The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-20

not exceeded its constitutional authority in any
Of it, acts, and that the elections which il has
ordered and arranged are all according to law
We come to the naked test of slavery or no
slavery, as provided for in the constitutional
schedule The plan adopted by this schedule
for test of the popular vote seems to us to be
fair. The popular vote is to be taken upon the
direct issue Of slavery" or mo slavery" and
as it may be thus decided, Kansas is to be q
slave State or free State To be sure, in
either event u provision will remain in the con-
stitution recognizing the right ofproperty in
the slaves already existing in Kansas
two hundred in number-but there can be no
reasonable objection to this. In tie abolition
Of slavery in the old Northern States
tho rights of the slaveowners we're to this
extent, or more or less, respected In this
way slavery was abolished in New York, and
from this process of removing the Institution.
there are, we believe, some slaves remaining in
New Jersey to this day. We cannot concur,
Therefore, in the hue and cry of our a,ti-slavery
journals against this clause of the Iecompton
schedule. Upon its face this scheaIle fairly
provides for a popular decision whichvill make
Kansas, in law and in fact, slave ;tate or
free State; and there can be no reasonable COM
plant made against the provision recognizing
the property right in the few slaves Introduced
into Kansas under the sanctions of hs organic
Territorial law.
But, admitting all this freely and ccerfully,
does it settle the question, or carry Il beyond
"the dead point of danger?" No. 1t only
brings us face to face with this IDEAL point"
where all the danger lies. Look at it, and mark
what We say. 1t has been clearly ascrtained
that the legitimate voters of the free Site party
of Kansas, as compared with the reguls voters
of the pro-slavery party, are as three
to one. In other words. the act is
established-it is u ''fixed fact'-th.t two
thirds of the legal voters of Kansas re OPP
posed to the recognition of African slavry in
her State constitution, and are in faor of
making Kansas, at once and forever. free
State. Upon this important fact, aburiantly
established by the late October election and
without the fall vote of the free State prty-
upon this great fact, We say, depends tn dan
ger and the safety.
Should there be an honest election n all
sides upon this constitutional test questin of
slavery" or ''no slavery" the result VII in
evitably be the submission to Congress of soon
stituiion making Kansas free State But
h re, we repeat, lies 1.-The dead point OF dager."
This Lecompton Convention has given its
party (pro-slavery) the appointment of th,pre-
cincts, the judges and the right Of deciding
upon the returns of this constitutional testelec-
ton The election, under this managementmay
be honestly conducted and its results ma be
honestly rendered; but should the resul be.
with anything like return of the full poular
vote, decision in favor of slavery, it will be
prima .facc evidence of fraud and treacery.
If, upon such q decision, Kansas soud
he admitted into the Union as lave
State, the dormant Fremont majcites
of the North will come to life again, ad the
Northern anti-slavery agitation will be tefold
more bitter and powerful than ever before
That is the dead point of danger;' and
there is yet another. The free State part of
Kansas the leaders especially -look upon lis
Lecompton Convention with "rage" and Is
gust. They regard its authority as bogus, ad
its proceedings as altogether outrageous.nd
insulting. They arc to hold q State Convenon
to determine what course they will pune.
Having proved that they possess an overwhlm-
ing majority of the popular vote, they Jay
resolve to let this Lecompton constitution,
slavery and all, go through by default, or tcy
may appoint day of their own for u separte
vote upon their Topeka constitution. Is
not manifest nj a glance that by adopting son
such policy they may keep this Kansas fir,
brand burning till 1860, If the politicians o
the pro-slavery party will 80 have IL? II IL not
~ clear ~ the MONDAY sun that the blacl;
republican leaders could ask no better capital
for the succession than the re-opening at white
heat Of this Kansas agitation?
Thus, between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery
Presidential politicians in and out of Kansas
we approach "the dead point Of danger" The
free State party Of Kansas may permit this Lee
compton constitution with slavery to go through
by default. resting their cause upon formal
protest against 1t or 1t may be Struggled
through by election trickery and false election
returns. In either case. the admission Of Kansa:
n a slave State, upon the faith of pro-slavery
constitution. will be the political death warrant
Of every responsible Northern man.
Thus IL appears That instead of the Kansas
trouble being settled il has now assumed more
dangerous form than ever heretofore. Nor car
We now truthfully undertake TO promise any
thing In behalf Of peace, or law or order In
Kansas, until informed Of the purposes of tn,
free State party and OF the results of the lie
compton appointed elections. Our confidence
Of a peaceful issue rests upon our honest and
sagacious President: and. having no axes "a
grind in Congress, and no favors to ask Of any
party. we are in a position to speak the truth
and to deal with the present aspects Of this
Kansas question AZ they really stand.
Oru LAIR Nyw Yong Cr,rr Fl crrox -