The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-11-14
-. Ths Crisis. k

DD$Al dAIBto vi tiit
Territorial Legislature, and nearly all the
county aud township officers in the Ter
ritoIy, yet information which had lust
reached US, rendered our future more uu-
certain than it had been in the past. We
certainly felt deep anxiety in regard to
the character of that intelligence; and
when we communicated it coDfdeutially
to the Territorial Executive Committee,
they showed equal alarm, and their brief
address to the people was the consequence
of it.
What was the character of that infor-
nation :? Il was this !: That it was the
purpose Of the Constitutional Convention
about to reconvene, agreeabIy to the 18th
section of the election act, for the election
ofDelegates to Constitutional Conyen-
ton, found on the 9th page of the laws
ofiast session of the Legislature to "pro.
ceeded to form Constitution and State
Government; that Constitution and State
Government thus formed, vas to be sub
United to Congress, and that they had
assurances from leading members Of
Congress, that Constitution and StQts
Government thus formed, would be receiv-
ed, and We should be admitted into the
Union as State, with tie EcecutiUe and
Jaficial offers aohiic8 that CoaUeltioa sl.ouLl
impose apon rs, as free and independent
State. This information came TO us from
source entitled to the fullest credit
We were assured that the Constitution
would not be submitted to ''fair and
impartial vote Of all the people," in fact
it would not be submitted at all. 1t was
farther stated that the Constitution would
be submitted to Congress during the first
days of the session, and that it was de-
terrnined to force it through that BODY
under the previous question:
We say such was the character of the
information we received, and we placed
the fullest confidence in its reliability.
and, hence, our article. In connection
with friends we began to advise together,
to devise plan of escape from this de-
mon monster which threatened US with
such painful consequences.
But was our information reliable. and
does it agree with facts, subsequently, de.
veloped?
That Convention has since re-conyen-
ed, executed its trusts, and adjourned
Its iabors are yet somewhat in obscurity.
but enough has been made public to show
the lnsldlous character of that instru-
ment. Instead of submitting the Con-
stitutlon to vote of all the people, which
can pass directly upon it, and approve or
reject 1t, they have provided that the on.
ly vote shall be 'F5r the Constitution
with slavery, or, Fa. the Constitution
without slavery" 1t IS ap,o-slageyy Con-
sf'tatio'i at any rate, and the feature pro-
posed to DE added to it by voting "For
the Constitution nth slavery" does not
positively vary the instrument one parti-
Gle. The Leeompton Democrat we'll saws,
with the Indian, You don't talk turksd
to me at ALL
But besides this, every other feature in
that instrument seems placed there with
an especial view to the wrestling of the
power IRON the people, anu placing, or
rather retaining it, in the hands of class
oil scoundrels, who have been guilty of
murder, arson, perjury, and every other
enme known TO human laws. And. to
cap the climax of depravity, they have
complied with their law calling them in
to being, and have provided provisional
State Government, investing the Presi-
dent OF the Convention with all the neces.
sary powers for the eonsumation of their
schemes. He is virtually the Governor
under the Constitution. He has the an.
pointing of the Commissioners in all the
counties, who make election districts. and
appoint judges Of elections. To him the
returns of election are made. He counts
the returns, and furnishes certificates of
the result. and convenes the State Legis-
iatnFe, and swears the members into Office.
We understand that he is now engaged
In executing this trust.
As far as the plan has been developed
all the plans Of the enemy as given to us
weeks agoNin regard to enslaying the peo-
pie of kansss, has been carried into exc
cuton. We are firm in the conviction
that the future viii require all the Wis
dom. and al the energy which we can
employ to ciEcumvent their plans. Con.
gress Will soon convene. 1t is designed
to get the Constitution approved by that
body, and Kansas admitted into the In
ion as State, long in advance of the as.
sembling of the Peoples Territorial Leg
islature.
What shall be done ? Shall we des.
pond, give all up as lost, or devise new
plans of action to meet the emergency
and relying upon that kind Providence
who has.thus far sustained us, and backed
by the. eternal principles of right, and
our oga right arms work out for our.
selves this problem ?or how shall We pro.
coed p? -
The platform of the Big Springs Con,
ventien,. resolved TO ..resist'' these en-,
croachmeats Of the slave power TO a51ood,
Issue, as soon as ses asce,taii. that peaciJl
remedies shall faiip We occupy precise
ly that positiea; and, before Heaven, W,
solemnly assert that we are ready to ioil
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