The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-12-26

ers.
There is but one course suggested other
than that of voting. 1t is to set up an
independent Government. That is Re-
6ellion. That man is. mad who advises
this as mode of redress for grievances
which can be redressed at the ballot-box.
1t would inevitably fail, and involve us
in ruin. Look at the past attempts at
rebellion in this country-and remember
how the nullifers toent down, and how the
whiskey insurectionists were put down.
We may profit by their example. Talk
not of friends from abroad who promise
to come and fght-they are summer
friends. The troops designed for Utah
viii stop in Kansas; and instead of going
to Leavenworth to see them parade, in
all the "pomp and circumstance of glori-
Gus war;" you will have to meet the fed
eraf bayonets and fall before them in
utter aud hopeless defeat. The only
mode OF opposing this Lecompton Con-
stitution from which We can or ought to
hope anything is the lawful mode Let
us go into the election for State officers
Let our platform be, THE PEOPLE against
UsURPATIoN. We can vindicate our SOW
ereignty at the ballot box. AS Ameri-
cans, as men of sense and patriotism, we
should adopt that remedy, and seek no
other.
Judge CONWAY followed. His speech
was characterized by his usual vigor
and force of reasoning, and he advocated
at length the voting policy. He urged
his friends to go into the election, and if
defeated to adopt other means to defeat
the Constitution. The Judge replied to
several positions of Mr.. Ewing, which
called out Dir. E. in reply.
Mr.. WALDEN followed with lengthy
speech against voting. Our space COM
pells US to omit it.
DIR. Robinson was called for. He said,
I wish it distinctly understood that | am
as much in favor of the Topeka Constitu-
ton as any man, and in favor of the res
olutions of the I'd of December. The
resolutions of the I'd of December say that
the election of the 4th is a misdemeanor
and crime. It was never designed by
the craftsman of that resolution that we
should not go into the election. But it
is not backing down. Were it so,
conceive it no crime to change my posi-
ton with changing circumstances. If an
army was drawn up, and they should at
tack me in the rear, should face about
and attack them there. It will not do to
talk about consistency at this time. We
are not trying to divide up into all the diff
fcrent divisions of society, but are labor
ing for the triumph of the main question.
l am not for shaping my course so as to
divide the Democratic party, nor to build
up the Republican party. We must learn
to take care of ourselves. Others argue
up to the stone wall, but no farther. Who
cares what wise distinctions Douglas, and
Forney, and Walker may make on thi;
question.
1t is painful when think of our his
tory. There is the annexation of Texas
the Mexican War, the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise and the furries which
followed. Why, good God, there was
more opposition to the Fugitive Slave
Law than there is to the Lecomptor
Swindle, and yet we hear little about il
now.
If the Lecompton Constitution is taker
possession of, we can defeat it; and WE
will do it. It is said we will get slimed
all over. IF an officer who should be or.
dered to take possession of battery
should say that there was mud puddle
before it, and he should get muddied i
he undertook to take it Would you
notsay he ought to be buried unGerit? Let
us go into the election for State officers
Let our platform be, THE PEOPLE against
UsURPATIoN, we can vindicate our SOW.
ereignty at the ballot-box. It is said tha
the administration are afraid of blood
1t is nonsense. They only seek an excuse
to hang few Of us.
JIM LANE, in whom we all have Sc
great confidence. has never fought the
United States and will not. He know:
his position too well. There are eight
regiments on their way to Utah. They
will stop in Kansas until this question i:
disposed of. The people of Leaven.
worth, and of the South, aud of othe
portions of the Territory viii not join u.
in fight against the government. Why
I was in Boston few years ago, and saw
the streets filled with crazy men, VIII,
were outraged at the returning of Burn
to slavery. A little company of Unitet
States marines came up and the Grove
who were rolling out great oaths recedet
before it. There were not six men in al
Boston who could be found to stand u,
and deliver Cutie to the negroes for sum
mary punishment.
know it is unpopular to talk this way