Freeman's champion., 1858-02-18

ernment. The first opportunity which
occurred, we did embrace, and took
possession of it.
1t is known to you that, had there
been a chance of success, under the
fraudulent registry made by our
enemies we would have contested the
election of delegates to the Lecompton.
Convention. Your speaker returned
to Kanzas in disguise, at the immi-
nent peril Of his life, for the express
purpose Of using humble efforts to in
duce the people to 80 into the election.
The Topeka Legislature is now in
session passing a code of laws, with
the distinct understanding that code
is not to go into effect until we are
admitted into the Union, or until war
is declared against us by the reception
of the Lecompton Constitutions
There never has been a fair election,
under the Territorial authority. Our
border was invaded at every election,
by organized bands from Missouri,
strangers to CUR soil-=our ballot boxes
seized-and our settlers driven there
from by force. The Territorial Mill
tia officers were our enimies.
In view of this, at the Convention
where we decided to 60 into the Octo-
ber election, it was determined that
| should be authorized to organize
the people for the protection Of the
ballot box. That organization was
had. Althou@h we could not prevent
the manufacture of fictitious returns,
we did keep back the armed hordes,
and secured the Territorial Legisla-
ture to the people.
The right to defend ones, self is
held to be inalienable. The American
right of suffrage is believed to be
equally sacred. The organization had
no other object than that indicated;
and Immediately after the election,
the position was surrendered into the
hands ofthe people. The only design
in enrolling the names of thoes who
refused to Join the organization, was,
to secure full census Of the voters,
to serve as corrective Of the election
returns, for the detection of frauds.
The Lawrence Charter Association
was a mere squatterS' movement. 1t
was news for our people to learn from
Gov. Walker, that it was the ,om.
mencement Of a great system. In
that matter, he deserved and received
the ridicule of all sensible men, and
no man was more Chasrintd than hir1'
self, at the mistake he had made.
AS l have shown, and as is known
to you, the people Of Kanzas could MOI
participate in the election Of delegates
to the Lecompton Convention, with
the slightest hope Of success. The
registry was framed by our enemies
to defraud us. The election officers
were Williams of the darkest dye. The
people remained at home, necessarily
and with but few exceptions, the viles'
men were elected delegates to frame
Constitution. They met, and by
the aid Of Federal bayonets consuma
ted their villainy; and | assert here
that but for those Federal bayonets
that crime would have been prevented
by an outraged people, in summary
manner. Applause,
In consonance with their pro
gramme, trick Of Submission wa'
invented, to impose upon the Con
gress of the United States. Witt
the Government under that Constitu
ton, in the hands Of our enemies, W.
knew that Kanzas would be as fully
a Slave State without the SLAYER.
, clause as with it. The submission o
, the Slavery question was of itself {
mere mockery. Leaving out OF tn
) question altogether, the principle, a
. asserted by our fathers, that repre-
, sentation and the exercise Of legisla
f tive power are inseparablc, the fac
that the Constitution Was framed b!
the enemies of the people, protecte'
, by the Federal bayohets, and not SAD
m;tted, is deemed sufficient to justif.
: American freemen in resorting to OK
I treme measures to prevent its beinI
: enforced upon them as their organi
t law. Should Congress receive it, un
/. der the circumstances, it would be il
v all respects the inAiction Of Con
4 stitution by a Central Govornmen
upon the people Of State contrar
to their wishes, and in violation Q
!. their plainest rights. The spectacl
Q Of the Central Government forcin
. an unwilling people inte the Unio
9 would be somewhat anomalous
I Fearing the action of a partisa
V Congress, elected with deep prejudice
against us, under protest, and wit
n no other object than to induce tina
v Congress to reject the Lecompto
q Constitution. a portion of our people