The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-07
What About Submission {?

What About Submission?
The bogus Constitution will rest from
their work before long and we shall have
a Constitution framed and ready for the
vote of the people, preliminary to admis-
sion into the Union. Whether the Con.
stitution will be submitted for the confir-
nation OF rejection of the people, remains
to be seen. The Convention left to itself
would never do if, because it would undo,
inevitably, all the work it has done. To
let the people express their mind upon
this instrument would be equivalent to its
entire destruction. 1t would be handing
the institution of slavery over to the ten
der mercies of people who abhor it and
who would strangle the monster in its
weakness. Of their own free will, is it
probable that those men, now sitting at
Lecompton. will choose to have the work
they shall have devised, RACED to its foun-
dations? We believe not. 1t is opposed
to reason. Calhoun and Maclean and men
of that kidney, whose political life de-
ponds upon the final triumph of the usur-
patton, will never, unless compelled by
the power of an outraged poblic's opin-
ion, banter away the advantage their party
has, by means of fraud and the connivanees
of Government, gained in this Territory.
We believe, nevertheless, that there will
be no Constitution accepted by Congress
for Ibis country soithout fair submission,
to vote of the bona fide residents of the
Territory.
We know that Gov. WALKER will use
his best efforts to prevent the endorse
ment of the Lecompton Constitution I'M
less it is so submitted. The recent vote
in the Territory shows how the matter
stands between freedom and slavery. 1t
can no longer be claimed that the people
of this Territory are represented in this
Constitutional Convention. 1t is now APP
parent to all that are not so blinded as to
refuse to see, or so dull and stupid as Lot
to understand, that this Convention is a
transparent swindle, and gross usurpation,
and most wicked assumption of authori-
ty. What then? Why it is a notice to
the whole world that the people of Kan
sas are for freedom, and against slavery.
That they are for right and justice, and
opposed to tyranny and oppression. This
notice is published with emphasis to the
Democratic party; we have Delegate
who will repeat it in their very ears; we
have Territorial Legislature that will re-
vertebrate it from one end of the country
to the other in undoing the mischief that
has been done, in establishing laws, and
bringing order out of confusion. The
Democratic party, now in the days of its
prosperity. will take heed to these things.
What if the general Government has, in
times back, given aid and comfort to the
usurperS here; what if the Free State men
have been outraged and insulted by the
Democracy of the country and the pro-
slavery rufians, upheld and sustained?
The punishment dealt out to it for these
high crimes and misdemeanorS was the
election of their President by an almost
exclusive Southern vote, and by minori-
ty of the peoples suffrage. Defeat was
close upon them; Pierce was chosen by
an almost unanimous vote of the States.
Mark how an outraged people called the
party to account; we admit that for these
| things that discontinue should have quite
overtaken them. 1t was a penalty due
that high handed outrage committed upon
free people.
Is Democratic Congress, in the face of
history and the sentiments of the people,
prepared to say to the Ruffians that are
doing the dirty business of making Con-
stitution for the slave owners of Missouri
and other slave States, and claiming it to
be the Constitution of the freemen of
Kansas, "Come on with your work, it shall
pass without inspection. We know you
do not represent one twentieth part
of the people of Kansas, but we will
admit your State, organized under the
auspices of Know Nothingism anG De-
mocracy. We know the rights of the
people are disregarded, that their opinions
are held in contempt, but yonr proceed
ings are baptized with the Democracy"
Upon the considerations of policy (and
we think these are the main motives of
action in the Democratic party,) can any
reasonable man conceive that the prevail
ing party in Congress could aid in doing
thing so damnable as forcing upon the
people of this Territory, Constitution
which they had no voice in making, and
which they would, If opportunity offered,
stamp into the very earth. Would not
such an act be suicidal to the party? would
it not be an act OF desperation, showing
right down madness? We think it would,
and believe that that party are moi, what
ever may be their wishes in the premises,
prepared 10 take that responsibility.
Now what would the party lose by re-
jectinga Constitution without submission?
They certainly would make no compro-
mise of political doctrines; unquestiona-
bly, the Know Nothings, that compose this
Convention at Leoompton. would be high
" ineensed, and perhaps Mr. Keitt, of
South Carolina, might stamp and below
and cut the wind; but nothing, IN orr
judgment, would strengthen the party 50
much, either here or in the nation at large,
as the absolute rejection of any Constitu-
ton that may be made for the State of !