The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-22
es., 90. Va. :, ..s oe,oaer sl.s,,os,

Shall We Vote a; ths October Elesaouz
The question at the head Of this article
is the engrossing topic of conversation at
this time, with all classes. It is under
stood that some of the faithful in Law
renee, have resolved, in private session,
that it is inexpedient to vote; while 9TH
ers of the same faction are open in their
declarations that the October election
should be prevented by violence.
The people, those governed by REASON,
as antagonistic to de'i'asogueisa', are desir-
Gus of knowing what they can gain by
yoting-whether they can accomplish
anything in the way of putting an end
to the CALLING tyranny which has oppress-
ed them for the last three years; and
whether they can get possession of the
local government, and thus blot out the
Infamous legislation of the past, and adopt
healthy code for the future.
Heretofore, we have been prevented
from voting by test oaths, and the re-
quirement of taxes, the first of which we
could not consent to, as we could not take
them without committing moral perjury.
The last would be sacrifice of principle to
some extent, and we could not submit to
this. The Territorial Legislature, by
special enactment, last winter, repealed
the test oath; and by subsequent law
substited another code in place of the
obnoxious one requiring Territorial tax.
The only restriction now imposed upon
us is bona .fie residence in the Territory
of six months next preceding the election,
provision adopted by the Topeka Con-
stitution, and a requirement which will
cffectualIy prevent the people of Mis-
souri from participating in our elections.
AS we stated in former number, we
have a delegate to Congress to elect in
October, as also the General Assembly,
and the various county and towship off,
! GERS.
1t has been objected that the apportion-
ment was villainous affair, and such it is;
but this apportionmentd does not effect the
election of Delegate to Congress, nor the
election of township and county officers.
The only objection to approaching the
polls in October next, for the election of q
delegate to Congress, is that the time and
place of voting is defined by bogus author
ity. Some men are SO great stieklers in
this respect that they would prefer to
see violent pro-slavery man misrepre-
scnting the people of Kansas in Congress,
to voting at that election. The argu-
ment mas about as much force as the one
urged by Garrisonian abolitionists against
exercising the elective franchise. They
cannot approach the ballot box, because
the government is a pro-slavery one, and
/ to recognize it so far as to vote would so
far recognize the right of the government
to establish the institution of slavery
among US. The public will allow US to
state that those men, some of them, at least,
who are now opposed to voting in Kan
sas, were of this school of abolitionists in
the States; and hence the ease with
which they can argue themselves into the
position they now occupy. As We never
had any sympathy with that feature of
abolitionisrn, it will not be expected that
We shall sympathize with them intpolicy,
neither will the great body of the people
of Kansas, who have resolved to vote, and
will do so on the first opportunity.
We have contended for year past, that
we have a majority of more than five to
one for freedom, and that there was not a
locality in Kansas, since the first of Apr.
last, where we had nota large majority of
t the popular vote. If this is true-and what
Free State man who is acquainted with
the various settlements in Kansas can
deny it?-then the result of the late ap-
portionment will be the same, so far as
giving us Free State Legislature next
winter, as though the Territory had been
differently apportioncd. True, this hud-
ding of large districts together, and the
almost disfranchisement of some focali-
ties, prevents the proper distribution of
representation through the Territory as
it should be; but, as it is not local legisla-
ton we need so much at the present time,
it will make but little difference, in fact.
No Free State Legislature will be con-
vened in Kansas which will not repeal
the Missouri code as soon as they have
taken the oath of Office. That Legisla-
ture viii go to work in the shortest way
possible to enact few general laws for
the government of the people, viii pro-
vide for the taking of new census, and
for the election by single districts of a
new House and Council, and to fill yaean-
cies which may occur, and then will re-
sign their seats, having made provision
for filling them again Immediately, and
for new session of the Legislature, prop
erly elected by the people to take their
places. That Legislature viii be legiti-
mate one, and will be clothed with all
the attributes of law-making power,
emanating directly from the people.
1t has been urged that Missouri will
pour in her mereenaries again to control
our elections. We stated our own con-
yictions to the contrary, and We have
many reasons that we do not care to make
public why we are confident they have no
idea of doing so. It is said that prom
inent Pro-slavery man, Of Missouri,
informed one of our citizens that pre-