The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-03-06
TheMsw RolIev.


of deliyerance IN case the Lecompton
Constitution passes Congress. This is put
forth by q certain obscure journal claim
ing to be the legitimate organ of the Free
State party
It's proposed to lodk at this question
briefly, in order to determine whether this
is really the policy of the Free State peo-
pie of Kansas, in the exigency above re-
ferred to.
In taking this ground what has hereto
fore been known as hsTopeka branch of
the Free State party. give up their old
idol-the Topeka Constitution and gov
ernment-and the ablood stained banner"
with all its glorious associations is ta-
ken from the masthead, therefore we
cannot go back of the present timeto con-
slider the legitimacy or illegitimaey of that
organization or refer to any measures here
tofore known as the policy of the Free
State party, but must take the PROPOSE
tion as it is, as another step to be taken
towards securing the freedom of Kansas.
AS such, it is open for argument; as such,
it must be be adopted or rejected by the
people of this Territory.
The first question to be considered: Is
the measure proposed practical one? Is
it feasible? IF not, it is supreme folly to
be wasting the energies of the Free State
party in securing its adoption. In our
opinion it is not practical, feasible or ex-
pedient. Why? Simply because it viii
be but new edition of the Topeka Con-
stitusion and government. It will be a
government outside of that which lis re-
cognized by the General Government,
and as such can never succeed unless by
successful revolution not only against the
Constitutional authorities of the State,
but of the United States.
The Topeka government only had to
contend with Territorial Government:
the Constitution proposed to be made the
the single and exclusive point around
which the people of Kansas are to rally,
and the exclusive subject of their loyal
devotion, will be brought into antagonism
and will have to contend with State
goEernment-strong in its own inherent
energy-supported by the arm of the
neighboring States, and the mighty power
of the General Government. IL the To-
peka government failed in Its contest with
the informal crude Territorial organiza-
ton, when such government was baptized
in the blood of martyrs to the cause of
| freedom, and loved with religious zeal
and devotion by the people, how can it
be expected that Government, entirely
destitute of these associations can stand
against the combined power of the States
and the General Government. In this
regard, it will be less promising in its
results than the Topeka government.
These men, or journals, that talk about
successfully resisting the power of the
United States are mad The sober sense
of the people repudiate such an idea
We do not mean to be understood that
under some circumstances the people of a
State or Territory would not be justified
in opposing by force the dietation and con-
troll of the General Government, but in
such case, it clearly should be the only
alternative left, and the chances ofsuccess
duly weighed before hand. To rebel,
certainly to be crushed, is not the better
part of reason or wisdom. If the people
of Kansas had no exit from the thraldom
attempted to be imposed upon them by
the present corrupt and INSCRIPTIONS Ad-
ministration, except absolute rebellion,
then the proposition to make the new
Constitutional Convention the exclusive
measure of relief might receive more
| favorable consideration. Our view of the
matter is this: The opposition in Congress
to the consummation of the Lecompton
scheme are working against odds. The
Administration is powerful. and will use
its whole combined force to put this Con-
stitution through Congress. This being
the case it became the duty of the people
of this Territory who are directly con-
cerned in the issue, to strengthen as much
as possible the arm of the opposition in
their efforts to vindicate our right to self
government So far as the people here
could act in the premises they have acted
to the end of defeating the tyranny that
is impending. In this behalf nearly all
the people of this Territory subjected
themselves to the humiliation of voting
for officers under that much abhorred
Constitution. Their object was to get
control of the government so that in the
event of the adoption of that instrument
by Congress, the power under it could not
be welded against US; and further it was
beliey d that by taking possession of the
State 8 yenment filling the various Off
ees therein with tried Free State men, the
Administration would not attempt to force
Kansas into the Union. The object of
Buchanan and the party he represents
being, evidently, to make Kansas practi-
cally, so far as government could make it
50, and not nOminaliy, a Slave State
The election was participated in as fur
ther assurance against the success of Call
houn's policy, and also an argument
against the admission of Kansas under
the Lecompton Constitution Our people
also assisted in another way to defeat that
scheme in congress. at the extra session