The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-10-13

~ PiOOiesii1is W Jul pldtiOI III vi HUI
pies, that we demand the right of free
speech, free suffrage, and free govern
ment-that we desire to build up here a
great republic by free white labor. and to
exclude, as we have the right to do, the
institution of slavery, which we believe
would blight our progress and our pros
perity. We say TO our brethren of the
Union who differ from us, that although
we might deny their right to hold slaves
In the Territory, yet in the spirit of lib
erality we will find no fault that they
bring their slaves along when they come
TO enter into fraternal contest at the
ballot box for determining the character
of our institutions, and will recommend
that their slaves be in the meantime un-
molested and we declare that when free
institutions shall be established, the right
of property which they claim in the slaves
within our bounds shall be treated with
that moderation and charity which should
exist between brethren of great repub-
lie who diifer in opinion.
This is our position, and now let US
contrast it with the opposition we have
to meet, as exhibited in the pro-slavery
legislation of the Territory. That legis-
lation represents our opponents, but |
will not libel the pro-slayery men of the
Territory by saying that it represents
them. 1t represents only those of our
Missouri neighbors who elected them,
and who must be regarded as our prin
cipal-almost our oniy-opponents.-
This Legislature has essayed to perpet-
uate the power they have usurped-the
privilege of electing even our most inferior
officcrs-haye taken away from us the
ballot box, Or surrounded it with odiors
qualifications and restrictions = have
brought officers from foreign State to
govern us-snd in the omnipotence of
their self-esteem have repealed the pre-
emption laws. the naturalization laws,
the Kansas Nebraska bill, and have ended
by abrogating the Constitution of the
United States.
But | need not enumerate to you the
series of deep and bitter wrongs that
burn even into the very soul of every
man, who has a head to think and a
heart to feel, or who is qualified TO live
under the banner of the Union, or the
Declaration of Independence. need
say nothing to rouse you to sense ofthe
barbarian oppression which have far
outstripped all the deeds that have ever
tended to disgrace our nation or TO tar
nish the escutcheon of republicanism. AS
have said you have returned good for
evil, liberality for oppression, and have
shownthatyour principles are unchanged
and that You are determined TO have
all the wrong on the one side-ali the
right upon the other. But how mistaken
the man who shall deduce from this a
disposition tamely to wear the yoke OF
slavery. You have sounded the first
note of war by bold and stern defiance
of the tyranny of the Kansas Missouri
Legislature, YOU now await in calm de-
termination the issue of Congressional
action, to learn if peaceful remedies are
to de had and when all these fail, and
four ballot box is again open for the choice
Iof another Legislature, with no protec-
ton bat our own arms, with what bitter
scorn would you curse the man that
would not rather ceoIly spill his hearts
best blood by its side. than see it again
in the hands of armed invaders.
We are told that no peaceful remedy
awaits us-that the Congress of this
great nation will coolly pass US over to
become the slaves of brute force, aud thai
disunion must follow any measure of re-
lief for us. This cry of disunion has
become stale and disgus:ing-tlle. wish
| is always father to the thought, as 1 have
always observed that whenever it comes,
whether from the fanatic of the North oil
the nullifier of the South, it is aecompa-
MED by blow at the Constitution from
those whose blackened throats afford il
utterance. 1t is vain aud empty threa!
by men who. Judging perhaps from the
idiosyncrasy 9f theirown organization Be
lieve in the efficacy of threats as mean:
of moving men. Our Union has beer
too. strong for Northern fanatic ism-fol
Southern nulIiication-for the fillibus
terine after Cuba as well as Canada, anc
too strong to be injured even when the
weakness and the wickedness of pusll
| luminous and Eithless Chief Magistrate
may misdirect its energies and peryer
and debase its uses aud, my word for 1t
it will be too strong for the assallants oflh'
balIot-box. But ii it is not-ifi canno
secure to the citizens of the Union self
government. free speech and free sui
i lflage,-if it has become so hoary IN cor
ruption and decay that it can no longe
subserve the eminent and essential pur
roses for which the sages of the Revolu
ttiion erected it, no threat of its dissolu
ton from the men who would enslave US
should compel US to bow our necks t
the yoke and give our heels to the shack
les.
i But this is rather congratulatory
meeting than otherwise. and as the sure
reward of honest, earnest effort IS sue
cess, and the degree of success Is always
graduated to the character of the effort,
i / am happy to congratulate you that
yours must be entirely complete. To
morrow night the first act OF the drams
will have closed-when again the curtain
rises it will be upon anotherseene. Thus
far our prospects have at every step I'M
proved-we know that our numbers have
Iincreased-our organization has grown IN
strength and efficiency. and our friends
in ali parts of the Territory have emer.
ged from a state of distrust and silent
apprehension, to the bold, outspoker
cieerfulness, and willing, united effort o.
saneuine and determined men. Enemies
4 have become friends, and friends have
! haoanot, mora united. cordial and efficient