The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-17
Territorial LEGISLATURE.

Much speculation is rife as to the time
of our territorial election for members of
the Council and Legislature. and our
friends in Missouri seem the most inter-
ested parties. The border press of that
State have weekly articles on the subject.
denouncing the Governor for having de-
layed the matter so far, and threatening
him with dire calamities if it shall be
procrastinated much longer. One would
suppose, from the tone of their leaders,
that the editors were actual residents of
the Territory, and the worst sufferers in
the world. We feel grieved at their
wretehedness, and hope some fortuitous
event viii give them relief as soon as
may be.
In relation to session of the Legisla-
ture, we are not conscious of any very
great purpose it can serve the people until
the land surveys are made. Lines drawn
by government between conflicting claim
ants will do more towards establishing
order and happiness among the pioneers,
and restoring good state of feeling. than
the adoption of all the penal codes which
have been devised since the morning Of
creation down to the present moment
Until those lines are established, and every
man is enabled to know the metes and
bounds of his own possessions. conflict
ing interests will beget contention, and
this whether the Legislature is convened
or otherwise.
We are of the few who believe thai
"the world is already governed toe
much" Let the golden rule be moro
generally observed, as we are confident il
would be were it not for an excess of lie,
gislation, and society would be infinitely
better off than now. Establish the law
of mine and thine, 80 far as relates tc
freehold, which survey of the public
domain and the opening of Land Office
would enable all to do, then a fig for legis.
lation-we should not care if session o.
the Legislature was not convened fol
years to come. Our neighbors in Mis-.
souri,, who are so anxious to establish the
institution of slavery here, are of course
desirous of holding session of the Le-
gisiature, hoping thereby to enact laws in
accordance with their peculiar views
Had the election taken place last autumn,
of course they would have succeeded in
their measures; but fortunately for free
dom. a better policy has prevailed, and
signs of hope are now seen in the hori
zon.
Until the Legislature does act upon the
subject, it is very evident no STAKEHOLDER
will venture here with very large amount
of his ehatteis personal Indeed, We are
firm in the opinion that writ of habeas
corpus would emancipate every person
now held in bondage in the Territory
Such is the opinion of many of the most
eminent jurists of the South, and such is
common sense for slavery can only exist
by force of positive municipal law, and
that it has not in its favor, and cannot Sc
cure until the Legislature is convened.
Congress was silent on the subject, and
in the repeal of the eighth section of the
Missouri compromise, took express coca.
sion to remark that it was not their inten.
tion to extend slavery over the Territory
How then does it exist? By force o.
what law other than the law of might
That law is brittle thread, easily sever.
ed. and shareholders are conscious of it
and ara unwilling to venture very large
amount of property upon so uncertain 8
tenure.