The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-22
II. Crisis .aa On. Dag in Regard % Il.

to the perplexities under which the peo-
pie must labor, in an honest endeavor to
relieve themselves from their present po-
litical troubles, and made bold TO advise
them to assert the rights of freen1en at
the ballot box, to use such power as an
overriding Providence had put in their
way.
In the Organic Act the people have a
guaranty, that, with the exception of the
Governor and few other officers of Fed
eral appointment, they shall be under rul-
ers of their own choice. The elective
franchise is an inherent element in Ameri-
can citizenship; it is an inalienable right,
the exercise of which is only suspended
when the emisrant leaves his old domieil.
but Is secured to him as soon as he shall
have acquired new home. The i1ami-
grants into this Territory have, thus far,
been debarred of ftheirrights by base usurp-
ers, using fraud and violence. 1t is no
mitigation of this crime against the peo-
pie that it has received the sanction of the
Central Government; that sanction only
makes the yoke more CALLING, as the ma
tional forces alone prevent them from
throwing it of. Nevertheless, it is to be
considered, that while the Administration,
National and Territorial, give their official
supportto the unauthorized Code of Laws.
yet they substantially decline the enferce-
ment of them, where that can be avoided,
and hold out to all the inhabitants induce
ments to reform" through the ballot box.
That, and that alone, in our Republic, is
the peaceful remedy for all political evils:
between it and reyo'ution there is no
alternative. When we shall find the gate
Of peace wholly closed, we shall have no
hesitation in marching ont of the gate of
ssar fully prepared to battle for our rights.
Our enemies are in possession of the cita-
del of our liberties. Conscious, however,
OF their inability to retain it permanently.
they have invited us to trial Of strength
stthe polls.
Shall we vote at the October election?
Upon what terms? under what restrictions
must we vote, if at all? A brief summa-
y of the Election Laws will sufficiently
define the position of the voter. The
qualifications of voting. and the only ono
texcept that of foreigners having declared
their intentions, for this election, are set
forth in the fifth section of the laws of
last winter, quoted in our article of last
week. The proceedings preliminary to,
and at the election, are all that require no.
tice now.
Every county IS an election district; the
Sheriff or County Commissioners must
name the house at which the election shall
ba held, unless there be Court House;
additional precincts may be made by the
Commissioners, (the old Commissioners
holding over until new ones shall be
elected and qualifed.) If the Judges be
not present at the opening of the polls,
then the voters to choose them; polls to be
opened at 0 A. M. and clesed at 5 ?. NJ,
but may be adjourned one day to receive
more votes. Two clerks to be appointed
by the Judges; the Sheriff is to attend
70 call out the names of voters, and with
his tax book TO receive taxes if any are
;.ue. All offering are presumed to be en-
titled to vote; but any one may be chal-
ienged By the judges or any other voter.
The challenged party may be sworn by the
Judges, and 10 contradictory evidence
shall be received; or, the Judges may,
without examining him, receive other evil
dence; in the last case, the applicant may
demand to be sworn, but his testimony
shall not be conclusive. Rejected voters
shall have their own names and those of
their candidates entered.
AT the last session of the Legislature. an
act was passed ito define the Council
and Representative Districts for the second
Legislative Assembly which sfaInefully
gevynaasde,ed the Territory. and also
provided for an apportionment to be based
upon complete census returns'' made in
pursuance of the Convention Act. In
former paper We have exhibited the man.
ner in which this provision has been car
ried ont so as to throw open the door to
fraud and abuse.
Now, in the face of these legalized at
tcmpts to defeat fair election, shall we go
to the polls? We say-yesi The power
which is orer US. virtually Acknowledges
itself ausurpation, but still presents some
of the forms of free government. Il is
supreme by might. if not by right, and
viii so continue unless displaced by the
means and upon the terms it proffers to
us,or BY our own right arms.
This Territory does not present the first
example of 3 people outraged and defraud-
ed by yillainous apportionments and GER
rymandering. The differences rather in
degree than in the kind of practices else
where. We have not yet exhausted the
means At our command. We have not
yetyoted. Our adyersaries have scarcely
before pretended to be willing to give US q
chance. They acknowledged their ini-
quisies while committing them. and gloried
in their deeds Of violence. These they
are in no condition to repeat; but substi-
tate trickers and resort to low games of
political hucksters. Fortunately foF US
the legal provisions which, year ago,
might have proved fatal to our rights, do
now favor the maintenance Of them to
some extent.