The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-12
For the Herald Of Freedom.
The Reason Why

Ed. HERALD OF FREEDoh:-In your
issue of last week observe that in motto
ing the fact that meeting of the Democ-
racy had been called to take into consid-
Grafton matters of great importance to the
people of Kansas, you say, by way Of
inquiry, "would it not be better for them
TO labor in the Free State ranks until We
are all out Of the woods, then, when we
have nothing elss 20 do, we can cut each
others throats?" Whether it would not
BE better to do so, is not my purpose, at
present, to inquire. but propose to show
aohy the Free State Democrats of Kan
sas have taken the course which they
have, and vindicate them from the charge
of distracting the Free State party.
It is well known that the so-called Free
State party has heretofore consisted
of the members of all parties. Persons
in coming here from the States, allowed
themselves to forget, for the time being,
old party issues and principles, and form
ed themselves into two mighty parties,
one of which was called the Free State,
and the other the Pro-slavery party
Men who had for years fought nobly in
defence of the principles advocated by
their respective parties, and in opposition
to each other, came here and joined hands
on that one issue of Freedom or Slavery
in Kansas, which seemed to be, and was
the only political question that occupied
a place in the minds of the people. Thou
sands of good Democrats came here with
q determination to use all honorable means
to bring Kansas into the Union Free
State, while there were some, / presume.
who entered into the contest just as warm
ly on the opposite side of the question:
While they differed very materially-and
as it was quite natura! they should-on
this local question, on the great national
principle of self-government, they were
united. No man who has shown himself.
either by actions or words, opposed to that
principle, embodied in the Kansas-Ne-
braska Bill, can claim any connection with
the Democratic party.
The Free State men being thus organ
lied, it was hoped that no man would be
guilty of trying to distract their ranks,
and that everything would move on har-
moniously until the question of slavery
was finally settled. This was the desire
of the men who have been instrumental
in calling the meetingto which you refer.
But in this they were sadly disappointed,
for no sooner had they fought battle
ard won victory, than it was proclaimed
throughout the country as Republican
triumph, and Democratic defeat, whel.
In fact, Democratic and Republican par
ties were things unknown in the history of
Kansas politics. This was done not only
in the StaLes, but here in in our midst, by
leading Free State men and Free State
papers, when they well knew that with
out the cooperation of those Democrats
who were opposed to slavery, they could
not have made respectable show at the
polls. In some counties in the Territory.
nearly all of the votes polled for the Free
State ticket at the election in October last,
were cast by Democrats, and yet it is
heralded all over the country as a Repub-
lcan victory. This placed our Democrat
&c friends in peculiar situation-they
must either allow themselves to be used
as the instruments with which to bolster
up dying party, made up of set of ia.
natical demagogues, or abandon the Free
State q party. While considering upon
the best policy to adopt, new and more
effective measures were resorted to for
the purpose of driving out of the social
ed Free State party, every man who claim
ed to have any connection with the Dem
ocratic party. In every meeting that has
been called, in every Convention that has
been held, some individual whose desire
to see Kansas free is entirely forgotten in
his anxiety to create division in the Free
State ranks, makes the Democratic party
the subject for speech. They are de-
nounced in the severest terms that the
speakers vile tongue is capable of utter
ing. Every mean epithet that can be re-
sorted to. is made use of. Resolutions
concerning the members of the Democrat
ic party are adopted, containing language
that would damn saint, were be the au-
thor of it. These proceedings have had
the desired effect They have been the
cause of dividing the Free State party
The Free State Democrats were driven to
adopt new line of policy. Can you
blame them for the course they have ia
ken? VIII any honest, sensible man saw,
that We should continue to work with the
men who are doing all in their power to
ruin us2 Where is the man that will give
aid and comfort to movement or meas.
ure that is being used for the express pur-
pose of yilifying him? Such men are not
found in the Democratic ranks.
Yours. &c. A DEMOCRAT.
% Doniphan County was only saved
from heavy invasion from Missouri. by
the cutting of the ferry boats loose, undel
che direction of Gen Lane, and lettins
them float down the river. A wholesale
invasion was contemplated in that vicini
ty, and the villains were frustrated in