The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-23
From the N. 2. Courier and Enquirer.
An Eastern View of the Question.

From the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.
An Eastern View of the Question.
Although but comparatively little
is said at present by the Press in re-
gard to the state of affairs in Kansas,
there can be no doubt but the subject
is one which occupies the thoughts of
every rejecting man in the country
The question at issue is fully under
stood by all who are capable of under
standing any public question and
mems minds are definitely made up,
as to the line of conduct which duty
may require of them in every contin-
gency that may arise.
A Committee of the House of Re-
presentatives, and a majority of that
body, representing the people of the
United States, have solemnly de-
clared to the world, that the So-called
Legislature of Kansas, was a fraudu-
lent body elected by Border Ruffians
from the State of Missouri, who with
Bowie-knives and Rifles, drove the
citizens of Kansas away from the Polls
and refused to permit them to exercise
the rights guaranteed to them by their
organic Law ; and consequently, that
the so-called laws passed by that body,
are of no binding effect, and should
not be respected or Obeyed. To this
opinion the people of the United States
have responded with scarcely dis
senting voice and even the Senate Of
the United States has expressed Its
willingness to denounce the laws re-
ferred to, as illegal and disgrace to
the statute book. provided the oppo-
nents of Slavery-extension would yield
to the demands of the Slave power
and permit Kansas to become Slave
State. With the knowledge, and ex.
perience, and suferings of the people
of Kansas, their self respect and their
duty to their fellow citizens throughout
the United States, and their devotion
to the great principle of preserving
to the cause of freedom every inch oi
territory lying north of Sc deg. 80 min
of north latitude, forbid the idea ot
purchasing present exemption from
strife and possibly murder and civil
war, by tamely yielding obedience tc
laws which have SO emphatically beer
condemned by the civilized world
Therefore, they have determined. and
we think wisely, to take no part what
ever in the approaching election Of
members of Convention to torn 6
State Constitution. Their reasons fol
this determination are manifold but
prominent among them are the follow.
ing
First, the Legislature which author
lied this election; was elected under 6
law passed by a body of men proved
to have been elected by the people O.
Missouri /; and who, therefore, had ne
more right to pass laws for the gov
ernment of the people of Kansas, thar
had the Parliament of Great Britain
Secondly, the laws SO passed by mel
who had usurped the authority of tht
people of Kansas, prescribed test oaths
and penalties which excluded tht
honest citizens of Kansas from par
ticipating in the election of the late
Legislature, which was but the crea
ture and natural offspring of its uSur
ping predecessor.
Thirdly, the so-called law, passed
by this body of usurpers, who neve
had any legal existence in Kansas
prohibits all citizens of the Territor.
from voting for members of the Con
vention, who were not resident therein
prior to the 18th of March last,-thu
excluding from all participation in de
Itermining the future institutions o
Kansas, the friends of Free Soil wh'
will have passed into the Territory
between the 18th of March and th'
18th day of June, and who will pIo
badly constitute a majority of th'
whole population of the Territory, bu
are not permitted to have voice il
determining the future character o
its institutions
Fourthly, the spurious body which
passed this so called law for the cleo
ton of a Convention, absolutely refused
to permit the action of such Conven
ton to be submitted to the people o
the Territory for their approval, wei
knowing that if SO submitted, the.
would, by vote of four to one, fore
ever exclude the Institution of SLAYER,
from the virgin soil of their Territory
| Filthy, the whole proceeding 70
getting up a Convention to form
State Constitution, has been avowcdl,
for the purpose of forcing SLAYER!
upon Kansas, in defiance Of the wishes
| of her people, in disregard Of tn,
organic law of the Territory, and con
trary to the Constitution of the United
States.
/ Sirthiy, the people of Kansas refuse
to take any part in the approaching
election, because a majority of then
will be excluded from exercising theil
constitutional rights in determining
the future institutions of their country
and because, to recognize this last &C
of usurping Legislature, would be il
fact, to recognize the laws under which
it was elected and the body which
passed those laws, although it is vel
known, proved and admitted, that they
were the mere creatures of the Border
Rufians of Missouri, instead of being
the representatives of the people o
Kansas.
These are the reasons which have
induced the people of Kansas solemn
| ly to resolve in Convention, that they
cannot and will not take part in ths
/ coming election for Delegates to &
/ Convention to frame q Constitution
because the body appointing it, had
no legal existence and therefore, to
recognize it would be q virtual sdmis.
sion that their past resistance to ty.
r.nny and oppression, was not justi-
fiable,-the late Legislature being the
creature of the former one, which
Congress, and the people of the whole
United States, have alike condemned
~ ~an,d;afad THE dofaryn IN efior,