The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-04-19

the person 10 vote, proYloeu ne mas siie
other qualifications" Now I ask any
sensible sguater ifthere is not palpable
coutradiction-frss a denial, and then
an admission of an attempt by this local
legislature, to prescribe qualification 70 |
the voter, other than that required By
the Constitution and organic acts? But
the Senator says, ..This is by no means
an unusual requirement in the STATES. "-l
In what State, / would enquire, is the
priceless privilege of suffrage made de-
pendent on the payment of tax! II
may be still refined as relict of bogus
democracy, in some of the Southern
States, which the Senator seems most de-
silous to conciliate; but such an enormi-
| ty is obsolete in the free North. where
the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty
prevails in its unailoyed purity.
| Again Re says: 1.-The law does not re-
quire the voter to swear to support the
Fugitive Slave Law, unless he is chal-
lenged." Admit it. Is the burden any
the less on that account, or the law any
the less obnoxious? How easy is it to
interpose the challenger. Again, in re-
gard to the appointment by the Legisla
tureo of officers which the people. in the
exercise of the rights of popular sover--
eighty" should have been permitted to
choose by election, he says: "The leg
islatHre could not have avoided making
these temporary app ,intments. No cleo
ton could have been held without them" !"
"There were no judges, justices of the
peace, or other officers to conduct an
election of any kind, until appointed by
the Legislature" Now, is it true that the
legislature were content merely to ap-
point such officers as were necessary to
conduct" the elections? Let us enumer-
ate the officers appointed by this legisla-
ture of the popular sovereignty" party
and see how necessary they were to the
Conducting" of elections. They are as
follows, viz: Auditor, Treasurer, District
Attorneys, who all hold their offices .for
four years, not six" the Senator exult-
ingly exclaims. Like the thief, who,
when accused of stelling six horses says,
it is a lie-I only stole four. These
Douglas democrats" only stole the Off
ces from the people for the period of four
years. But what had these officers to
do with conducting the Elections? Next
on the list comes Probate Judges and
Sheriff. Is the conducting. elections an
exercise of Probate jurisdiction? And
could not the elections have been conduct
ed as well without the Sheriffs now, as
formerly? Next come County Survey
or, Clerk, and Recorder. 1t would puz-
zle "squatter" 10 understand what
connection these offices have with cleo
tons. But last, though not least, comes
the Coroner. not elected, as usual, by
the dear people. but appointed by this
Tribunal" composed of Probate Judge
and County Commissioners, who hold
their Offices not for 'six yesrs''-no
that'sa lie-but for "four years" Now,
according to Senator Douglas the cleo
tlons could not be conducted without the
presence of the Coroner; but what duties
were assigned him at the elections, he
fails to inform us. Probably to hold in
quests over the PROSTATE bodies of de-
feated candidates, or, percbance the dead
bodies "Frec State voters" Now these
"tyranical edicts'' of that legislative
body have met the general and unquali-
fed condemnation of the most intelli-
gent, rejecting, and conservative of the
pro-slavery men, in the State of Mis-
souri-ln fact all, except a few "6re
eaters;' and it was left to Senator Doug
las, the especial champion of popular
rights to attempt defence and vindi-
cation of these enormilies-act admitted,
even on the frontier and among the 'Bor-
der Rufisns" themselves, to lie in viola
tion of natural right, and as outrages
unparalleled, and as admitting of no de-
fence. But Stephen A. Douglas has
sold himself. No Stakeholder in Missou-
ri has more complete bill of sale, or a
better title to one of his servants than
has the South to the political inner man
designated in the person of this dough-
faced representative of Free State.
l had forgotten, amongst the multi
tude of apologies for the "Draconian
: code," that of the Senator respecting the
abridgementof the "freedom of speech. "
He says it is true ''the denial of the right
to hold slaves in the Territory is made
penal, but beyond this the act imposes
no restriction, de-" It would indeed
! puzzle republican to imagine an act of
legislation tyranical beyond, or exceed
ing in turpitude the one in question:
But the Senator may have acquired his
system of democracy during his visit at
Rome. where it is reported he enjoyed
: the distinguished felicity of'.Kissing. the
Pope's big toe;;" and where the rights oil
free discussion-speaking and writing
on all subjects political and religious
: are not exercised nor appreciated to any
greater extent than they appear to be by
the Senator himself.
Hoping the Senator and Pope will have
nice time in getting at the head of this
government, / remain
yours, tel deth.