The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-02-10
reasons urged by Mr.. Willis, and not
from any persona objectionto to the senf-

ilVt.i diy PciSoit1l OUjCosivtf ~ etss -
ments of either. 81
Mr.. Elliott spoke in defense ofthe pre-
amble. and declared it met his candid
views upon the question at issue. The
object was NOT for political scheming.-
We ought tostake high, moral position.
come boldly up to the point, and meet
the issue upon its true merits.
Messrs. Stearns, Willis, and Elliott
made some remarks in relation to the
origin of the several preambles.
Mr.. E. Clark thought the people were
sufficiently enlightened. A free State
party, which should give efficiency to our
action, was all that we wanted. There
was no necessity for lectures or tracts !;
for the people had almost universally
made up their minds. -
Mfr. s. n Wood th,ught that more de-
pended upon unity of action than upon
the mere phrascoiogy of preamble
He spoke OF the necessity of dropping all
minor considerations, and rallying in all
our strength in support of our cherished
principles. He advised the people, how
ever much they might quarrel over other
matters, never to forget the great issue,
and in Illustration, very aptly related the
anecdote of the Irishman, who, on his
death bed, called in sworn enemy, and
agreed to bury the hatchet; but as the
latter was about to depart, he called out
to him, "Jimmy, remember, if l get
well, it is to be all the same with us !''
Let us fight the great battle first, and, if
necessary, renew the old quarrels after
wards. -
Mfr. Stearns remarked that be was ready
TO go as far asany manin the anti-slayery
ranks, but he wished to take nostepwhich
would be calculated to throw obstacles in
the way of the establishment of the first
great object-the prohibition of slavery
in Kansas.
Mr.. Taft would not infiict a speech, but
he was astonished that strong anti slavery
men should advise temporizing with this
great subject. He was for taking the
broad ground that slavery was sin against
God, and denouncing it as both morally
and politically wrong.
! Mr.. Mallory made afew remarks in ia
vor of sturdy and united effort under
all circumstances.
Mr.. S. N. Wood said he was for meet
ing our opponents with the strongest an
ti-slavery arguments which we could pos
sibly command He believed that this
effort would have been necessary here
even if the Missouricompromise had new
er been repealed. Slaves were held here
in violation of that compromise before the
passage of the Nebraska bill. His poll
cy was to let our opponents choose their
own weapons, and whip them at that.
Col. Stafford was opposed to the pream-
bic of the committee. He wanted more
of good thing. Itdidnot far enough.
He was in favor of bold, frank, and
sincere expression of our sentiments, and
opposed to any milk -and-water talk or
action.
Mr.. Wilson said he was a southern
man, born and brought up ina slave State.
He knew something of the sentiments
and feelings of southern people, and he
knew that they had more respect for a
sincere and candid opponent than for a
wayering and equivocating one. He was
in favor of free State, and was for tax
ing bold and manly action, and basing
our efforts upon the moral as well as po-
liticalnature of slavery. A strong. open,
and manly resistance of evil was always
preferable to temporizing.
Mr.. Pillsbury was in favor of the or
ganization of a regular anti-slayery So
ciety.
Mr.. Abbott made few remarks in fa-
vor of the preamble of Mr.. Stearns.
Mr.. Ladd made some remarks in favor
of the preambleof Mr.. Stearns. He was
not opposed to the sentiments of the pre-
amble of the committee, but he thought
that of Mr.. Stcarns expressedall that was
necessary, and would find no opposition
from free State men, while he thought
some persons might object to that of the
committee.
Several other persons made remarks.
Mr.. Ladd moved to amend the report of
the committee by substituting that drawn
up by Mr.. Stearns which was carried.
i ]. Speer moved to strike out the pre-
amble of Mr.. Stearns and insert that oi
Col. Stafford which amendment was re-
jected.
The amendment of Mr. Ladd was then
adopted, and the following preamble and
articles passed:
CONSTITUTION OF THE KANSAS FREE STATE
SOCIETY.
WHEREAS, a bill annulling the COM
promise of March 6, 1890, which COM
promise forever secured from the en-
croachments of slavery the Territory now
occupied by US, was passed in the SD
Congress convened at Washington, and
became law on the 30th day of May,
1854: and whereas, according to the
provisions of thatbil, " all questions per-
tanning b slavery in the Territories, and
in the new States to be formed therefrom,
are to be left to the decision Of The people
residing therein, through their appropri.
ate representatives - therefore, we, the
undersigned, inhabitants of Kansas, ont
of the Territories above mentioned, dc
form ourselves into Society, for the pur.
pose of disseminating truth upon the
subject Of slavery, so as to prevent, i
possible, its introduction into our fair do
main: ese.E ft
!. ART 1. This Society shall be called
the Kansas Free State Society.
ART. g. The object of this Society
shall be union of effort for the purpose
! of securing this free State, by means
of public and private effort, lectures, un-
der the direction Of the Executive Com
mittee, the circulation of tracts and pa
pers, as well as the encouragement OF
individual effort. - = n
Arr. 8. The officers of this Society
shall be a President, Vice President,
Recording and Corresponding Secretaries,
and Treasurer, who shall be chosen al
each annual meeting, and perform the
usual duties of such officers. -zsa
Arr. 4. The Society shall annually
elect an Executive Committee of five