The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-02-07
Letter from Lecompton.
LEcoMPToN, Kansas Territory,
January 26, 1927.

AOS AOSs'
MEssRs. ED1roRs:-If the news in
and about Lecompton can be of any
service to you in your editorial capac-
ity, shall endeavor to contribute
my mite" towards the general interest.
Perhaps, to endeavor to enlighten the
public mind on questions of impor-
tance, when every man is local edi-
tor for the peculiar locality in which
he happens to be thrown, would be
somewhat of a Herculean task; es-
pecially for tyro in newspaper cor
|respondence: and I, who occupy a
much lower position among the
"craft, " do not pretend to any such
exalted position. If acting as ''high
private in your already serviceable
"corps," I can be of any service to
you, ''consider me in.''
Our most august, dSgnsfed and HON.
oRABLE o. body, the Legislature of
Kansas. elected perhaps by feO votes
from Missouri are now holding their
sittings; and from the grave and dig
nifed bearing of its members, you
would most assuredly suppose they
had either the most subtle functions of
a diplomat to perform, or the weight
of a whole nations sins to atone for
the latter by forty days. penanee.
They have unquestionably shown
themselves to be of a magnitude suffi-
ciently great to aggrandize, if not the
confidence, at least the wealth of the
Territory.
In order to give you and yours some
idea of their importance, / will briefly
allude to one subject which has en-
gagged the minds and puzzled the
brains (?) of the leading members of
both houses; it is the Marriage Act"
/ believe the bill provides for the pay
ment of the sum of one dollar to the
treasury of the Territory, before a
man can obtain the necessary license
to enable him to enrol himself as q
victim of tender feelings. This bill
has called forth, if not the talent, at
least the voics of the Legislature. The
debate in Council reminded me very
forcibly of an incident / once heard,
and which happened in some college
"on East, in. which one of the dis
putants composed some verses, the
tenor of which was with q slight
transposition of names as follows
Up rose Grover stammered, suffered,
And thought hell trsmbled every word he
uttered,
when it was only a peculiar sensation
he himself felt about the knees.
But it would be only waste of
time and paper to endeavor to recount
individual exertions put forth for the
"dear ,people"-the people, who would,
in the language of the eloquent gen.
tleman before mentioned, "arise in
their might (if net gagged and
put down any infringements of this
sort on their privileges"
But to come to matters Of fact: there
has been considerable excitement here
In regard to the Governors veto Of
the bill authorizing bail to be taken
'.in all cases not heretofore bailable. .
As this bill is not in consistenn with
the principles of common Ian 70.
common justice. (nor IN fact with
any law except that Of Kansas Terri.
tory, or at least the ideas of what lsn
should be, in the opinion of CON
imost potent, grave and ieverend semi,
tors." the Governor very wisely sem
lit back with his suggestions. Yot
know, and all your readers know, fhal
murder in the FIRST degree is not bad.
Iabls in but very few Of the States. !
any. The Governor has faken thl
broad ground of common laH and
common justice. and has vetoed thil
bill. The principles Of ths Law sTs
such ss would undoubtedly Be open
ling = great avenue far fraud; judge
lare not infsElible, and ssmoney IS tn
Iiroot Of 81 ssil,s-ssfcr what soass