The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-06-06

toa II VALUE, ana pcdcc, fSp ptfiieSs SHu
prosperity smiling throughout our borders.
With proper clauses in cur Constitution,
and the peaceful arbitrament of this ques-
ton, Kansas may become the model
State of the American Union. She may
bring down upon Us from North to South,
from East to WeSlthe praises and blessings
of every patriotic American, and of every
friend of self-government throughout the
wefld, she may record her name on the
proutiest page of the history Of cur eoJIr-1
try and of the world, and rs the Youngest
and last born child of American Union, all
will hail and regard her with respect and
affection.
On the other hand, If you cannot thus
peacefully decide this question, fraud, VIZ
Olence and injustice will reign supreme
throughout our borders, and we will have
achieved the undying infamy of having
destroyed the liberty of our country, and
of the world. We will become by word
of reproach and obloquy and all history
will record the fact, that Kansas was the
grave of the American Union. Never
was so momentous question submitted
to the decision of any people and We
cannot avoid the alternatives now placed
before us of glory or of shame.
May that oyer-ruling Providence who
brought our forefathers in safety to James
town and Plymouth, who watched over
our colonial pupilage who convened our
ancestors in harmonious councils, on the
birthday of American Independence;
who gave us Washington, and carried lis
successfully through the struggles and
in 1887, that noble band of patriots and
statesmen from North and South who
framed the Federal Constitution, who has
augmented our numbers from three mil
lions to thirty millions, has carried us
from the eastern slope of the Alleghanies,
through the great yallies of the Ohio,
Mississippi and Missouri, and now salutes
our standard on the shores of the Pacific,
rouse in our hearts a love of the whole
Union, and patriotic devotion to the
whole country-may it extinguish or con-
troll all sectional passions and prejudice,
and enable us to conduct to successful
conclusion the great experiment of self
government now being made within our
boundaries.
Is it not infinitely better that slavery
should be abolished or established in Kan
sas, rather than that we should become
slaves and not permitted to govern our
selves. Is the absence or existence of
slavery in Kansas paramount to the great
questions of State sovereignty, of self
government and of the Union ? Is the
sable African alone entitled to your SYM
pathy and consideration, even if he were
happier as freeman than as slave, either
here, or in st. Domingo, or the British
West Indies, or Spanish America, where
the emancipated slave has recedsd to
barbarism and approaches the lowest point
in the descending scale of moral, pllysi-
cal, and intellectual degradation. Have
our white brethren of the Great American
and European race no claims upon our
attention ? Have they no rights or inter
ests entitled to regard and protection !?
Shall the destiny of the African in Kansas
exclude all considerations connected with
our own happiness and prosperity? And
is it for the handful of that race now in
Kansas, or that may be hereafter introdu-
ced, that we should subvert the Union,
and the great principles of self-govern-
ment and State sovereignty, and imbrue
our hands in the blood of our countrymen
Important as this African question may
be in Kansas, and which it is your solemn
right to determine, it sinks into insignifi-
canoe compared with the perpetuity Of
the Union and the final successful estab-
lishment Of the principles of State sover-
eighty, and free government. If patriot
ism. if devotion to the Constitution and
love of the Union, should not induce the
minority to yield to the majority on this
question let them reflect, that in no event
can the. minority successfully determine
this question permanently, and that in nj
contingency will Congress admit Kansas
as slave or free State, unless majority
of the people of Kansas shall first hay,
| fairly and freely decided this question
| for themselves by direct vote on th'
adoption of the Constitution, excluding al
| fraud or violence. The minority, in re
sisting the will of the majority, may In
! yolve Kanses again in civil war, they ma.
bring upon her reproach and obloquy, am
DESTROY her progress and prosperity ; the!
NAV keep her for wears out of the Union
and, in the whirlwind of agitation, sweel
awav the government itself. But Kansa
never can be brought into the Union wit
or without slavery, except by previou
solemn decision fully, freely and fairl
made by majority of her people in votin
for OF against the adoption of her Stat
Constitution. Why, then, should thi
Just, peaceful and constitutional mode &
settlement meet with opposition fror
any quarter Is Kansas willing to dc
stroy her own hopes of prosperity merel
that she may afford political capital to an
party, and peFpetuate the agitation
slavery throughout the Union Is sh
to become mere theme for a9itators
other States, the theater on which the
shall perform the bloody drama OF treaso
and disunion ? Does she want to see IN
solemn acts of Congress, the decision
the people of the Union in the reccr
election, the legislative, executive, an
judicial authorities of the country a
overthrown, and revolution and civil WI
inaugurated throughout her limits Dot
/. she want to be " bleeding Kansas for th
benefit of political agitators within or OF
of her limits. or does she prefer the peact
ful and auiet arbitraInent of this qIiestio
+ for herself? What benefit viii the gre
! body of the people of Kansas derive fro
these agitations ? They may for . bri
period, give consequence and power
, political leaders and agitators but it is
the expense of the happiness and weifa
. of the great body of the people of th
! Territory.
Those who oppose slavery in Kansas
otbase their opposition upon any phiial
/ thropic principles, or any sympathy I
the African race. For in their so-callt
|. constitution, framed at Topeka, they dee
that entire race 50 inferior and degrade
as to exelasfe them all forever from kai
sas, whether they be bond or free, tn
depriving them Of all rights here, and q
nying even that they can be citizens
the United States. for if they are eitlzei
they could not constitutionaAy be exih
| or excluded from Kansas. Yet such
: clause inserted in the TopeiEa CONSTITUTE.
was submitted BY that Convention for 9
! vote of the people. and rat tfed hsre ey