The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-13

peka Constitution, and break up the Free
State organization At first they ger.
loud and bitter in their opposition to Tho
Constitution, and seemed very eontiden
OF the success OF their Infamous scheme.
but long before the organization of tn,
Convention, 1t became very manifest tha
this faction was largely in the minority
Col j. II. Lane, who seems to possess
almost unlimited influence over the Free
state people Of Kansas, made a speech il
the evening, before the meeting of the
Convention. ia which he set forth in al
gnmistakable light, the Importance and
the necessity of maintaining the Free
tstate organization Hnder the Topeka Con
gtltutloa and set forth in the most glar
Ing colors, the corruption and wickeaness
Of the so=ealled Democracy, and the gttel
folly of abandoning our organization in
obedience to its wishes. 1t was clearly
shown that such ag abandonment would
be playing into the bands of the Slavery
propaganda, and 40 open confession that
all our labors for the last two years pat
were wrong, and those who had fallen in
the struggle must be branded as felons
1t was clear as the light Of day, that our
only hope Of political salvation, lies in
standing firmly by our present State or
ganlzatlon, which is the greatest obstacle
IN the way of the Bogus Constitution
about to be framed Some thought that
we had better drop the Topeka Constitrl-
ton, and seize the Territorial Legislature
in October; but very little reflection
would suffice to convince any honest mind
that such course would be the height
ot folly,
The Territorial Legislature will not
meet until January, and could the Free
State organization be gotten out Of the
way, the Bogus Constitution could then
be put through on the fast line, admitted
by Congress, and State Government
put into operation, before the Territorial
Legislature would meet, and THUS we
would be left to hold an empty sack like
4 set Of fools. But it is our purpose to
perfect our State organization, and then
take possession Of the Territorial Lcgisla-
tuie in October: let it meet, and pass an
act, repeating every aQt eyer passed by it.,
adjourn sine die and let the State goy-
ernneGt 90 into operation ct once. 1t is
now matter of little interest to US wheth-
er the Bogus Constitution is received by
Congress or not. 4 State government
can never be organized under it. Ken
snS ,cW be an indeprndcnt State. EITHER
in the Union or ont Of 1t, rtthi,I 4ic
moRths from, this time
Under the scathinS eloquence of Lane
and other, the opposition, soon began to
give way, and before the close of the Con-
yention, they came forward and avowcd
their devotion to the Topeka Constitution
and government, and their willingness to
stand by it 20 the death The greatest
enthusiasm prevailed throughout, and the
Convention closed in much harmony
The resolutions adopted are as lofty in
tone and sentiment as anything which
has appeared since the days Of '76 A
resolution was unanimously adopted, IN
structing Col, Lane to organize 4 militia
~ force throughout the Territory to pro
tect the ballot-box in October. 1t is the
purpose of the Free State men to vote at
that election without any foreign inter-
ference, or die in the attempt. Upon q
very close vote of 50 to S3, Marcus |.
Parrot, of LcaTcnworth City, Was nomi-
mated for Congress, over Mayor Adams,
Of the same place.
Nothing but the intense interest which
every one feels in our cause, could have
induced any one to remain at Topeka
through the Convention. \ very unu-
sual drought has prevailed for some time
past, and during the past week, the
weather has been almost intolerably hot.
the mercury rose every day above 1909
and ran as high as llOo in the shade
Tho Convention was large, and the ac-
comQdatlaps very limited.
The people of Lawraace have organ
lied an independent government this
set fire to tho wrath of Coy Walker, who
forthwith issued q Proclamation against
the city, commanding the people to aban.
don the movement Immediately, and when
we left there . day or two since, he was
hourly expected with FIVE hundred I, 5,
troops, The people were taking 1t very
cooly, not fearing any trouble or collis-
sion, This proceeding has created the
most supreme contempt for the Governor,
and it is very probable that every town in
Kansas will Immediately organize an In
dependent government, We shall soon
see what We shall soc, Respectfully,
RICHARD MENpENuALL
To JoHN S. MANN, Coudersport.
SAYS the Louisville Journal, The