The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-07-17
For TIE Herald Of Freedom.
Lssisr from mir. Houston.

FRIEND BR0wS--DEAR SIR Riley
county is down on the English Swindle,
and as we near the hour of election, the
people become more and more settled in
their determination to do all they can to
ldefeat Constitution which Lays in the
dust the great doctrineof self-government.
We believe in government made By the
people, and not one made for them. We
are determined to neither submit to, nor
receive. government made for US by
other States, though it be thousand
times wbitewashed and baptised BY Con-
gress. Lecompton Kansas was bad enough.
but Congress Lecompton is an insult to
every man in Kansas, and as such, should
be mest promptly met on the Sd of
August.
What, receive Constitution that we.
know was the child of fraud; a Consti-
tuition made for us Never Such an
act would be the most servile, the most
contemplate one that could be found on
the historic page ofa free people. Better,
far better, for the world, that Congress had
passed an act to make a wall Heaven
high around Kansas, and thus exclude
settlement, than to have prostituted its
high powers in the birth of bill which
tramples under foot the principles of self
government. Viewed as principle, the
action of Congress is most palpable de-
parture from the great doctrine of Jeffer-
sonian Democracy. Viewed as an isolated
action, it is most dangerous precedent to
future Legislators, to guide them in the
complete overthrow of the people. When
viewed as special act, it is most keen
reflection on the intelligence and integrity
of the people of Kansas. Why does Con-
gress propose to give US that which is our
own, in the shape of bribe z? They hope
to influence us to accept Lecompton, by
hiring us with our own money. There is
not member in Congress but knows that
every new State is entitled to respecta-
bic land grant. If they did not regard us
as an ignorant people, why did they make
use of it as a motive power to induce us
to accept Lecompton A single point or
two, in State Ordinance, is fastened on by
Congress, and made cause which draws
after it an odious Constitution, with its
entire provisions.
Yet we are presumed to be so deficient
in perception that we will probably vote,
believing that we only fasten the 0rdi-
nance on the State. Such gull-trap We
abhor, and shall treat it as it deserves
1t is bad enough to struggle with the diff
culties of pioneer settlement, without re-
ceiving insult and injury from the parent
Government. Instead of constantly fos-
tering US, we have received oppression
We have been compelled to submit to
laws made by other States; have had a
Constitution made for US are now prof
fered bribe, made out of our own money,
to accept it, and then lashed with threat
of protracted minority if we do not receive
Lecompton. We spurn the bribe, we des-
pise the threat, and hold that we cannot
accept the Constitution without the most
fragrant destruction of the distinguishing
doctrines of the American people.
The people of this portion of Kansas
wish speedy settlement of this ques-
ton, but they will have it on correct prin-
ciples They are not willing to make a
Stare State in order to be able to make a
free one. Let the consequences be what
they may, Riley county will stand by the
doctrine of self-goyernment, and choose q
continuation of our Territorial government
as means to prosperity, rather than make
State which free labor will reject and
slave labor turn away from. Make Kan
sas nominal slave State under the Le-
compton Constitution, will SHAREHOLDERS
invest and emigrate here? They will not
come, and free capital will be extremely
shy under Constitution which provides
that the institution of slavery shall never
be changed. We are opposed to Lecomp-
ton because it will not give MS such con-
dition of things as viii induce capitalists
to come among US. We oppose it from
principle. We do not desire to see Free
State men swear to support Constitution
J and then lend themselves to overthrow
it. The most of us do not see how a Con
stitution can be changed, except by Rev
olution, or in Constitutional manner
We have had Revolution enough, and we
} do not desire to attempt to change Con-
; stitution in the face of its express provi-
sions. We, who know something of the
vast resources of Western Kansas, are moi
afraid that all the land will be taken up
I if we do not have the land selected nOto
We prefer prosperity TO FIVE per centuul
of the proceeds of the sale of public lands
, Give us prosperity, and we can pay our
State expenses, though we should lose
about as much by the sale of public land
as we shall secure annually from the gen.
eral Government while we remain Ter
. ritory.
We desire the question settled. IfCon-
gress wishes to keep it an open one, we
are not responsible for it We think toe
much of self-government, too much of the
great doctrines of our fathers, to not SET
our seal of condemnation on a measure
fraught with no good to Kansas or the
best interests of the Union. Most Re-
II