The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-15
PeDlezides.

are constantly eiuding his grasp; faith
and hope seem all that he can surely call
his own. When these fail, disappoint-
ment and despair leave humanity mis-
efable wreck upon the shore Of time.
Such too, are the lives of States and En-
pires. Conyulsions eften give them birth,
their continued existence is a troubled
one; they disappear from the page of
history under the clouds of internal COM
motions or foreign conquest.
No exception to the general rule does
Kansas present in her birth or in the pre-
sent aspect Of her affairs, 1t was an an
cient belief that at the birth of every
child, two genii presided and contended
which should hold power over its destiny
the Genius of Evil or the Genius of
Good. This legend is verified in the birth
OF the American Union, and that of every
new member of the family, owing its be-
ing TO the perpetuation of that confedcra-
cy OF States. Freedom and slavery con-
tended for the mastery in the very forma-
ton of the Constitution, and now have
renewed their oft repeated struggles under
the very act which gave to Kansas poli-
tieal existence. In this struggle and the
iawless rsurpation growing out of it, lies
all our present embarrassments. Slavery
lies Fanquished at the feet of Free Men,
yet the actual government is in the hands
OF their enemies; and the only laws whicl,
the Executive is sworn to faithfully exc
cute are emanations from usurpers-con-
stituting code not less infamous than
that of Draco.
1t IS not now the question whether
slavery shall exist in or disappear from
Kansas but shall the great principles of
self government and State sovereignty be
maintained or subyerted?p This question
IS well put IL the inaugural, and it is but
natural that we should look for some aid
IN the solution of it, to the author of that
address. who eonfesses to profound in
terest IN the struggle now impending in
hansas' upon that question.
Here we have to deal with no moon-
struck theories as to State Rights, no alb
stractions concerning the right or wrong
Oh slavery, no far fetched doctrines of siso-
thermal lines or climatic laws.u but plain
practical questions which demand solu-
tion. How are the people to get rid of
usurpasion? how vindicate their right of
self government? They have had many
fair promises. but aiI'likely to prove false
to the hope. The establishment of
Constitution, and the election of Lcpis-
iature, In accordance with the will of the
people, ought to be mere matters of course
here, as in some States, from which the
population of this Territory have come.
Why not? If there be any obstacle to
the free expression of the peoples will,
why should Il exist? Why may it not be
renewed? The basis of action laid down
by the Governor, that the majority shall
rule, is certainly unquestionable.
But how do we standf A usurpation
Is over US, claiming the sole authority to
pass laws, and those very laws, under and By
virtue of which, Constitutional Copyen.
ton is to be held, and a new Legislature
to DC chosen. That convention has been
chosen under an apportionment in utter
contempt of the rights of the people and
OF the law providing for the election of
It's members, who will presume to sit up-
on the siendersupport of some 1000 votes
out OF more than a,ooo registered.
on the first Monday in October newt
an election Is to be held for the members
Of the Legislative Assembly, for which
election law vas especially framed dis. |
tricts ingeHiously carved out an amor
aonment ordered to be made by the Gov
ernor and Secretary (and upon their fail
ure by june 1st. by the President of the
Council and Speaker of the House.1 \ and
the Qualifications of voters defined for
this and all general elections hereafter 70
be held. The districts and apportionment
are well adjusted so as to invite colombo.
t'on from abroad, and quite effeetually to
ueieas a Tree vote, while extra judicial de-
casions, given in advance, are to limit the T,
qualifications of voters more strictly than
the letter of the law made with spccial .
reference to this very election. II
Here IS the exercise of self government {
with vengeance. How is all our honey ,
'arned to gall? sThe fair expression Of .
he viii OF the people, must not be inter s
aipted By fraud or violence The neo.
Die have looked forward with a fond hone :,
o the October election, as afforiine an
occasion where they could, for The f;rxt 8
ine, use the right to some extent aof !
orlnins their institutions in their own &
ray.v IS guaranteed to them. And in !.
bis hope they seemed te have the svm- Il
asiy Of the Governor, as means Of rid. Il
ing themselves Of the infamous leeisla- i,
lrc to which they have 50 long been !.
abject. !; :
In Octoaes nsxt not under the act of
ae late Territorial Legislature, but under D
he laws OF congress, yos. the whole peo- :,
le Of hsnsas, have 4 RIGHT "a elect . =
'eieSate 20 oCongress, and to elect = Tsrri- O
rial Legislature. and through tbst T.eg- ,.
lature ron can speak your visus:s t
Such was the language used By Il. Ez- ri
hsney. e Topeka, and substantially and is,
apAstieally repeated elsewhere: setsiuz q
rfE plausible issuc out Of aliour a;.i. III
ltiss, but one Of which. unzartrnately Cd
peeple eeunet avail themselves. Il
ses. 2sd Of the Organic Act. sets forth pI.
; qualifications of voters for she fSrcs Iet