The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-02-23


Kansas has adopted free State con-
stitution. and has elected a Governor and
Legislature under it and will immediate
" apply to Congress for admission as a
free State. The President does not like
this hurrying of matters. and advises
Congress to pass law giving the people
the right to take the proper steps to form
a State government. He wants to gain
time for the border rufIians and the slave
holders. He makes void his own prin-
ciple of squatter sovereignty, and ignores
the fact that several States have been ad-
mitted on precisely the same grounds.
In 1850, California, without any preyi-
Gus legislation, adopted free State con-
stitution. and notwithstanding bluster,
she was admitted.
The southerners tell us now if Reeder
is admitted to seat in Congress, or il
Kansas is admitted free State on her
present constitution, they viii dissolve
the Union. This is a stale story and on
ly excites contempt. They said the
same thing when California applied for
admission. The Albany Evening Jour-
nal. in a history of the case. says that at
that time the Slavery men declared the
people of the Territory had no right to
hold Convention until Congress order
ed one. They denounced the members
as "revolutionists." They denounced
the instrument itself as 'treason. -
They swore the Union could not, would
not, should not, stand an hour, if Califor-
MIA was admitted. Their fngleman, Hen
ry S. Foote, of Mississippi, drew up a
bill, providing for temporary Terrific
rial Government. and contemplating an
other Convention to form another Con-
stitution, which it was hoped might. by
outside appliances. be made to sanction
Slavery. This was urged as the only
regular and lawful means of forming
a State
From speech of this champion OF
Slavery, delived at the same time, we
take the following characteristic ex-
tract -
"Yes, sir, have examined this SUBJ
ject in all its bearings-I have studied
public sentiment in the South closely and
perseveringly. / am certain thatI un.
derstand the present condition of things
in the Southern section of the Confeder-
acy ; and | have no hesitation in declar-
ing it as nay solemn, dispassionate con-
victiou. that if California is dragged into
the Union in the mode now proposed
the Southern States of the Confederscy
will feel that all hope of fraternal COM
promise has become extinct, and thai
such intolerable oppression has been al
ready imposed upon them as to justify,
nay, demand secession from the Union,
in order to save themselves from evils
still worse than disunion itselfE'
Well, we all know the result. In spite
of these lamentable predictions, Califor.
MIA scas dragged into the Union" Her
constitution was accepted, just as she
framed it. Mr.. Foote's bill died at three
weeks old. Six years have come and
gone since. But water runs and grass
grows as usual; California is prosperous
and free: the Southern States have re-
mained in the Confederacy, and the Un-
ion stands unharmed
''And when the matter came to light
1t showed the rogues they lied,
The man recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died"
For California came in, but Mr. Foote
went out. His seat in the Senate "secc-
ded" from him. He became a case oi
Mississippi +" Reputation"
Six years have come and gone, and
now KANSAS comes to the door of Con-
gress. She brings Constitution. She
asks admission as a State. 1t has been
framed just as that of California was. II
is, like that, free Constitution, forbid
ing Slavery forever in her limits.
Again Congress is thrown into an up
roar. Again the Slavery men declare
the people of the Territory had no right
to hold a Convention, until Congress had
ordered one. Again the members are
denounced as revolutionists." Again
the document itself is denounced as
treason" Again they swear the Un-
ion cannot, will not, shall not stand, il
Kansas is admitted. The President
steps into the vacant place of Foote.-
he recommends a bill providing for an
other Convention, to form another Con-
stitution, which, it is hoped. may. BY
outside appliances. be made to sanction
Slavery. This he urges as the only
" regular and lawful means" of forming
a State.
Citizens of Free States, will you be
duped by the repetition of SO stale trick
-Pitts6urgh Gazette.
Migration to Missouri.