The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-13
Hron. lie New Eort spaetosor

v
letter of our Washington correspondent.
and especially to the tenor of his remarks
on the present position of the Kansas
question. Some additional light is thrcWn
upen the subject By several telegraphic
dispatches, the substance Of which is that
Mr. Calhoun, the presiding officer Of the
Lecompton convention, has announced bis
purpose Of rejecting the election returns
SEMI so Acting Governor Denver and -
him duly attested. The object and effect
of this movement are to throw the cleo
tions into the hands of the pro-slavery
party, and to give both branches of the
Legislature to that party, with the further
design of securing two pro-slavery Dem
ocrats for United States Senators These
proceedings appear to be known at Wash
ington-or at least the report that such
maneuvre is in progress has been cir
eulated there, and is said to be confirmed
by lex Secretary Stanton, who reached
Kansas yesterday morning direct from
the Territory. If so barefaced subyen-
ton of the popular will has been at
tempted and is sustained By the Admin
istration, OF by any considerable portion
of the Democratic party, we venture to
predict that storm of indignation will
be evoked in the free States and through
out the Union, which it viii be next to
impossible to allay.
We have been so long accustomed to
exaggerated reports of the tricks, and
movements generally, of parties in Kan
sas, that we are indisposed to receive any
report thence without considerable al
lowance or hesitation: and although this
allegation seems to be confirmed from va
rious sources, we prefer to leave it out OF
the present consideration of the Kansas
imbroglio. We take only the admitted
facts with respect to the returns of the
elections Of December FL and January 4,
with the statement made by our Wash
ington correspondent, who is not apt to
state anything respecting which he is not
satisfied that his information is correct.
The election returns certified by acting
Governor Denver, the Presidents last
appointee, show decided anti slavery or
Free State sentiment in the Territory
sentiment powerful enough to secure, in
spite of some undeniable frauds by the
opposite party, and the abstention from
voting by many Free State men, decided
majority in the Territorial Legislature
and their own delegate to Congress. While
upon che question of accepting or reject
ing the Lecompton Constitution the ma
jority, under obvious disadvantages to the
Free State party, for rejecting that Consti.
tuition, was between three and four thou
sand.
Now in this state of public sentiment,
and after removing unpliant Governors
and resorting to every art to repress Free
State opinion and influence, and secure
the supremacy of pro-slayeryism, we are
told that the President is determined to
employ all the power and influence of his
position to force the pro-slavery constitu-
ton upon the people, in forgetfulness OF
all his solemn and repeated promises. So
bent upon this is President Buchanan,
that all other modes of forcibly bringing
about the consummation of his purpose
having failed, and he having become IAN
CRY" under his disappointment, he is now,
it is affirmed, preparing message de-
signed to accomplish the same end by the
stringent application of party discipline.
We furewarn the Executive that If such a
policy is pursued, the conservative presses
of the Free States, which have hitherto
forborne taking sides in this painful con-
troversy, will be constrained to throw their
whole influence earnestly on the side OF
the people of the Territory, whom the
President has failed to mould to his indi-
yidual or party viii, by repeatedly chang
ing the officers of his own selection and
appointment, and whom he now seeks to
coerce by applying the outside pressure
of party organization.
The love of freedom, the devoted at
tachment to popular rights, and the inhe-
rent consciousness of power and sover-
eighty which belongto the American peo-
pie, are indeed weakened and prostrated
if such an act of Executive and party die
tation is quietly submitted to in this re,
public. No charges of "Black Republi-
canism," and no kindred epithets, will de-
ter honest Republicans and conservative
Democrats in uniting together in open,
and if need be, in organized opposition to
such an assumption of Executive power,
to such an abuse of party numerical su-
periority. An infatuation so gross as that
which has eliminated, or is reported to
be about to culminate, in an imperious re-
QUESTION upon all party adherents, on
pain of exclusion from Executive favor
to unite to sustain the President in for
feitiDg his pledges, and enforcing upon
the people of Kansas constitution and
an institution which so large a majority,
was not to be anticipated in . President
holding Ar. Buchanan's demoeratie senti.
ments.
We say infatnatioD, because we honest.
IL believe that the worst enemies of the
party, represented by the present fedora
Administration could not have devised
any scheme which would give such in.
creased numerical strength and mora
power and influence to the Republicans
for the proposed policy of the Admins
tration will inevitably tend TO drive tbs
conservatives into alliance with that or
ganization, as the only efectual opposi
ton party against such encroaehmentl
upon popuisr rights and popular sove
reignty. The conservatives of the Ere.
States have ever been the friends and de
Tenders of the South. They have repeat
edly sacrificed popular favor in order 4
maintain the legitimate rights OF tn
South, and this they have done from prin
ciple only, becanss they Acknowledges
the obligations of united citizenship, una
in the face of a general political disagree
ment.
We affirm, also, that they have gcn
further in the course than justice requires
at their hands, and have LEANED 0saeE i
carving ont shis friendly feeling towar
their Southern brethren. and been to tkei
ifaaass more than little blind But the
arAnot disposed to carry this blindness ;
far as not 70 see that acrisis has now bee
reached, when not only does no principl
require them 70 support the pre.ensions {
THAT section of the Southern eommunit
i whose mcakh- piece the Presistsnt becom.
! but when every considastieil Of hono
/ and justice. and fres government. rsgnir'
| that we Should enter our protest agsili
| the abuse Of Executive power for iIiegit
<1fE s1>.-of nr-o1rv .so-r.rnT.T szor-1 oT,f II