The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-02-28

the right to INSTITUTE government, to
alter it, and to abolish it. Have the
people of Nebraska or Kansas this
power under this act Can they in
stitute government ? Can they alter
it? Can they abolish it? Not at all.
They have no rights, no power, but
that which Congress confers. There
is not privilege granted in this bill
that a generous planter might not
grant to his slave, without weakening
his authority over him. They have
no sovereign power. Congress can re-
woke It's grant in an hour. They are
as dependent upon the Federal Gov
ernment for their territorial and po-
litical existence, as they are upon God
for the atmosphere they breathe!
al grant what is claimed, that there
is an extension of political rights COM
pared with earlier territorial govern
ments. But have the people here
power to govern? I deny it. My
reading of the theory of politics is not
extensive, but l have imagined that
the American doctrine at least was,
that majority of the people should
have the attributes of government.
' l ask any gentleman upon this
floor to point ME to one single solitary
power that is here conferred upon
majority Of the people!
"Can they elect a Governor, or an
executive officer? Can they appoint
their judges? Can they pass a legis-
lative act, OF obtain a Judgment in the
territorial courts, without the super
vision and assent of the National
Government, acting through its own
appointees, who are forever irresponsi-
BILE to the people there? Never !
They have no affirmation, neither leg
iSlative nor judicial, upon which Con-
gress does not retain a negative. And
this is called "non-intervention ~
The privilege of overriding an Exec
utive veto by vote of taeo thirds of
both branches against the influence of
the Government, can never be exer-
cised! You admit theoretically a
right, but practically you deny all
power. And this is called "sover-
eighty mot American, but " "squatter
sovere;gnty." 1t is rightly named 1t
squats lower than any American pre-
ccdent that we shall find. Why, it
isn't knee high! 1t has neither COM
mencement nor end and it can be
compared to nothing, unless it be to
Master Slender's love for his mistress,
which, he said, "was little at the be-
ginning, and had been gradually
growing less and less, until, by the
grace of God, it came to be nothing
at ALL"
After the passage of the bill, the
party Of freedom Immediately organ
+, lied, for the purpose of giving gene
raj information to the country, of the
act now passed, and also of adopting
the only remedy remaining in the
hands of the people for the correction
of the evils which had been inflicted
by the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise. Slavery for fifty years had
been gaining strength and growing in
vigor, till from an obscure and con-
demned vice, it had become a notori-
Gus and overmastering power. In
stead of shrinking timidly from public
gaze, as in days of old, it now obtru-
ded itself upon all occasions into pub
lie legislation and government. Its
odious tyranny was set up as the
corner stone of American democracy,
and its society as the perfection Of
social harmony. Even white slavery
} is now advocated as the proper condi
ton of laborcrs.
So monstrous were these assump
tions, and so subversive of honor and
. justice was this act considered, thai
the people of the free States made ar
: rangements for securing again those
rights which had been so rudely tori
from them. Resolutions were formed
to come to the Territory-to reside
upon its soil, and thus take possession
, of the domain so wisely dedicated t.
Freedom from the foundation of tht
government.
The first society in order for thi.
, purpose was formed in Washington
d. c., in June, 1854, of which J. Z
Goodrich, of Mass, was elected Presi
dent. 1t was styled the " Union E'nai
grafton Society" Its objects were Sc
forth as follows =
WHEREAS, By the repeal of tn,
eight section of the act for the ad
mission of Missouri into the Union
the Territories of Kansas and Ne
hrsska have been opened to the in
PRODUCTION of slavery and
/, WHEREAS, it is now apparent that al
effort Is to be made to propagat,
and extend that institution on thi
continent, to perpetuate the same
: and to secure to its votarieS the en-
s tire control of our government nov
/. and at all times and
WHEREAS, Such an attempt is con
trary to the spirit of our constitu
ton, a reproach to our free insti
tutions. and a dishonor to the ag'
$ in which we live; in counteractior
whereof, we the undersigned dt
associate ourselves together, by tn,
name and title" &c.
The objects of the society were SCI
forth in the fifth article of the consti
tuition as follows -
u 1.-THE moneys of the society stall b
J appropriated to encourage such emf.
igration into the Territories as shall be
opposed to the introduction of slavery
- IL. ,o.,o - IS elovayx- ehall h