Kansas weekly herald., 1855-08-11

To THE EDIToRs OF THE KANSAS HERALD: /:
Permit me through the columns of
your valuable paper to say a few words
touching one of the great questions which
now agitate our Territory. Iallude to the
nomination of ascandidate to represent us
as Delegate in Congress. know it is
almost looked upon as treason TO cause
any jar or discord inthe Pro-slavery ranks,
and if / really thought that any discussion
on my part, or that of my friends, would
prejudice the interests of our cause, should
certainly be silent. But do not conceive
it to be SO. 1t is agreed all round / be-
heve that when a nomination is made,
every pro.slavery man will support the
nominee. How then can fair open dis
cussion of the qualifications, claims, and
pretensions, of the aspirant to the Office of
Delegate prove detrimental to our success
and safety2 am sure it cannot. This be-
ing so, insist on free fight, and am de-
cidedly opposed to being gagged myself,
or suffering the people of this whole Ter
ritory to be gagged by a few devotees of
one man. My watchword then is Squat
ters awake Let no man pass without
the strictest scrutiny weigh them in the
balance and if there be one found wanting,
cast them aside, strip them of their Ma
tional Democracy, tear off the Kansas Ne
braska Bill, and if they do not stand open
and avowed Pro-slayery men, pass them
by.
With this much by way of preliminary re-
marks, propose to inquire briefly into the
coursetaken bythose who advocate the claims
of Gen. Whitfield, now aspiring to re-elec-
ton as Delegate In Congress from our
Territory. Much had been said among
the members of our Legislature assembled
at this place, In relation to holding Gen
eral Convention for the purpose of nomi-
mating candidate for the Office above men
toned. But no steps were taken by any
one, thatI am aware of, towards getting up
this Convention, and fixing the time and
place of holding the same, until the even
ing of the first of August. This first
step was an early supper, an hour earlier
than the usual time, obtained by the special
request of a Whitfield man. as has since
come to light. Immediately after this un-
usual supper was dispatched, select
crowd of Whitfield men was seen wend-
ing their way to the city of Westport, Mo.
1t was soon manifest that something was
out, but as it was altogether an sr Parte
arrangement, those who had not been
given the ,Dink, or tapped on the shoulder,
or .chispsred to In the ear, were at loss
to know what it was. Some conjectured
tai; others thought thatit related to the or
ganization of counties, over which there
had been considerable excitement. Butt
soon leaked ont that caucus was to be
held to take preliminary steps towards
holdlngsa General Convention for nomina-
ting candidate for the Office of Delegate
to Congress from this Territory. The
prescribed took it upon themselves to dis
cuss the merits of such proceeding, that
is, the merits of holding one sided eau
Gus In the city of Westport Missouri
Whether the leaders of this extra caucus
became alarmed or not, seeing the impro-
priety of the course adopted, pretend not
to say, but it so happened that notice of a
General JMesting to be held on the evening
of the End, at this place, was given. 1t
seemed to be decided that every body
should be In attendance. The time of pro-
scriptioa had fully passed. The meeting
came off according to previous arrange
ments and we had full attendance Uifh a
vengsaaee; so full that the stomachs of some
of the select Whitfield men revolted.
and in pursuance of the unpleasant feeling
motion was made by one of their NUM-
Der, to expel Missourians. Some exclte-
ulent snsued, and one Of the gentlemen
considering himself hit took the floor and
delivered himself of an eloquent plea IN
justification of the active part he had been
taking. No body was expelled; Preachers.
Printers, Doctors Reporters, and the Cigar
Man, were on resolution admitted to par
ticipats in the free fight New it
would be highly reasonable to infer that
with picked crowd. cut and dried resolu-
tions. and all things fixed up beforehand,
/ this select company, this compound OF
heterogeneous particles, could hardly fail
of handsome majority. The result how
ever was far different. A resolution was
offered containing blank. as to the time
when the proposed General Convention
should be hsld. The select men were for