The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-23

Constitution of the United States, and
send their petition to Congress for
such "redress of grievances" in the
form of State Constitution, accom-
panied by evidence of the number of
voters, residents of the Territory, who
desire such Constitution to be granted
them.
This we say, is their right; and
this they will do. Will they be per-
mitted to do it quietly in the exercise
of their constitutional right ? This
is the sole question and upon this
depends the future peace of Kansas
and of the whole country. Mr.. b.
cHASAN said in his Inaugural, that e' it
is the imperative duty of the Govern
ment to secure to euery inhabitant Of
Kansas free expression ofopinion by
his vote" This an usurping Legisla-
ture has denied and the Executive of
the country is now called upon to re-
deem his voluntary pledge so solemn
ly put forth at his Inauguration. That
he UiH redeem it, we cannot and will
not permit ourselves to doubt and if
so, all will be well. But, if, as it is
feared, Southern counsels prevail at
Washington, and JAMES BUCHANAN
permits himself to be forsworn, then
is civil war inevitable. 1t is idle to
mince the matter. The People of
Kansas will not permit themselves to
be forced into submission to laws, in
the passage of which they had no
voice and we care not how strong
the arm of the Government may be, it
viii be successfully resisted. Freemen
cannot be subdued in their resistance
to tyranny; and even if the people of
Kansas could be conquered, the spirit
of freedom which burns in the hearts
of nineteen-twentieths of the people of
the Free States, will Indignantly rush
to their defence and in such an event
civil war would rage throughout the
country.
We know not what are the pur-
poses of the Administration but we
have faith in the Presidents truth,
and believe he will redeem his pledge
SO recently and so solemnly made.
We believe he will do nothing and
permit nothing to be done, by which
the friends of freedom in Kansas will
be prevented assembling when and
where they please, to petition Con-
gress for the redress of grievances, "
and a Constitution excluding forever,
Slavery from her soil and if SO, all
will be well, and Congress will adopt
either of the Constitutions sent to them,
and submit its acceptance to the Peo-
pie. Thus all will be we'll and the
cloud which now hangs over the future
of Kansas and the country, most hap
PLY be dispersed. But let the Ad-
ministration dare to adopt another
course-let the President attempt to
forget his pledge and venture upon an
effort to prevent the freemen of Kan
sas being heard in whatever way they
may elect,-and we tell him in all
frankness, that he and his agents,
and his United States troops, will all
be swept away as chaff before the
wind by the firm and unalterable de.
termination of the people of the NORTH
to maintain the constitu ional rights
of their brethren in Kansas. The Ad.
ministration must not be deceived by
the. quiet and peaceful bearing of the
people Kansas and the North general
ly. They are quiet and peseeful. be.
cause they know their constitutional
rights, and their ability when needs
be, to vindicate them. They antici-
pate no assault upon them by the Gov
eminent, whatever may have been the
conduct of the Border Ruffians in time
past, and the then Government al
Washington; but they are unaltera-
bly, determined, in the event of this
Government attempting "to walk il
the footsteps of its predecessor" t.
stand by their constitutional rights
come what may. Therefore, they OBJ
serve with anxiety the threats of th'
pro-Slavery press, to enforce with the
Army of the United States, the usurp
ing Laws of the so-called Kansas Leg
islature. We do not believe th,
threat is based upon any determination
of the Administration at Washington
but if it be, we tell them now and a:
we have told them before,-the people
Of the North will never permit any
such proceeding against their brethren
of Kansas. To attempt it is to plunge
the country in civil war.