The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-06-06


Overwhelming majority of the anti-slayery
party. This party here, therefore, has,
in the most positive manner, affirmed the
constitutionality of that portion of the
recent decision of Supreme Court OF the
United States, declaring that. Africans are
not citizens of the United States.
This is the moro important inssmuch as
this Topeka Constitution was ratified, with
this clause inserted, by the entire Repub-
lican party in Congress, thus distinctly af-
firming the recent decisions of the Sa-
preme Court of the Union, that Africans are
not citizens of the United States, for If
citizens they may be elected to all Offices
state and national, including the psesiden
cy itself; they must be placed upon ba-
sis of perfect equality with the whites,
serve with them in the militia, on the
bench, the Legislature, the jury box, vote
in all elections, meet us in social inter-
course, and intennarry freely with the
whites. Thisdoctrine ofthe perfect equality
of the white with the black in all respects
whatsoever social and political, clearly fol-
lows from the position that Africans are cit
izens of the United States. Nor is the
Supreme Court of the Union less clearly
vindicated by the position now assumed
here by the published creed of this party,
that the people of of Kansas, in forming
their State Constitution, (and not Congress,l
must decide this question of slavery for
themselves. Having thus sustained the
Court on both the controverted points de-
cided by that tribunal, it is hoped they
will not approve the anarchcal and revo-
lutionary proceedings in other States, ex-
punging the Supreme Court from eursystem
by depriving it of the great power forwhieh
it was created, of expounding the Consti-
tuition. If that be done, we can have in
fact no unity of government or fundamen-
tai law, but just as many ever varying
Constitutions as passion, prejudice and To-
cal interests may from time to time pre-
scribe in the thirty-one States of the
Union.
have endeayored heretofore family to
foreshadow the wonderful prosperity which
would follow at once in Kansas, the peace
full and final settlement of this question.
But if it should be in the power of agita-
tors to prevent such result, nothing but
ruin will pervade our territory. Conf
dence will expire, and law and order will
be subverted Anarchy and civil war will
be re-inauguarted among us. All prop
erty will greatly depreciate in value.
Even the best farms will become almost
worthless. Our towns and cities will sink
into decay. Emigration into our territory
will cease. A mournful train Of returning
settlers, with ruined hopes and blasted for
tunes will leave our borders. All who
have purchased property at present prices
will be sacrificed, and Kansas will be mark
ed by universal ruin and desolation.
Nor will the mischief be arrested here.
1t will extend into every other State.
Despets will exult over the failure here Of
the great principles of self-government,
and the approaching downfall of our con-
federacy. The pillars of the Union will
rock upon their base, and we may close
the next presidential conflict, amid the
scattered fragments of the Constitution Of
ouronce llappyand united people. The ban-
. ner of the stars and stripes, the emblem of
our country's glory, will be rent by con-
tending factions. We shall no longer have
a country. The friends of human liberty
in other realms will shrink despairing from
the conflict. Despotic power will resume
its sway throughout the world, and man
will have tried in vain the last expert
ment of seif-goyernment The architects
of our country's ruin, the assassiBs of her
peace and prosperity, will share the same
common ruin of all our race. They will
meet, whilst living, the bitter curses of
ruined people, whilst history viii record as
their only epitaph: These seere the destroy
ers of tie Apaeriean Union, Of the liberties Of
their country and 0f the tcord.
But do not despair of the Republic. Ny
hope is in the patriotism and intelligence
of the people; in their love Of country, of
Liberty, and of the Union. Especially is
nv confidence unbounded in the hardy
pioneers and settlers Of the West. 1t was
such settlers of a new State devoted to the
Constitution and the Uniony whom 1 long
represented in the Senate of the United
States, and whose rights and interests it
was nv pride and pleasuresthere as well as
in the Treasury Department, to protect and
advocate. 1t was men like these whose
rifles drove back the invader from the
plains Of Orleans, and planted the stars and
stripes upon the victorious fields Of Mexico.
These are the men whom gold cannot cor
rupt, nor foes intimidate. From their
; towns and villages, from their farms and
cottages, spread over the beautiful prairies
, of Kansas, they will come forward now in
defence of the Constitution and the Union
These are the glorious legacy they received
from our fathers, and they viii transmit tS
, their children the priceless heritage. Be.
, fore the peaceful power of their suffrage
2 this dangerous sectional agitation viii dis
: appear. and peace and prosperity onet
= more reign throughout our borders In tht
, hearts of this noble band of patriotic sttlers
the love of their country and of the UnioI
: is inextinguishable. 1t leaves them not il
death, but follows them into that highe
I realm, where, with Washington and Frank
lin and their noble compatriots, they lool
, down with undying affection upon thei
? Country, and offer up their feFvent prayer
4 that the Union and the Constitution ma.
2 be perpetual. Forrecollect, my fellow cit
ri izens, that II is the Constitution that make
4 the Union. and unless that immortal IN
! strunenf, bearing the name Of the fathe
1 of his Country. shall be maintained entir
r in all its wise provisions and sacred guar
: antees our free institutions must perish.
e. reliance also is cnshaken upon tn
It same overriding Providence who has car
: ried us triumphantly through 50 many Per
n ;ls and conflicts. who has lifted u 70
4 height of power and prosperity unexam
n pied in history. and, if we shall naiftsi
.fI the Constitution and the Union, points Us :
oi a.future more glorious and sublime than Ia
It mind can conceive or pen describe. Tn
g march of our eountsy's destiny, like that
is His first chosen people, is marked By tn
footprints of the steps of God. The Con
o stitution and the Union are sshe clouds p
: day, and the pillar Of fire By night whic
u viii carry Us safely under ms guidane
a through the wilderness and bitter water
N into promised and ever extending nelas
/, our eountry's glory. Its His hand whie
!, beckons us onward in the pathway
IS peaceful progress ard expansion, Of pewt
; and renown, until or continent N the Gus
4 tant @ future. shall Be covered by the folds
. the American bsnn nsfs and, instructed 2
s | our on example, all the nations Of tie we're
sI through many trials end sarihesz. sHsl e.
nj tabiish the great principlesof or eonsssIs