Freeman's champion., 1857-08-06
From the N, Y. Herald.]
Kanzas Affairs---New Facts and
Phases in the Controversy
What Next2 fc's o3i r"f" .


Phases in the Controversy
What Next2 cs eai 'l'r
~ qaa Jja - di 3 yiGon
The last advices from Kanzas are
very curious, very important, very
suggestive and very ominous.
The Free State Legislature was in
session at Topeka--Governor Walk
or and suite were there's but they had,
it appears, discountenced all meas
ures Of violence against this social
led Legislative body. 1t further ap-
pears that Governor Robinson had
sent in his message, in which he con-
tends that the Topeka constitution is
the only clear expression of the pop
ular W II of Kanzas; thinks it in
competent for the neighboring States
longer to exercise sovereignty in
Kanzas, and declares it impossible
for Free State men to vote at the
bogus election. lie concludes by
saying he will maintain the position
of resistance to usurped authority at
all hazards and at all times. e"
Now, the first thing which strikes
us, in reference to these remarkable
transactions, is the nice distinction
between the Kanzas policy Of poor
Pierce and the policy Of Mr.. Buchap'
an. Last summer, when this Free
State Legislature was convened and
the members were about proceeding
to business, they were dispersed by
the United States dragons in viola
tion of that sacred constitutional
right Of the people "peaceably to as
semble together for the redress of
public grievances" MIR. Buchanan,
on the other hand, acknowledges the
force OF this popular right, and does
not interfere to suppress it, but to-
uphold it. The Free State party, if
it choose, may get up an imperial
Parliament, and they may proclaim
Governor Robinson the Emperor of
Kanzas; for as long as such proceed
ings amount to nothing more than
letting off the gas, there is no overt
act OF treason or rebellion or disor-
der. But the moment they shall at
tempt, by any act, to Superscde the
local laws or authorities recognized
by the federal governments, that mo-
ment the offending parties become
justly liable to to a criminal arrest
and prosecution. 2.
The peace of Kanzas, therefore,
during the summer, may depend up
on the wisdom or the FOLLY Of Gov,
Robinson and his Free State party.
They may hold as many conventions,
and get as many Legislatures and
messages and remonstrances as they
please against the de facto local laws
and authorities in the Territory
The local laws and authorities, dc
facto, it is the duty of the President
TO sustain, He must accept them as
he finds them. He cannot 60 behind
the record to SEQ whether the local
Legislature passing tho laws in force
was a genuine or bogus concern, -
The judicial power over this question
belongs to another department of the
government.
We should be sorry to have any
reason for the impression that the
Free State party Of Kanzas, com
mandhg large majority Of the peo'
pie III the Territory, entertain any
design of inStigating another bordor
wG between themselves and the pro
slavery dc facto local authorities. .
We are rather inclined TO the
opinion that this Topeka Legislature
is simply intended by the Free State
, leaders as the mcdium for the con
solidation Of their party organization
in regard to future appeals to the
popular vote. In this view thei'
, may be nothing more Of mischief il
these Topeka proceedings than in thu
factious pow-wows OF Tammany
{ Hall. iDHaolBso0 .o ugB0)
0 But the transfer Of this local con
) troversy from Kanzas to Congress-
5 it is beginning to be stikingly self
0 evident, will maugurato another ant
= most fearful Congressional agtstior
0 of the whole question of slavery
: The Kanzas State constitution of thu
S local party in powerwill be present
cd to the House and Senate vis-a-vi'
with the Topeka Free State chartol
and the remonstrances Of the Free
/. State party in everyishape and form
4 Will the South beunited in Congress
{ and con the Northern democrats o
r the House, elected upon Free Stat
a ideps, be relied upon by heSoufh
We see that purely sectional ultri
Q Southern party is in process Of form
4 alton throughCutIthe South--we arr
/ aware, too, that therei is N Unioi
| - Al =. 4 N A