The Placer herald., 1857-12-26
Democracy in Kansas.

character that has been so little understood
or so much misrepresented as the relativ,
position and strength of parties in Kansas
The republicans or abolitionists have persist
ed, and still persists that the parties advocat
ing and opposing slavery in that Territory
were identical with the democratic and re
publican parties, and that the success of tie
opponents of slavery was a success of the
republicans or aboltionists. There could
not be a greater fallacy. AS well might i,
be said that the democracy of California are
abolitionists because they do not choose tc
introduce slavery here. We find in the
Cincinnati Enquirer the following letter from
Leavenworth, X. T., which must certainly
prove conclusive on the point, even with our
California republicans. 1t will be seen that
the Herald of Freedom, the leading and
most violent organ of the Free State party,
acknowledges that there has never been re-
publican party in the Territory, and that the
State will be largely democratic.
san Joaqaim RepaJlicaR.
LEAvENwoRrH CRY,
Wednesday, November 4th, 1857.
To the Editor of tie Enquirer:
We observe that most, if not all, of the
republican papers of the East are claiming
the Free State party victory in Kansas as a
black republican triumph. This is a msrep-
resentation Of facts. Here in Kansas, where
the people are supposed to understand their
political position, there is not to be found an
individual, unless one paid to lie to Eastern
papers, who possesses a particle of intelli-
gence. who is even aware of the existence OF
republican party in the Territory. As
a corroborative of this declaration we send
YOU a clipping from the Lawrence HYaW of
FreedoD,-an acknowledged Free-State party
organ-as follows:
CORRECT THE ERRoR-The Eastern press
are determined that the Free State triumph
in Kansas shall pass for republican victory
The idea is false, and the presses making
those representations are doing us an injury
bv circulating them as such. The letter.
writer's have tried to force the Frees ate
party on to the Republican platform, and
many of us would very naturally and cheer
fully 90 there, were it not for the fact that
we would lose at least one-third of our nun
ber, if we should attempt it. Our policy has
been to unite the Free-State eeme,t without
regard TO its past patty procivities or its
future tendency. "Whigs, democrats, free
soilcrs, natives and naturalized citizens" in
the language Of the Big Springs Platform,
"have affiliated, resolved to act togetheruntiI
the issue between freedom and slavery is SCI
tIed.' They have done it, and it is a gross
outrage upon the party to talsity its positions
or try to mix us up with party organizations
in the States. For the love of truth and
Justice we do hope that these presses which
rect them, and tell their readers that we have
no republican party in Kansas.
The fact is that the attempt has been fire.
quentlv made to form republican organiza
ton, but as the democratic element in the
Free-Sate party is 20 large, and, fearing that
the attempt would be productive of evil to
the cause of "freedom in Kansas" it has al
ways been frowned down. Hundreds, nay,
thousands of northern democrats-men who,
by education and choice, are Free State men,
and who have been cooperating with the
Free State party only for the purpose Of
securing to Kansas Il free constitution-will,
as soon as that question is settled, be found
in the democratic ranks again. This fact is
so generally admitted that we feel safe in
again repeating that Kansas will be demo
cratic State.
Many, very many, of the leaders of the
Free State party were democrats until they
left the States many supported Mr.. Bucha-
nan for President make no concealment Of
their democratic annities, and openly de-
clare that they will re-unite-when Kansas
e.. 81, h. N, ~.
We expected what we have seen in the
Black Republican papers-theretore we are
not disappointed. Yours, &c S.