The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-22
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CcEgenaoa n Ce1Ropotis.
The Free State Convention held at
Centropolis. on the 14th inst, was well
attended, and was unusually interesting.
There were between tAree and four hun
dred in attendance, mostly from that
section Of the Territory. The deiibera-
ticns of the convention were harmonious.
and the resolutions, which A-e publish with
the official proceedings on uur first page,
were adopted By Raaniasoas vote.
When the convention was first called
TO order, one of the reporters for the East
ern press stated that he understood it was
a Ralker Convention. This led to an ami
mated disc;.ssion, apparently to the great
modification of the gentleman who had
urged this objection to his participating in
its deliberations.
A free dinner, or more properly bar
bacue, was given on the occasion by the
people of the place, and was indeed a
very creditable affair." which did great
honor to those engaged in providing it
An OK was roasted in quarters, and every
delicacy which the appetite coveted was
there upon the table in endless pEefasion
We were greatly surprised to see the taste
exhibited in preparing the table; bui
when we looked around upon the intelli-
gent ladies of Centropolis, and vicinity
who had been instrumental in getting ii
up, our wonder somewhat abated. Rarely
has it been our fortune to partake of col
lasion gotten up in better style, even in
the East.
But one determination. and that to gel
possession of the Territorial Legislature
and to WELD it for the working of theil
political disenthralment, seemed to char
acteriEc ali persons in attendance, save a
half-dozen reporters and their attendants,
who went down from Lawrence, as has
been their custom at other places, appa-
rently with the intention of controlling
ii, but which they found too intelligent
for them to have any influence over.
| The public were greatly interested in
some remarks which Mr.. ROBERTS, the
chairman, made on taking the chair. In
the course of his speech he said:--
"While l am Free State man, and
will labor continuously, and have sacri-
feed much for the cause, yet am decid-
edly opposed to the proscriptive policy
which has been recently inaugurated in
Kansas. individuals are not allowed to
express an honest opinion, differing with
certain others, without being branded as
pro-slayery men in disguise, and number
less other vile and opprobrious epithets
But few days ago picked up the New
York Tribune, and read letter from Oul
Correspondent dated at Lawrence, July
Ii, 1857, in which that letter-writel
said:-
"'Political excitement is at a fever heat
now in Kansas. Saturday last, the cleo
ton of Delegates to the State Convention
to be held at Topeka on the 18th inst,
tosk place at Lawrence. 1t was the most
exciting election ever attended. About
550yotes were polled, but there were two
tickets; one represented fully the senti-
ments of the Free State movement, The
other scas Nurture of garious elements
among sUhich acere opposition to the Topeka
Coastitutio'l-or any government Under it.
National Democracy, schisky and rOaudy-
ism p
"The ticket thus branded, LEARN, was
defeated by majorities ranging from to
20. This prescription, then, denounces
as National Democrats'-another name
for the pro-slayery party-whiskyites and
rowdies, all who participated in that
election. Among other distinguished
citizens thus vilely slandered, because they
dared to think and act for themselves, are
Judge Smith, G. w. Brown, Gaius Jen.
kins, the Wattles', Eldridges, Mr. Samp
son, Mr.. Babcock, G. W. Hutchinson, and
many others of Lawrence. For that class
of enemies 1 care nothing, personally, as
1 presume my friends do not, for they
know the source from whence it came
hut care for them, for those who have
endured so much, and sacrificed SO largely
for the cause, which all of us profess to
have at heart. The three first of these
gentlemen were confined for four months
last summer, on the prairies of Kansas, foI
daring to be free, and they are above
the petty assaults of bad men. Let me
advise those who take such liberties with
private character, to be less free hereafter
with their malicious attacks, and not
make the object of their assault so trans
parent as on this occasion"
For further account of this meeting,
see the official proceedings.