Kansas weekly herald., 1855-08-04

ton in this issue. We learn, however,
from persons who have just returned from
the Mission, that no business of impor-
tance has been dispatched by our honora-
Bile body Of Legislators for the past week.
GEN j. W. WHITFIELD, .f.ND THE
"PLATTE .ARGUS."
The Platte Argus in its last issue when
recommending Gen. J.. w. Whitfield to
the people OF this Territory as the ''proper
person" to represent their interests in the
next Congress of the United States, takes
occasion to charge this paper with misrep-
resentation " for having stated that Gen.
Whitfield had written to the Editor of thi.
paper letter disavowing the fact of his
running last fall as pro-slavery candidate
and asserting that he ran and was elected
as an Administration National Democrat 81
The Herald simply asserted that Gen.
whitfield did not discuss the slavery ques-
ton On the stump OF make it the issue in
his Congressional canvass, but ran only as
National Democrat-which we will show
10 be true by the admissions of Gen. Whit
field himself. To prove to the gentleman
ly Editors the correctness of this statement.
we will quote from letter written by Gen.
Whitfield to Capt. L. ]. Eastin, from
Washington City, under date of January
25th, 1855:
In regard to your quarrel with the Ar
gus, think your position is so plainly sta
ted by you, that any man can understand
it. You heard my speech, and have no
doubt correctly reported it. I made similar
speeches through the canvass. Flenni-
ken's friends made the slavery issue
was willing to make it if necessary, but
| thought, and so did my friends, that the
platform l established was the best. l
have published a letter to Tennessee
friend, which send YOU In that [ have
established my platform, and he that it
don't suit, can get off it.'
From this extract it will be seen that
Gen. Whitfield did not make the /" slavery
issue" in the .canvass-just what the Her.
aid has all along contended for-because
he, as we'll as his friends, thought it best
MOTTO bring it in the contest. He says:
81 Chez was willing to make the s sla-
very issue" if necessary, but I (he)-as
well as my (his) friends, thought that the
platform 1 Chez established was the best"
This sentence shows conclusively that
Gen. Whitfield did no; make the " slavery
issue" but constructed a platform of his
own.
Let us now investigate and ascertain
what was this platform which he estab-
lished, and upon which he claims to have
been elected. He tells us in the above ex-
tract that his platform as established by
him, is given in a letter to friend, which,
as will be recollected, was published in
this, as well as other journals of the South
and East. By reference to our files, we
find " his letter to a Tennessee friend''
published in the Herald of March Is, 1855,
from which the following is a true and
correct extract.
One word in conclusion in relation to
the political aspect of things in the Terri
tory. The passage of the Nebraska
Kansas bill Gas it is called) was an act of
simple justice to the people, who other
wise would have been placed under un-
fair and un-American principles. It was
a Recommendation of a great principle in
the character of our liberties. Upoa, the
principles of this bill 1 ,os,d through the
I,o f,-asE oboJ l.,
supported By persons FROM sLAvEHoLD1se
AND NoN-sLAvEHoLDING STATEs."*
From the above it will at once be seen
that Gen. Whitfeld's platform was formed
of the very plank upon which this paper
has time and again represented him to
have stood On in the Congressional canvass
the Nebraska bill. Gen. Whitfield
himself asserts that he was not elected on
the pro-slavery issue, but was supported
mainly because he was a sound National
Democrat, advocating the principles of
the Nebraska Kansas bill. Upon the
principles of that bill, upon that ground,
and that alone, he claims to have been
elected. He says:
"Upon the principles of that bill,
went through the contest and triumphed.' u
Is this not sufficient to convince the in
t-lligent editors of the Argus that this
paper has never misrepresented the posi-.
ton of Gen. Whitfield Have we not al.
ready shown by the statements of Gen
Whitfield himself, that he ran as a Ma.
tiOnal Democrat, and rot on the pro-sla
The itaiicizing Ia our oWn.-ED. HxRxLD