Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-16
The Policy of the Free-State Party In
Kansas


ture policy of the Free-State party in Kansas.
Their position of unyelding resistance to
usurped authority at every hazard, rather
than compromise their rights as American cit
liens and leopard the interests of Kansas, is
one which challenges the approval and admi-
ration Of the friends of free territory in every
part of the Union.
As certain exceptions, from apparently
friendly quarters have been taken to the
course of the frec-state party, in refusing to
participate in the election of delegates to the
Constitutional convention, provided for in the
Lecompton legislatures census and convention
act, we here subioin the reasons given by them
in support of their policy. These are:
|. That the organic act does not authorize
the territorial legislative powers, even when
legtimatcly convened, to pass any enabling
act to change the government of the territory.
3 That the Convention and Census act of
this irregular assembly at LecomptOn is par
tizan in its character, clearly contemplates the
fraud, against the recurrence of which it offers
inadequate security which deprives the Ex-
ecutve of the Territory of the power to pre-
vent or remedy such fraud leaves the control
of the census and election in the hands of pre-
tended officers, not chosen by the people of
NdtSdS, WIN uIC vi flOlCut CudEdCbcES dHu
are hostile to the best interests of the terri
tory.
s. That said act purports to disfranchise
certain bona fde settlers of Kansas, who have
filed their declarations of intention to become
citizens, and are recognised as voters by the
organic act.
vention and Census act for submitting the cou-
oh hn I,,+ h.
ed Constitutional convention to the people.
These reasons appear to US satisfactory -
But some of our contemporaries still inquire,
why not submit to the action of the bogus leg
! islature for once? Why not, since the free
state party is largely in the majority, vote, un-
der protest, for delegates to the Constitutional
| Convention, in order to save freedom in the
| territory.
In the first place, it is very uncertain wheth-
er the free-state men have majority sufficient
to overcome the invasion of Missourians which
the Convention act was intended to facilitate
With the unScrupulous agents of the Missouri
Kansas Legislature to execute the act, and to
issue certificates of election, and with an elec-
ton law which, in order to secure the success
of fraudul, ut voters requires in one section, as
condition of voting, registration without res
lucuCC, duu III ltSittuCc WlIuOuG reg
istration, and which cuts off from the right of
voting all free-state men who arrived after the
third monday of last March, the chances are
certainly adverse to result fairly expressing
the will of the people Indeed, we have the
impartial testimony of Gov. Geary, during his
| late visit in Washington that clear majority
of ten thousand would not give the victory to
the freestate men.
But allowing it to be possible for the friends
of freedom to obtain preponderance in the
proposed Constitutional Convention, and there
| by to frame Constitution according to their
own wishes, they would gain no practical ad-
vantage, immediate or remote, adequate to
Justify such departure from consistent and
sound policy as is involved in a compliance
with usurped and lBwless power There is
hardly possibility that the constitution will
be accepted by Congress. The Democratic
party, which will be in the minority in the
minority in the next House, cannot unite to
sanction constitution which, like the one in
question, contrary to almost every precedent,
will not have received the ratification of a
popular vote. The want of the requisite ratio
of population for the choice of representa-
tive in Congress, (93, 420 is another obec-
tion under which the friends of Senator Doug
las may cover their opposition to this as they
did their opposition to the Topeka Constitution;
and numerous other reasons may be mentioned
for the belief that the labors of this illegally
constituted convention of Kansas will prove alb
ortive. Whether they adopt pro-savery or an
anti-slavery constitution, there is nearly an alb
solute certainty of a sufficient combination in
| Congress to reject it.
What we here urge is in reply to the objec
tion raised on the ground of expediency. 1t
| fortunately happens that the question of ex-
pedlency agrees with the dictates of straight
| forward and consistent policy. With popu-
laton hardly numbering 80, 900, just recover
ing from disastrous civil feuds, burdened with
heavy Indebtedness, and as Gov Geary says,
without money enough in her treasury to pay
| the expenses of d convention, and needing the
aid OF the general government for the settle
ment of her land titles and the erection of her
| court houses and jails, Kansas can well afford
to remain for year or two to come in a terri
torial condition. Such is the advice of her
late Governor, and we believe that it is promp-
ted by by correct understanding of the ne
cGsSitleS, and sincere interest in the welfare
Of her people.
Meanwhile the great Northern hive of free
labor will add her multtudes to the ranks of
the free-State party, and before long its i'm
mense numerical preponderance and superior
prosperity, will give it in the eyes of the coun-
try such proud pre-emnence, that even the
administration at Washinton will be ashamed
to lend its sanction to the few omnibus loads
of pro-slavery usurpers who may be hopeless
Iy struggling against those laws of population,
climate and soil which, when allied, as they
are, with the indomitable energy of brave
and slavery-hating people, must insure the as
cendancy of freedom in Kansas-Ercning
Post.
na-The Kansas appointments of Mr. Bu-