The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-06-18

[Cor:spondsnce of the Evening Post.1
Fie ITprpachins Election--We Tag
and Gcv. Walker-=Aa Antr
.Slarery Sermon.
LAWRENCE, Kansas, june s, 1857.

LAWRENCE, Kansas, june s, 1891.
AS the hour approaches for assembling
rae Free State-C Convention and leglsla-
ture, the skies brighten and the pros
poets Of the party assume cheerful tone
danger Of collision with the government
troops fades away, and confidence in the
result of the deliberations strengthens. .-
Union and harmony in convention and
council viii probably prevail, and if the
representatives and delegates to assem-
Die at Topeka tomorrow shall prove true
To themselves and to their cause, they
will accomplish much towards securing
hat liberty for which they have SO gen.
rrously, so..earnestly struggled during the
past two years.
Meetings have this last week been
held throughout the territory, TO express
the sentiments of the different communi-
ties, and in this way to reveal the minds
of the whole people, Thus far only one
sentiment has been expressed-and with
one voice. 1t is that of sustaining the
Topeka Constitution and advising against
any attempt at voting under the laws of
the bogus legislature: The former poll
cy of the party will be adhered to, and
the Topeka Constitution will probably be
re-adopted
Ii is not to be denied that there has
existed difference Of opinion here as
to the propriety of participating in the
constitutional election to be held this
month, but the great mass of the people
adhere to their original determination,
and the few exceptions are not of much
influence per Sc. Their greatest harm is
in distracting the forces of the party just
at the time when the strength which
comes from union is Of the utmost i'm
portance and can be made most available.
Newspapers at the East, that have pro-
fessed such sympathy, encouragement
and cooperation in the work of securing
freedom to Kansas, ought to be careful
how they give advice, and they ought
not to rebuke the party for supposed
derilection of duty, when separated from
the scenes of effort by such distance as
to prevent proper knowledge of all the
facts.
There are leaders Of the free-state par
ty here who are believed to be Just as
patriotic as some eastern editors; they
are far more capable Of Judging what is
sound policy and of giving advice to the
people of Kansas, for they know all the
circumstances and details of the case.
think the party wise in not attempting to
vote at the approaching election indeed,
IL can scarcely be question whether they
vote, because, ssuppo>e they decide to do
80, they can't, because the registry has
been so imperfectly made up that prob
Gbly seven-eights of the number are not
on the list, and consequently cannot vote
The Topeka district, which has nine hun
dred free-state voters has not been can
vassed, and not vote there is available
Here, with population of two thousand
people, the few that are registered are
obliged to go to Lecompton, twelve miles,
to vote. At Quindaro, with population
of two or three hundred, only three vo-
ters are on the list, and one of these is a
resident of Missouri. And SO throughout
the chapter. But the election will be
held, "great care will be taken to prevent
fraud and violence at .he polls" a con-
stitution suited to the wants of the ad-
ministration will be adopted, and the
democratic" party will be glorifed again
as having secured peace to Kansas when
all other remedies have failed.
But the question of tax paying is now
soon to be tested. The legislature last
winter levied taxes, as is supposed, among
other things, to pay for the destruction
of newspaper establishments, burning
houses and sundry other amusements, so
bravely accomplished last summer. II
the legislature was indeed an unlawful
body, then of course this tax bill is of nc
account, and upon this ground the free
state party propose to resist the law tc
any extent short of an actual collision with
government. When this seems inevita
BILE, these taxes may be paid under pro-
test, and the case will go to the courts.
Governor Walker, in his message is
committed to the enforcement of these
laws, and speaks of this one especially as
demanding his attention; but the deter
mined opposition which is manifest may
deter him from any very warlike demon
strations. If, however, he persists in hi
pledges, we have great fears of renew
al of hostilities.
Personally the new Governor is popu
lar, and would at once be received Will
confidence, but his unfortunate determi
nation to act against the great mass Q