The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1856-12-20
The Spirit of our Citizens.
LAWRENCE. Dec, 16. 1856.

Mr.. EDIToR:-Fors some time, l have
contemplated furnishing your valua-
bic paper with short article, indica-
tive of what suppose is the settled
determination of the Free State set
tiers of Kansas-in order that our
Eastern friends may be fully aware
that the spirit of resistance to ty-
rants" still breathes on Kansas soil,
in spite of the chilling failure of the
North to respond to our agonizing
cries for aid, against the inroads of
the Border Rufians.
But your recent manly article, en-
titled 1.-The Next Move" has relieved
me from the necessity of so doing
With the spirit and tone of that arti-
Gle | was much pleased, conveying as
it does, an assurance to the Northern
people, that we want no compromise
with slavery, for the sake of saving
US. If understand the sentiments of
the people with whom | daily associ-
ate in the way of business, it is this:
Congress decided that the will of the
majority of the people of this Terri
tory, should be decisive in reference to
the existence of slavery here. The
Northern people, after making many
wry faces at it, finally consented that
it should be so; and with that elastic
ity of purpose forever characterizing
the truly noble, although defeated in
Congress, they determined to arouse
themselves to the utmost, and see if
they could not defeat the STAKEHOLDER
by carrying out the provisions of his
own bill. Accordingly, from puritan
nical old New England-from sober
and staid Pennsylvania-from exu-
berant and FESTIVE Ohio-and even
from hunkerish and Democratic In
diana and Illinois, the friends of free
dom rushed to Kansas, with the in
spring idea of saving it from slavery's
accursed touch.
We outnumbered and outvoted the
myrmidoms of the slave power; when
they, true to the fiendish character of
the institution they madly seek to
protect, having been defeated in fair
and open warfare. resorted to the
mean and ignominious measure of i'm
porting voters from Missouri-thus
endeavoring to accomplish by foul
means, what they had signally failed
in doing, by fair and honorable meas
ures.
Then, because we were not mean
enough to submit to their illegal rule, |
they poured in upon us countless !
hordes of what contemporary aptly !
terms locomotive whiskey barrels"
who, under the influence of that mad
dening element, burned our towns,
stole our property and killed our citi-
zens.
Now, what we all say. is this
Slavery shall nerer esist here legally,
even if Congress admits us as slave
State. The people were to decide as
slavery should exist, or not.
They have decided that it shall not
exist. This decision must be carried
,xt, no matter what Congress says
npon the subject.
The North will sustain Us in this
position. If they do not, we win
maintain it alone. or, like the famous
Thermopyl@e band, die in the attempt.
Yea, more: if the North joins with
he South, in attempting to enslave
Kansas, let US stand in the gap, and
;ay VIC will not be enslaved-not even
f twenty millions are brought to bear
Igainst us. No; for If we die rather
han be slaves, we shall do more tor
humanity than by hundred lives offs
.6iect submission to the slave power Ii
But my sheet is full, and I viii desist.
Yours, for Freedom,
n CrTyL, ADGC