The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-04-01
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
KANSAS AND SLAVERY.

resolved not to go to the polls and par
ticipate in the election, soon to be held by
legislative authority, for delegates to form
a State Constitution, preparatory for ad
mission into the Union. The prstext for
this abstinence and voluntary political
abdication is, that they (the Free-State
men) do not want to recognize the pres
ent laws in Kansas, but will adhere to the
fraudulent and sham Topeka Constitution,
which was adopted 10y partisan caucus,
some months since, which has not to re-
commend it a single pretension of regu-
larity or right.
Boosting that the Free-State popula-
ton in Kansas largely predominates there,
Free-S State men are to voluntarily absent
themselves from the polls, and thus quiet
ly allow Kansas to be made slave State,
in order to preserve their consistency in
a false step, which they took in resisting
the laws of Kansas, instead of scquiescing
in them, and urging their repeal at the
earliest moment.
This movement to give Kansas to sla-
very emanates from the New York and
Eastern Republican cliques, who really
desire such a consummaton, in order to
make political capital. They think that,
if they can so manage matters that Kan
sas will apply for admission into the
Union as a slave State, they will be able
to keep up the slavery agitation until after
the Presidential election Of 1860, and
then ride into power upon it.
This is their game, and we now desire
to call the attention of the people to it.
If Kansas becomes slave State, the re-
sponsibility will rest entirely upon the
Free-State men in Kansas, who, acting
under bad advisers, refuse to adopt an
effective and constitutional measure at the
polls to prevent it. This fact is selfevi-
dent and apparent, and it is one to which
the attention of the country should be
called to now We have always been
convinced that the leading Black. Repub-
lican managers really cared nothing about
slavery, except so far as they might make
political capital out of it. The conclu-
sion of this Kansas shrek is likely to JUS
We verify believe that they would be per-
fectly willing that slavery should be ex-
tended into every Territory of the United
States and over every foot of land, be-
cause by so doing they could maintain
their position, which would prosper under
such a consummation, This Kansas ar
rangement will do much to enlighten the
people as to the true character of this
corrupt combination, which, with all its
professions of devotion TO freedom, has
really done more for slavery than any Other
political combination.
We trust that before the election the
masses OF the Free-State men in Kansas
will repudiate the directions of theil
leaders, and go to the polls and assert
) their rights as citizens. The law for th'
election of delegates is so framed as tt
E prohibit any illegal or fraudulent voting
, if such thing can be done by statutor,
enactment The New York Journal o
, Commerce makes an analysis of it's pro
t visions in that respect, which are of sucl
character as to render it utterly mex
/ cusable for the Free-State men if the,
: neglect this opportunity of making it
< free State, if they have the numerical
e power to do so. That Journal says:
. Preparatory to the election of dele
f gates sixty in number, who are to frame
State Constitution, this law provides tha
r between the st of March and the lst c
April of the present year a census shal
be taken of ''all the free male inhabitants
of the United States over twenty-on
, years of age, and all other white person
actually residing" in the Territory. Whe
, the census has been taken and returned
to the Governor. he will divide tho aggre
gate number of voters by sixty, and thi
will give the number Of votes for eacI
r delegate, which will be apportioned t.
each county according to the number Q
, qualified voters, A registry of all tn
, voters names is to be made and fled il
the office of the Probate Judge, where i
will be kept open for inspection and cor
, rection for thirty days; and none are al
, lowed to vote except those whose name
are registered None but bona tfde citi
, zens can vote, and if they do, the regis
try is the best means to detect Illegal ant
fraudulent voting All outside interfer
ence in the election, whether from th'
North or South, is especially guarded
against
"The election is to be held on th'
third Monday in June next. "Ever,
bona fde inhabitant of the Territory" Of
that day, "being a citizen Of the Unite'
States, over the age of twenty-one years
and who shall have resided three month
S next before said election in the county il
which he offers to vote and no other per
son whatever, shall be entitled to vote q
said election" None, therefore, can vot
who were not bona .fde inhabitants of tn
Territory on the l4th inst, and who sha
not continue to reside in the same count
q until the election. This three month.
residence has been much complained {
at the East, and, doubtless, it will pre-
vent many Yankees from going there t
q vote, who otherwise would have gone
: On the other hand, it will prevent man
MicSouriopS from nch,,,or in , dor n