REEDER fur
nished certificates or otherwise to a ma
jority Of those men constituting the bo-
gus Legislative Assembly of Kansas
They obtained their seats by fraud, and
have enacted code of laws which every
free State voter of Kansas would chose
to die before he would obey. Gov. S
may array the forces of the Federal Gov.
eminent against US, aud may crush u:
with superior numbers; but We say tc
him,-and we but speak the united voice
of eight-tenths of the residents of the
Territory,-You cannot enslave usi W.
know our rights, and no extra-judicia
decision of Supreme Courts, no arbitra
ry determination of Executives, nor NJ
power of the General Government is suf
ticient to wrest them violently from us
j Our purpose is to pursue the Right
and interfere with no mans prerogative
The Constitution and Laws of the coun
try are ours by inheritance. and we ar
, not so craven as to allow them to be uset
for our enslayement. Gov. Shannon cal
learn lesson which will be advantageou
to him by reading the early history of tn
, Revolution; and if he wants a case il
point where Executive authority came ii
conflict with popular viii. he will End
in Gov. Hutchinson and the people O
Massachusetts.
1t seemed fatal error for the "Son
of Liberty" to array themselves agains
the powerful government of the mothe
country. They did SO in preference t
individual and personal enslavement, AM
? although few in numbers, and surround
ed by innumerable adverse circumstan
, ces, yet they triumphed. We never ex
pect to see Kansas occupying simila
position to the United States which tn
American Colonies did towards Grea
Britain, and are firm in the convicsio
q that the powers that be could never driv
us to such a position. and yet We woul
advise TO it before We would submit t
the gross outrage of having code oflaw
enforced upon us enacted by men VIII
came from foreign State, who have n
, interest in the soil, or the freedom of tn
people, and whose only object was to re
duce the actual settlers to condition in
| t;n;saly vorsa than Russian Serfdoua