The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-07-11
Tas ropeks oonsasasien.

Constitution. It was adopted by the res
ident voters Of Kansas near two years
ago, as we stated last week, as a sort of
necessity, eonceiving that Congress would
cheerfully sanction it, and admit US into
the Union under it as sovereign State,
as the easiest way of avoiding the usurpa-
ton of the Missouri invaders. There was
not prominent actor in the getting up OF
that Constitution, who did not consider it,
to some extent, informal. True, we quoted
the precedent of California; but the Cal
ifornia movement differed from ours, in
this: that the Governor of that Territory
issued his proclamation converting the
Constitutional Convention; while our
movement originated with the PEOPLE in
their primary capacity, and was carried
through by them in opposition to the
wishes of the Governor. Even Ex-Goy.
REEDER, who was with US in our hostility
TO the Missouri invasion, was opposed to
Unconstitutional movement, and thought.
and privately expressed himself, as dissat-
isfied with the movement, as did many
other good men of the Free State party,
who had acted in the front ranks with us
until that period; and who, subsequently,
have contented themselves with remain
ing inactive, waiting another revolution of
the political wheel, when they could see
some hope of laboring to advantage for
the Free State cause.
In various ways, that Constitution has
cost the people Of Kansas not less than
$4,000, and probably nearly 100000;
and yet nothing has been accomplished
by it. It has been said that it was the
means of organizing the Free State party.
The facts are: the Free State party was
organized at Big Springs, in advance of
the Constitutional movement, and polled
vote for Gov. REEDER, as delegate to
Congress, greater than has been poIled at
any other time. So the assertion that it
asssrved to organize the party is a lost
argument, and not true in fact.
The Constitution formed at Topeka.
and adopted by the then resident voters,
contained many wise provisions; yet it
was not wholly satisfactory; on the con-
trary, it was opposed silently by no in
considerable number of our people. The
document was sent up TO Congress, was
adopted by the lower house, and lost in
the Senate; and thus was rejected BY
Congress. A Presidential election follow
ed, in which one party took issue for Kan
sas, the other took grounds against U.S.
The latter triumphed, and the Democratic
administration was prolonged another four
years. Another session of Congress was
held, and the Topeka Constitution was
passed over in silence. Thus, virtuaVg.
two sessions of Congress have passed
Judgment upon the Topeka Constitution,
and twice it has been the same as rejected.
The party in the States opposed to it,
trlumphed before the people, and for four
years the whole force of the federal gov
eminent is arrayed against it.
What remains for us to do, under the
circumstances? What does wisdom die
tate in the emergency? Shall we con-
tinue to cling to the Topeka Constitution;
remain inactive when other opportunities
OF relief arc presented, and thus continue
till the slave power "haS bound us hand
and foot?" Are VIC SO welded to an alb
aract'o" that we prefer slavery under it,
tofreedom by discarding it, and accepting
other opportunities of escape from our
present thraldom? Would the victim of
Aigerine piracy forego all efforts at es-
cape from slavery, because the first plan
which his judgment suggested proved
iIRpractieable?
1t is not for the freedom of the ninety
thousand inhabitants of Kansas, now here.
for whom We labor; but we are laying
the foundations of civil and religious lib
srty for the people of great State, which
soon will embrace population of more
than two millions of inhabitants, and who
will take the front rank in the American
oonfederacy, contributing its full proper
ton in prolonging the institutions which
the fathers of the Republic deemed wor-
thy of preservation. Shall We, then,w with
such nomentous responsibilities, stand
upon tecaaicalities, and, like silly petit.
foggers, waste our efforts On these, mere
distractions, which have no practical in
fiuence on the result? Or shall we rise
above them, and with the wisdom of
statesmen lay hold of every means with
In our grasp to wrest this government
from the hands of the destroyer, and aid
IN establishing a government of the pEo-
rLE? Our voice is for the latter. We
are opposed, from this forth, to listless in
activity. The Topeka Constitution was
intended to work our disenthralment 1t
has accomplished nothing. Its tendency
hereafter can only be to divide the friends
of freetionl-it should be laid aside. and
the issue presented in another form, which
shall promise the accomplishment of
SOMETHING DRs1p.HIr
Il Is felt by many that the golden OPP
portanity for action has passed; tina. We
should have voted for delegates to the
Constitutional Convention about to as
senble; and. with majority in that Con.
vention, controlled its movements
Whether that was the true policy, or not,
we have no disposition to discuss now. |
There are other avenues of escape, which
were pointed out last wesk. and these ay- T