The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-12

Kzn<ze In New Shane,

torial authorities by q dictatorship OF its
| own choosing.
This is a coup d'etat which nobody
outside Of the secret affiliations of this con-
vention could have anticipated. 1t is, IN
fact, revolutionary movement, which
| outs the local affairs of Kansas in more
critical shape than any of the many other
| phases through which they have passed
| Il appears that the Solons of the afore-
| said Convention have decreed -
1. A strong pro-slavery State Constitu-
ton, which is not to be referred to the
people.
2. A separate reference of the slavery
question to vote of the people, which
will not effect the slavery provisions of
no Constitution in the slightest degree
neither one way or the other.
8. That Gov. Walker is deposed.
4. That the regular Territorial Legisla-
.nre is superseded.
5. That regency or provisional gov
| eminent is established, with dictatorial
power of which Mr.. John Calhoun is the
CHIEF, under the title of Governor, and
that this regency is to go into operation
Immediately.
Now, this beats the Topeka govern
ment of Generals Lane and Robinson, all
hollow. It surpasses anything that we
have seen of the political pretensions of
Brigham Young; for, with all his assump-
tons of divine right and squatter sover-
eighty. he has never SO fatty repudiatsd
the supreme authority of the General Gov
eminent as these Lecompton Constitution
makers. Their proceedings are without
a parallel, and there is nothing like a
precedent for them in the case of any
other Territory of the Union, past or
present. On the contrary, the federal
Constitution, the organic law of Kansas,
all popular rights, and Territorial forms
and usages, are boldly set at defiance by
these Kansas disorganizers.
The proceedings in question would
amount to nothing more than contempt
ible farce, did we not know that they are
| intended for mischief, and that the mis-
chief makers are dispersed over a much
larger area than the Territory of Kansas.
1t is thought that the design of this Lee
compton Regency is to stitle the Legisla-
ture and the popular voice of Kansas up
ON the main issue, in exciting a general
squabble among all parties in the Terrific
ry upon the local question of Jurisdiction.
1t is further supposed that this regency,
through this cloud of smoke and dust, will
push off to Washington and attempt to
hurry through the admission of Kansas
upon the basis of their pro-slavery Consti-
tuition, in advance of the meeting of the
Territorial Legislature.
We are glad to learn, however, that
Gov. Walker has been appealed to, to con-
vene an extra session of the Legislature
20 meet this contingency; and for the sake
Of peace in Kansas, we hope that the
next news will be that an extra session
has been ordered. Otherwise these Lee
compton philosophers might be permit
red freely to run to the end of their rope,
inasmuch as the admission of Kansas into
the Union as State is thing which can
not be done, except by an act of Congress
But for the sake of law and order in the
Territory, it is desirable that this Lecomp-
ION regency should be dealt with prompt
ly and efficiently by the regular autheri-
fies, federal and local.
The party of the Topeka Constitution,
some time ago, in an irregular attempt to
set up their peculiar government, were
dispersed by the United States troops,
and if milder process should prove mad
equate against any overt act of this Lee
compton regency, the dragons should be
again called into requisition. In the
meantime, we have no fears of the result
at Washington. We have sagacious
and reliable President at the head of af-
fairs, and his just ard honest Kansas pol
icy will command majority in both
branches of Congress, which no faction of
sectional disorganizers can shake. We
have no apprehensions, therefore, that
Kansas will be admitted into the Union
upon the basis of any Constitution which
shall not have received the endorsement
of the people of Kansas. We have no
fears of the ultimate issue of this Lee
compton movement. 1t will fail. The
parties interested in it cannot entertain a
serious hope of its success. We presume
that their objects are agitation, sectional
liscord, and Southern ultra sectional re-
bellion. We believe that their immedi-
ate purpose is to cast the firebrand into
Congress upon which our Southern fire.
eaters have resolved to cut loose from the
Administration, and to set up sectional
party on their own account for the next
Presidency.
1t is impossible to believe that these
Lecompton proceedings are solely the fruits
of reckless determination of the men,
bers of the Convention to secure the spoils
and plumber of the new State, at all haz-
ards. They are, undoubtedly in hot pur-
suit of the spoils; but the wire workers,
we feaf, are behind the scenes in Virginia,
South Carolina and Mississippi. Mr..
Calhoun and his regency, we dare say, are
as much the instruments employed by the
Southern fire-eaters in this Kansas game
for the succession, as Messrs. Lane and
Robinson have been the tools of the Sew
rd anti-slavery party. The Lecompton
Convention has done its work. II cannot
be rati6ed: but it may still accomplish its
ends in working out the secession of the
fire-eaters from the Administration and
the conservative Democracy. Very well.
Our only fears are that there may be Sc
rious trouble in Kansas from this Lecomp-
ton regency; for we have no doubt that
very short work will be made at Washing
ton of this unratifed Constitution. Let
shem send it along.
The Right Of Women to voie
A correspondent of the National Intel.
ligencer has brought to light letter
written in ITS, BY Richard Henry Lee