The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-04-28

only law which States and individuals
are bound to obey. but it is compact
between the North and the South-a sol
emn covenant between the sovereign
States of our Union, which nonec can vio-
late without becoming recreant 70 the
principles of honor and just5ce-without
! the betrayalof confidence reposed-with-
out such breaking of piighted faith as in
an individual, would load him to the
earth with scorn and contempt, and drive
him from the society of honest men
| That bill which Northern statesmen,
backed. with Northern votes, had obtain
| ed for Southern rights, is made by men
who invade our soil. the very instrument
for depriving US Of our dearest priyile-
ges, and sta6bing to the heart those who
magnanimously gave it into their hands
for other ends.
That bill is made to mean popular SOW.
ereignty for them-serfaom for US. The
doctrine of self-goyernmeHti is to be tiam-
pied under foot here. of all other places
in the world, on the very spot which had
been hallowed and consecrated to It's most
signal yindication. The altars which had
been reared to it on this chosen ground,
and around which atleast the Democracy
of the whole Union had sworn allegiance,
and to which we had come as prilgrim
worshippefs in the wilderness. are to be
ruthlessly demolished. The compact is
to be basely broken and the ballot of the
freemen lin effect torn from our hands
almost before the ink Of the covenant is
dry. Not only, too, is the principle of
popular sovereignty to be blotted out, but
more than this. even the object of the
contest is to disappear. The question of
negro slavery is to sink intoinsignifcance,
and the great portentuous issue is to loom
up in its stead, whether or not are shall
be the slaves, and fanatics who disgrace
the honorable, and chivalric men of the
South, shall be our masters to rule US at
their pleasure.
With feeble and scattered community,
| just struggling into existence, without or
ganization and almost without shelter,
We are powerless to. resist an old, strong
and populous State, full.o men and arms.
and resources, and we therefore appeal
to you, and through you to the people of
the Safes Remedy here we have none.
Our Executive has with manly deter
mination and persistent fidelity stood by
his people, and endeavored to carry out
the principles of popular sovereignty,
and secure US the privilege of managing
our own affairs and governing ourselves,
until his reputation has been assailedand
hislife openly threatened witha bitterness
almost unparalleled; and, although, as
Chief Magistrate, he is all we could de,
sire, and has fearlessly pursued the path
of duty amid storm of menace and de-
traction, under which many men would
have quailed. yet he is powerless like
ourselves.
We make now this last appeal, not 10
the North, not to the South; not to any
political party. butte the. Representatives
of the whole Union. We beg that no
man will sport with our fearful condition
by endeavoring to make political capital,
and build up party at the expense of our
civil and physical existence. We want
the men Of the North and the men of the
South teprotectus. Through yourselves,
their Representatives, we appeal to their
honor-to their justice-to their patriot
ism-to their sympathies, not for favors
but for rights-not for trivial rights, but
for the dearest rights guaranteed to US by
the Declaration of Independence-by the
Constitution of the Uhion-by the law
of our organization-by the solemn com
pact of the States, and which you pledged
to us as the condition of our coming here.
Communities are not to blame for the
conduct of their fanatics. unless they
sanction them. We cannot believe that
the States of the South will sanction the
outrages that have been perpetrated upon
US, or will allow them to be eontinued.-
And although we might reason the mat
ter as a question of policy, and show that
it is contrary to the laws of nature and
society, and opposed to all human expe-
rience, that good can come of such an
evil-although we might prove that it is
sowing thewind to reap the .whirlwind, )"
and that the reaction viii be fearful, yet
We feel that this is unnecessary-that it is
enough to appeal to their honor and their
sense of justice, and to rely upon their
plighted faith.
Inside our bounds We shall have no
serious troubles. Northern and southern
men mingle together in harmony and
good feeling, and in mutual dependence
and assistance in the hardships and pri-
vations ola pioneer life. As we learn to
understand each other, friendships are
engendered and prejudices melt.away, SO
that we shall be able to meet all questions
that may arise in spirit of justice and
kindly feeling, which will secure the
rights of all, and cheerful acquiescence in
the decision of the majority. From for
eign oppression, however, we ask for re-
lief of that power which passed the Kan
sas Bill, and pledged ous its benefits if
we would come here. We have a right
toask and do ask its enforcement. 1t re-
mains for your honorable bodies to decide
whether you will keep the compact be-
tween you and US which exists by that
BILL and our emigration-whether you
will vindicate the sacred doctrines of the
government, or whether you win leave
us in a state of yassalage and oppression.
We cannot and do not doubt that you
will in some way give us justice and pro-
lection.
Exchanges.
VIII our exchanges be SO kind as to
4 avarn.na .ha;r s,,tsea-,,,4;/,,, Looi-a -