The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-28
rhs Tables are Turned.

When the demons of the slave power
thought to rule Kansas with an iron rod,
they chose to clothe their yillainous acts
with the semblance of legality. 1t was
then they took possession of all our offices,
Executive, Legislative and Judicial, and
by violence, backed by federal authority,
they made slaves of us all, and enacted
code of laws, which Draco, in the blood
lest period of his history, would hardly
have dared to execute.
But times have changed The hand
writing appeared on the wall, saying
'They have been weighed in the balance,
and found wanting" and power has de-
parted from them. 1t passed to that of the
people. Those they sought to enslaye, have
become the rulers, and now set in judg-
ment upon those who have employed
fraud, and artifce, and all the vile ma
chinery which hellish heart could in
vent for their destruction.
Look at the history of Kansas for the last
three years! Crime has stalked abroad
at monday, the highway robber, the con-
spirator who labored to rob people of
their liberties, and the authors of every
crime known to human laws are abroad,
and no one calls them to an account.
1t mot for the want of laws, for the
code made against abolitionists, if properly
interpreted, apply, with ten-fold force
against the authors of those laws, because
they are the ones who have violated them.
They have done so with IMMUNITY, be-
cause they were permitted to set in judg-
ment on their own case.
With the power transferred to the peo
pie, it is well for them to search over that
bloody code, and learn from Christ that it
is their duty to apply to their enemies
that saying of his on the mount, "What
measure We nete, it shall be measured to
you again" They should learn from the
story of Mordecai and Hannah, that the
latter, who erected gallows ninety-troo
feet in hight, on which to hang his enemy,
swung himself at that immense distance
from earth, as a just retribution for his
gross wiekedness. They should learn, too,
that it has been a characteristic feature in
the history of all ages for the oppressed,
to become instruments in the hands of
God, to punish the oppressor.
Andsince we have the tools which Border
Ruffian misrule have made with which to
punish our enemies, we should be careful
that none of these tools are destroyed; but
should-liketh the French people, when they
beheaded on the gullotine the vile wretch
who had invented that instrument for his
own base use, when they obtained posses
sion of the government so long welded
by tyrants-turn those instruments
against those who would tyranize over US.
But single law needs changing, and
that to give the Judges of the Probate
Courts concurrent jurisdiction in criminal
eases with the Judges of the District
Courts. Behold the result:
Our statute books provide proper pun
ishment for crimes. These crimes have
been committed, and the criminals, as we
have stated, are at large. Here are Cole
man, and Jones, and Titus, and Clark.
The murderers of Dow, and Barber, and
Brown; of Collins, and Jones, and Stew
art, and Cantrall, and Hoyt, and Frederick
Brown; of Partridge, and Hops, and
others, all are in our midst. From num-
berless graves the cry comes up to us for
vengeance.
Desolate- homes are seen all over the
Territory. The lurid glare from burning
houses yet strikes terror into many manly
breast; and the tear and the sob of the
widow and orphan has not been relieved
by the punishment of those fends incar-
nate who have brought such distress upon
our people.
TIE laws made to punish abolitiorsists,
and made By these nsurderers, are good
enough to answer our purpose in punish
| ing them. Let us examine them
First, The law provides for the empan-
neling of Grand Jury. Not, as in the
States, are they selected at large from the
best men in the judicial district, and then
by lot; but here they are selected by the
ministerial officer, who is irresponsible to
any one how he discharges his duty,
hence they have been chosen from par.
ticular locality, and such men only have
been placed in those responsible positions
as would subserve the interests of the
party snmmoning them. Their work is
seen in the endless number of indictments
found against our people, aud which have
been used as one of the instruments fol
our enslavement.
Second, The Petit Jury. These, toe
like the Grand Jurors are summoned by
the ministerial authority, who, as IN the
first instance, are irresponsible to any high
er authority, and who have invariably
been the most willing tools of the slave
power. They have but echoed the opin.
ions of the Court, and for all practica
purposes their places could have been fill.
ed by automatons.
Third, The definition and penalties fol
crimes are all we can desire. Enforct
the bogus laws against its violators and W,
have ample redress for the many wrong
committed upon us, as far as they can b
redressed. The murderer, the highway.
man, the incendiary, the thief, all vii
soon be expiating their guilt on the gal
lows or in prisons, and such prisonss wha
IL n A. Il