The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-11-17
Kansas Politics.

which surround almost all the political
movements of the day, the judicious and
harmonious policy of the Free State men
of Kansas bids fair to furnish the country
with one well defined issue. Round this
issue we venture the prediction, the po-
ltical action of the next House of Rep
resentativeS will turn.
Our readers are aware, that on the 1st
of October the pro slavery men of Kansas
voted for delegate to Congress. They
voted for Gen. Whitfield, the late incum-
bent of that office, and elected him with
out opposition. The day of election was
that assigned by the late Missourian Leg
islature, whose action is entirely disown-
ed by the great mass of the inhabitants
of Kansas. The real people of Kansas,
at their convention held in September at
Big Springs, fixed Tuesday the 9th of Oc-
tober. as the day of election for delegate.
On that day they returned Gov. Reeder as
their delegate to Congress. They. of
course, declined voting at all on the day
appointed by the mock Legislature.
The reasons assigned by the convention
for appointing an independent election
day seems to US amply sufficient. To
have voted at the day named by the self
appointed rulers of the Territory would
have been to recognize their authority.
10 have tiken the oath prescribed by
them would have been TO recognize the
validity of their laws. To insist on
voting Without taking those oaths would
have introduced into the election cause
for constant wrangling, if not bloodshed.
As the matter stands, the people of Kan
sas disown the whole concern. The pro-
ceedings of the bakers dozen, called a
Legislature, are no more to them than
the proceedings ofa caucus in Tammany
Hall, Without legal Legislature they
do what almost every American State
has had to dc sometimes-they meet in
convention fairly and widely summoned
The whole Territory is represented there.
The convention orders day of election
and on that day of election the people of
Kansas will meet and elect their dele
gate.
1t is perfectly true that Gov. Shannon
may refuse him certificate ofelection.-
He will not be the first member of Con-
gress who has gone to Washington
without the certificate he deserves, to
contest a seat unjustly held by another.
The convention has arranged measures
which will give him such certificate as
scarcely any man ever has carried to
Congress, certificate signed by all his
constituents.
That is to say, memorial to Congress
setting forth tie reasons for the action
of this convention viii be placed at ey-
cry polling place TO receive the sigma
ture of every voter. Ii Gov. Reeder has
no other certificate he will at least carry
this the evidence that body of men
far more numerous than any vote, which
by invasion or without it, can be trump
ed up for Gen. Whitfield, have sent him
as the delegate in Congress from Kan
Sas.
The claim which he viii thus present
for seat as delegate, will be a strong
one. and it viii make the clear issue
before the country we have spoken Of.
1t will present the distinct question
'ssl,all Kansas be governed by Missouri.
or BY her own people This ques-
ton will be tried before compe -ent
body-before the House of Representa-
tives of the United S,ases-which is the
Judge of the testimonials of It's own mem
bers.
The Senate, which would not, as now
constituted. give very favorable recep-
ton TO anybody who came without Pres
ident Pierce's countersign, viii have
nothing to do with this question. The
House, fresh from the popular discussion
of popular freedom and of squatter SOW
ereignty, viii have the decision of a
question in which both popular freedom
and true squatter sovereignty are inVol-
we'd.
We have no very high opinion Of the
new House of Representatives. But we
very much mistake its complexion aad
disposition, If, with this square issue
presented to It, it does not decide that
the mock Legislature of Kansas was an
illegal body. with no right TO exercise
Legislation over that Territory. Wheth-
er, then, il gives seat to the free State
claimant, Gov. Reeder, or send both him
and his rival back to the people, is mat
ter of little consequence. In the face OF
such decision by a competent tribunal,
little more viii be heard of the authority
of tina. assuming Legislature" which
has just now.adjourned at tho Shawnee
Mission
In this position of things. i Is certain
ly fortunate that candidste is presented