Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-09-25
From the 81. Louis Republican of Sept Is.
X anaAn nnirs

observations. He visited Lawrence, the head
quarters of the Abolitionists, and describes the
! town and what he saw there. He notices the
4 hotel a continuance To frighten the "border
rufhans." 1t is nearly finished, is built Of stone,
is four stories high, with flat roof. 1.-The walls,
rising some distance above the roof, are pierced
with regular tier of port holes, through which
they expect TO look and strike terror TO the hearts
/ OF the timd settlers in the BORDER counties.
"Did you everi' Frequent alusion was made,
by some of the inhabitants to the portfolios, with
hint that they had plenty of "Sharp's rifles. !"
He visited the Big Spring, where the conven-
ton of the revolutionists recently held, and
Reeder nominated for Congress, and sketches OF
what was done. He arrived on the second day
of the convention, and was struck with the APP
pearance of several flags and pennons hoating IN
the air, on Of which the following mottos
were distinctly delineated, list, Liberty; "a, NO
more Stare Territory; Sd, Viciory or Death; Attn,
Kansas mast be free, and, under all, Topeka,
/ 1855.
Resolutions were passed repudiating the late
legislature, and declaring determined resistance
! to the laws enacted by that body.
Colonel Lane, formerly of Indiana, addressed
the convention, saying that they had placed them
selves in revolutionary position; that he thought
it impoltic TO urge this resistance; that Governor
| Shannon was clothed with all the powers OF this,
| the greatest Government in the world, to resist
and put down this revolution; that he had de-
clared in speech, which some of them had
heard, that he recognized the laws passed at
| Shawnee Mission as legally enacted, and pledged
himself to see that they were executed. He said
that he knew Governor Shannon, and knew that
what he had said he would most certainly exc
cute. You have repudiated the legislature and
resolved not to submit to its enactments. The
only way to settle the question is by admitting
Kansas free State.
| Judge Schuyler advocated the measure of elect
ing delegate, outside of the laws, and sending
him to Congress with the facts of the He
thought Congress would do something for them.
He continued Oregon will be seeking admission
as State. No two free States can be admitted
at once. If two States admitted, one must
be slave. Which would it be- He did not think
Kansas would be admitted; that on this theme OF
Kansas must rest the next Presidential election
The committee had reported that they con-
sidered the idea of forming constitution prema-
ture and Mr.. Touton had something to say
about it.
He was from Missouri; he was born there, and
was glad Off He a true southern man
born 700 miles south of where he then STOOD but
was opposed to slavery, with all his powers, in
all its bearings. [Applause.l He continued: we
have President, and Missouri flushed with vic
tory, and legislature, just adjourned, to oppose
us. But for one, Twill neuer submit to those laws
ercept in death.
Mr.. -- thought it was unfortunate that the
question of forming state constitution had been
sprung in the convention, and that the only pro-
call of convention on the 18th, to consider the
propriety of forming state constitution He
was in favor of forming constitution, but did
not think it would be admitted. The Kansas bill,
which he was always opposed to, guaranteed all
that he could ask But it had been violated
We have flung off the territorial government
are now under no government-shall we ask for
another' He believed Congress would sympa-
thse with them, and make appropriations to de-
fray the expenses.
Mr.. Houston thought that step would weaken
the cause; that numbers were opposed to paying
the tax that must follow, and that in the emer
gency would vote with the pro-slavery party.
After protracted debate the report of the
committee disposed of by endorsing the call
for convention to be held at Tecumseh on the
| 10Th.
Reeder then nominated
The following platform of principles was adopt
ed, and Governor Reeder nominated for Con-
gress:
"Whereas the free State party of the Territory
of Kansas is about to originate an organization
for concert ofpoitical action in electing our own
officers and moulding our institutions; and where
as it is expedient and necessary that platform
of principles be adopted and proclaimed, to make
known the character of our organization, and to
test the qualifications of candidates and the fidel-
ity of our members; and whereas we find our
selves in unparalleled and critical condition,
deprived by superior force of the rights guaranteed
by the Declaration of Independence, the Const-
tuition of the United States and the Kansas bill;
and whereas the great and overshadowing ques-
tion-whether Kansas shall become free or a
slave State-must inevitably absorb all other
issues except those nseparably connected with ii;
and whereas the crisis demands the concerted and
harmonious action of all those who, from princi-
pie or interest," prefer free labor to slave labor
well of those who value the preservation of the
| an 10 MT pf inst -
tions by the Constitution: therefore
"Resolped, That, setting aside all the minor
issues of partisan politics, 1t is incumbent upon us
to proffer an organization calculated 10 recover
our dearest rights, and into which Democrats and
Wings, natives and naturalized citizens, may
freely enter without any sacrifice of their respec-
tive political creeds, but without forcing them
a test upon others; and that when we shall have
achieved our political freedom, indicated our
rights Of selfgoyernment, and become an indie
pendent State of the Union, when those issues
may become vital they are now dormant, il
will be time enough to divide our organization by
these tests, the importance Of which we fully re-
cognise in their appropriate sphere.
Resolved, That we will oppose and resist all
nonresident voters at our polls, whether from
Missouri or elsewhere, as gross violation Of our
rights, and virtual disfranchisement of our citi-
zens.
"Resoired, That our true interests, socially
| PcIuhldIiy5 require lDdL hdHsdh
should be free State; that free labor will best
promote the happiness, the rapid population, the
prosperity, and the wealth of our peoples that
slave labor is curse TO the master and the com
munity, if not TO the slave; that our country is
unsuited to it, and that we will devote our ener-
ges as party to exclude the institution and to
secure for Kansas the Constitution Of free State
"Resoired, That in doing so we will consent to
any fair and reasonable provision in regard to the
slaves already in the Territory, which shall pro-
tect the masters against injustice and total loss.
"Resotred, That it is the opinion Of this con-
vention that the admission Of free negroes or
muattoes into the Territory or future State Of
Kansas will be productive Of evil among the
people Of Kansas, and dangerous TO the institu-
tons OF our sister State, and that will oppose
their admission into the Territory or future State
of Kansas now and forever.
"Resoired, That the stale and ridiculous charge
of Abolitionism, so ndustriousiy imputed to the
free State party, and pertinaciousy adhered
TO, in spite of all the evidence TO the contrary is
without shadow Of truth to support it, and that
VI IS not more apparent to ourselves than it is to
| our opponents, who use IL a term OF reproach
to bring odium upon us, pretending to believe in
its truth, and hoping to frighten from our ranks