The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-08-04
The Republican Posi- ton.


ital speech in Illinois, replying to the insid
ious Misrepresentation of Douglas, and pre-,
senting fairly the Republican views.
In regard to the affairs of Kansas, he said
The struggles now going on in Kansas ID
not whether il shall be Free or Slave
State, though that is doubtless involved in
the issue; but the great and all important
question is, whether the white people Of that
Territory shall have an opportunity to assert
their rights and be free, or whether they shall
longer be forced to submit to the usurpaton
which has been established over them bv the
aid of the Federal Government Shall the
people of Kansas be permitted to form their
own State Constitution or shall they be
forced to submit to Constitution having its
origin in fraud and violence, and impose up
on them against their cousent2 In this issue Z,
the great principle Of selfgovernment and
free institutions is indeed involved, and is
vastly more important than whether negro
slavery shall not hereafter exist in Kansas. -.
y The true question is, shall the white pop
ulation be permitted to assert their right, or
shall they be enslaved by cunningly de-
vised system Of fraud and violence, which is
sought to be carried out under the form of law ?
1t is known to you all that the Territorial Leg
isature which first assembled in Kansas was
elected by Mssouriaus, and not by tho peo-
pie of that Territory. This Legislature, MS
was natural, took steps to perpetuate its pow
er, impose test oaths as qualification for
voting at future elections and undertook to
pass diverse other unconstitutional acts
The people of the Territory have stoutly re-
fused to recognize the validity of its proceed
ings, and by a voluntary movement Of their
own, got up an organization, formed State
Constitution, and asked for admission into
the Union. This has hitherto been refused
by Congress, though bill to that effect
passed the House of Representatives. In
the meantime, a second bogus Legislature
assembled under the authority Of the first,
a passed an act calling Convention to
a State Constitution, prescribing registry
of voters, their qualifications, DC, and retain
ing in their own hands the exclusive control
OF tue elections.
Having Originally usurped authority and
all of them as well as the Territorial officials
throughout the Territory, holding their places
against the wishes of a large majority of the
people, it was hardly to be expected that
men who had attaind power by such means,
would provide pcaceable way for their
own overthrow. They knew that through
The registry of voters to be made bv their in
.truments, they held in their own hands per-
feet control of the election. In perfect accor-
lance with the fraud perpetrated when Kan
'as was first invaded, the Commissioners to
eoister votes made just such lists as would |
insure a triumph TO the Pro Slavery or self
tyled Democratic Party. No person whose
,ame was upon the list being allowed under
he law TO vote. The lists returned, embrace
,nly about half the counties in the Territory,
Slavery men alone, as n general thing, APP
,ear; at all events, they constitute major
ty of the lisled voters. The free men con-
tituting large majority, and some say four
ifths of the population, refused under such
to have any thing to do with
he election. Indeed, but few of them could
ave voted, had they desired to, as they
we're not generally registered.
Many persons, wishing well to Kansas,
ave thought the FREQ State men ought to
AVE participated in the recent election of del
gates, but if tho facts be as reported, it
would have been utterly useless for them to
ave attempted it, and they verc wise in
eaving the matter wholly in the hands of the
f the self.styed Democracy. If as is
ometimcs contended that party is as much
pposed to the spread Of slavery as Republi-
ans, they will now have fair opportunity
{ showing it. the Republicans having failed
o participate in the election. The self STYLED
Democrats have had it all their own way
hey have the entire convention and can
how by prohibiting slavery that they are op-
oscd to its introduction. On the other hand,
hould they fail to insert such provision or
lsert one allowing slavery, the evidence will
e conclusive that their prctentions in this re-
pect as in many others, do not tally with
heir acts, and that as party they are for
avery. 1t will then be apparent that if free
ON is to be maintained anywhere, the coun-
~ must rely upon Republicans to do it.
In regard to the Dred Scott case he says:
| utterly repudiate this extra judicial, Sec
onal opinion, so far as it undertakes to legit
nate slavery in the Territories of the United
tatcs, and denies tho power of the people
hereof, acting with the consent OF Congress,
r Of Congress itself, to exclude slavery which
le territorial constitution continues Such
octrines are at war with the Constitution
hch confers on Congress authority to make
! necdfu rules and regulations respecting
,e Territories, subversive to the principal of
If fgovernment, destructive to the rights of a
ee people; and from the tribunal which
rs undertaken to establish them, appeal
power higher and above even this court
last resort. whose name is The People,
nd who will, trust, in due time reform
lis sectional court, by increasing the number
Judges, or otherwise placing upon tho
ench fair proportion Of Northern mem
era.
How TO MAKE TEA PnoPERLY.-The prop
way to make a cup Of good tea is matter
some importance. The plan to be prac-
II =. al A.. q Il |