The Kanzas news., 1857-06-20

of That policy IS to abolish the bogus usurpa-I |
ton, because The laffer IS inimical to their |
rights. to Republiszaisn, and o-hunanity.
The people ofthe Territory had 3 right to
exercise their sovereign power inezecting q
State government. They had "a right to do
this even had there been legitimate Terrific
rial government; much more had they this
right when a-Iawless invasion, unrebuked by
the General government. prevented a Ferito-
riai Legislature from being formed. This
right was exercised in the Topeka Gonstitu-
ton andsthe State government growing out
of it. The steps In that process unquestion-
ably exhibited as much regularity and fair
ness as ever characterised any act of popular
power In any State or Territory. These
were the only elections in Kansas where all
could freely come, and where their was nei
ther conspiracy nor wish to defeat the popu-
lar will They exhibited the only expression
of the peoples power ever obtained in Kan
zas. The result is, therefore, Legitimate as
truly as Republicanism is legitimate. If
g nothing can have the sanetity- of law but
the viii of the people fairly expressed - then
has the Topeka Constitution and the organi-
cation under it, the only law, saving the OF
ganic act and the Constitution of the United
States, that exists in Kanzas. That the Fed
sefaI geserament does not recognise this
power as legitimate, does not detract from it.
In thus determining, the national govern
ment exceeds its constitutional function.-
Its expression as to the validity of any law
| to be made in Kanzas is worth nothing as a
principle, and, n fact, is only worth the
blushed and we are responsible.
| The Topeka Constitution and the State
Government are incontestibly legitimate
They are the direct and sure means of accom-
plishing what majority of the men in Kan
zas want-the abolition of the bogus power,
and the policy of freedom in Kanzas. Here
is the only platform on which Free State men
can stand. The facts of usurpation which
originated the Topeka Constitution were, at
! the time, met by this movement which sought
to restore the power to the people In aban-
doning it, therefore, We abandon the ground
on which we rest all our objections to that
usurpation. The party that clings to the
! Topeka Constitution has been styled s'Abo-
! litionists.'' II we accept the very absurd
IL
Abolitionisrn, then would the party which
would be willing to abandon the State gov
ernment and to fight for freedom alone, in
some yet unexplained way, be most strictly
charged with .'Abolitionism" They would
yield the principles of Republicanism, oul
constitutional rights, and our opposition tc
usurpation, but viii stick to the policy oI
excluding African slavery. We wish dis
tinctly to be understood that the latter policy
is good as far asst goes, but we hold that i
is not superior.
The maintainauce of the Free State Gov.
ernment is the only ground work of the Free
State policy. Bereft of this. we would bt
like rudderless and pilotless bark on a troub
led sea. Here alone are we powerful, for here
alone are we an object of fear to our enemies
Shall we abandon this position on the bar,
promise that Rufianism wiz repent of it:
purpose. or the Federal government aban
don the cruel policy to which it has devoted
, itself? They may, bat they viii only do se
when we drive them to the wall by our power
They seek to destroy that power by dividing
1 it-by wasting its strength on collateral is
sues of minor importance now. They can
not destroy US, but they wish US to destroy
ourselves.
, Let utter and eternal hatred to the 6ogu,
usurpatiOn be tie ,eatch,rord Of tie Free Stat
r party When we destroy the power of oul
usurping despots it win be easy for US tC
form Free State government. Let our Stat.
organization be completed. Let all the coun
: ties where it can be done, adopt the county
and township organization at once. Tha
!, we will come in collision with Federal au
i thority thus is an idle and illogical threat
He do moi seek It, and that gorernmea dar
/ not. Wehold the question on our own term.
to-day. We have hitherto been trampled OF
: by the national government, but to-day W,
holdthat government in our hands. Let u
not yield to menace. The execution of tha
, menace would overwhelm those who max,
t it IN irremediabIe ruin, while our case eoule
| not be worse than it is. They know this
and wiz not venture. Be firm. and we vii
i triumph.
Census Marshals.
! Gov. Ron1Nsox appointed Messrs. WV
PHILL1Ps, of Lawrence. HENRy HARFEY, o
! Council CITY, Rev DANIEL FosrER, of Maple