The Kanzas news., 1857-12-12

and thai we thank him for this expressio,
in favor of securing the public peace, anC
the rights of the people
@. Vaughn, of the Leayenworth Times
was next called and spoke earnestly, and as
sured the Convention that the Leayenwortl
delegation would be found true to the position
taken in the resolutions adopted to night
DR.. Kob, of the Atchison Zeitung, was
called. He spoke with much wit and point
IL. Miles Moore, of Leayenworth, next
spoke. as member of The Territorial
Legislature, he assured the Convention OF
his adherence to the resolutions passed, and
that he was prepared to vote to adjourn the
Territorial Legislature, if necessary, to let
the Topeka State Constitution take its place.
Mr.. Charles Foster. of Oawatomie, was
called. and gave assurance that the country
south of the Santa Fe road was now awake
to the responsible issues before them.
Z. Dwight Thacher, of the Laurence Re
publican being called for, said:
"Mr. President and fellow citizens: Were
it not for the enthusiasm which see mani
tested. should not venture at this late hour
to detain you with any remarks which 1
may have to make. We have listened to ell
oquent and patriotic remarks from gentle
men representing the various portions of the
Territory. We have been told that the vic
tory is already won. Sir, what is that victory?
What IS the prize for which we are striving?
In the first place. it is freedom for ourselves.
This effort which is being made to thrust
upon US Constitution in opposition to the
popular will involves, in reality, the very
essence of all free government. They only
are free people who veunder laws of their
own choice. Lale, fellow citizens, simple
enactment, is a sacred thing. And why?
Because it is, in Republican government,
the expression of the popular will. But a
Constitution is the most sacred of all instru-
ments, for it is the highest of all human
laws-the great fundamental law of the State,
standing like wall of fire to scorch and
wither whatever would infringe upon the
rights and liberties of the people. It is meet
and proper,-we owe it to ourselves and to
our country, that this first attempt, in these
United States, to force upon the people of
ne# State just springing into life, a funda-
mental law ih opposition to the popular will,
be promptly met and put down-that this
effort of undisguised despotisrh should be
crushed to atomsi We are, therefore, con-
tending here in Kanzas for the inherent and
vital principle of Republicanisih-the right
of the people to govern themselves.
Again, the prize for which we contend is
the ultimate triumph and perpetuity of Free
dom and free institutions in our common
country. 1 believe, fellow citizens, that
Kanzas, to-day, holds in her hands the des-
tinies of America. When our fathers found
il necessary to strike off the chains of des-
potism which Great Britain was fastening
upon them, they founded new government
upon the great principles of Freedom and
Equality. And it is to the action and inhu-
ence of these great principles that the mighty
energy and astounding progress of our coun
try is due. Behold, how from few strag-
Cling colonies along the Goa It of the Allan
tic, we have marched on, until now, after
the lapse of less than century, our central
column is pushed half way across the con-
tinent, while already our Pacific coast is
teemiug with life; and soon, clear across
from ocean to ocean, will be seen the homes
and babitations of brave, industrious and
intelligentfreemen. Magnificent and almost
miraculous work!
Unfortunately, there is also at work in our
country, and producing its appropriate re-
suits, another principle utterly autagonistic TO
freedom and equality-the principle of slat-
ery These have met face to face in Kan
zas. Slavery needs for its life, expansion
extension. It must have it. The tread of
the slave scorches and burns the soil until ii
refuses to yield its increase. He must then
have fresh fields and untrodden plains See
what slavery has done for Virginia. From
being renowned as the ''mother of states
men," she is now only noted as a great
breeder of human beings for the MARKET
The market must be widened; new territory
must be occupied. This is the reason why
the whole South, with united voice, demands
the free people of Kanzas as living saeri-
fee upon the bloody altar of slavery. But
we have it in our power and We intend to do
it, to make her great and powerful Free
State. And how long will slavery endure
in Missouri. with right on her western bor-
der Free State like New York, or Ohio,
or Massachusetts? 1t will melt like mist
before the morning sun. The further adj
vance of slavery stopped here, and soon, with
the immense tide of free labor men setting
toward the fertile soils and genial climate of
the south west, We will have Gordon of
Free States from the lakes of the North to
the gulf of Mexico. That settles the fate
of slavery in America. We shall then have
conquered it, not BY any breach of faith, or
overriding of the Constitution. but by the
inherent energy and vitality of the grand
principles of freedom and equality. On
the contrary, if freedom is struck down in
Kanzas, see no probable termination to
slavery on the American continent Il viii
rapidly extend and perpetuate itself until
there shall be built up here in the land of
Washington; franklin and Jefferson, the
most gigantic despotism the world has ever
seen. But, fellow citizens, slavery will not
triumnh here: Tha rrnaninnifu- fha 1o.o.