The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-10-17
Voting in Kansas.
ROsEDALE. K T.. Sent. z. 1S5'

advocated for the furtherance of the Free
State cause in Kansas, has at length tri-
umphantly preUailea-the people IN Mass
and Delegate Convention, held recently at
Grasshopper Falls, unanimously adopting
the same, and resolving to take part in
the October election, and make an effort
to obtain possession of the Territorial
Legislature. Many of the most true
hearted Free State men in Kansas have
all along favored this movement but
some of those who held the leading strings
of the party have tried to drive them
from the position, by denouncing them as
traitors to the cause of Freedom, and pre-
scribing them (because they dared to think
for themselves) as "Pro-slavery" tools of
the Democracy. These "leaders" have
seemed determined to force the Free State
cause into the "Circumlocution Office"
but their favorite policy of chow not to
do it' did not take at all with our lntelll-
gent and reflective community, and 1t was
very gratifying to see these "clrcumiocu-
tionists'' wheel round into 'rank and fle"
when. they found the popular voice decd,
ing in favor of the measures they had
condemned.
Many anticipate warm time at the
election, but we hope and trust that Gov.
Walker will redeem his pledges to us,
and then we doubt not that our cause will
triumph, and permanent peace be lnau-
gurated in Kansas.
Very respectfully, &c.
We must confess our glorifcation at the
new position taken by the Free State
voters of Kansas. Oar only regret is,
that they did not adopt it in regard to the
Constitutional Convention. 1t was object
ed to by them in that case that, voting
under rules and regulations prescribed by
the spurious Legislature, they would re-
cognize the authority of body which
they had denounced as having no author
ity, and that the disabilities imposed on
them were such as to secure the power to
their adversaries. 1t would seem as II
these objections had been reconsldered
and set aside. The Territorial election to
be held in October will be conducted
under rules and regulations prescribed by
the spurious Legislature; and the appor-
tionment made by it is unfair, being evi-
IDENTITY intended to disable the power OF
the Free State men. But, as the alterna-
tive is to vote, or to submit without
struggle, they have determined to vote.
Everybody knows that they have not
changed their opinions concerning the IL
! legitimacy of the so-called Legislature.
Thoy still regard it as the offspring OF
usurpation, without lawful authority, but
| it it is Legislature de .facte, Though saat ef
rtqlt; they conform their action to fact,
still protesting against the usurpatlon and
fraud which gave it birth. As to disablll-
! ties, what else can they expect! Ihey
must encounter these just so long as then
| opponents have the power. If they wait
! inactive, till the pro-slavery party consent
to give them a fair field, they will wait
| forever. No matter what the dlsadvan-
tage they labor under, they must engage
in the struggle. or lie down like slaves al
the feet of their masters. They may not
/ succeed this time, but let them try II
again. Theyewili have organized, aScer-
tanned their numbers, learned to confide
in each other, determined how much the
real, how much the fictitious strength oi
the enemy, and caused an exposure OF the
fraudulent manner by which they were
defeated. If they are five to one, as some
claim, if two to one, nay, if they have
simply decided majority, firmness and
perseverance will at last give them the
victory.
What other course can they pursue
Submit and protest? No party was eyei
i held together BY such policy. 1t adopt
ed, in less than two years there would bt
no Free State organization in Kansas
Would you fight? Whom? What? No
the Territorial officers, not the Terrltorla
Government, but the United States, The
Federal Government, with its treasures
and arms, welded by your enemies. Yol
never were prepared for this, you are no
} now. He who advises such course, OF
the Supposition that the people OF th'
States, who sympathize with you, vii
rush to the rescue, is madman, Q
worse.
Organize, then, and vote. Perfect you
organization, vote again, and stick to II
till you have wrung power out OF tn
hands of your opponents. And yet, w
cannot go quite SO far as the n Y. Tribune
which, last summer, an opponent of tn
voting policy, now goes all lengths IN sup
port of it.
sfWe trust few Gree State men) viii b
repelled by their natural repugnance t
paying the tax imposed on them by tn
border ruffian usurpers. Let them pa,
anything, do anything, to wrest the wea
pom of legality out of the hands OF thei
oppressors.
Weshould say, alet them pay anything,
but not, ''let them do anything" Fo
example, should an unconstitutional oat
; to support the Fugitive Slave Act be re
qlired as a condition to vote, we shoul
say, Let them reject it, and then, ere'
} their own polls, cast their votes at then
, make an accurate record, and then fol
ward to Congress memorial embodyln
all the facts. Not even to awrest tn
weapon of legality out of the hands I
: their oppresSors," is it right or necessaI
, to violate ones conscience, 10 swear to SUI
port what we intend not to support. Ii
quite possible TO be practical, and yet 4
ways right.
| Nor can we agree with cur eotempoE
ry, as to the alternative, he present
= Sj1oaiA btlt E1c1 sOttttc III CiH 1eAA 80 -
election:
"Should they fail in this effort, throus
the frauds of their ad versaries or otherwis
; their only remaining choice would see
e to lie between civil war and submitting
1 see Kansas enter the Union as sla
State.''
We cannot see how civil war is to pr
9 vent such result, unless it should go
. far as to break up the next Congress; I
f should the admission of Kansas into t
Union as slave State, lamentable IS su
an act woold be, be for moment, consl
cred as a final settlement of the questle
True, the Constitution % Az contain claus
prohibiting emancipation without the &c
sent of the owner, and throw as many
staeles as possible in the way OF amer
/, inents, but the power of numbers, stea'
, " exerted, must IN the end prevail
7 Kansas, even If adnaitted as slave Sta
cannot remain So, If tbs Free State pa