The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-05-15
Tna rn.urs of Kansas.

| before us, to see where we are, and to what
point we are drifting. Like moving
panorama the political phases of Kansas
are constantly changing. Sometimes we
are deceived by optical illusions, and occa-
sionally led out of our direct course By
them, like the traveller on the desert
attracted by an imaginative city his ex-
cited vision has painted on the verge of
the horizon. He learns his error and
changes bis direction to avert any unpleas
ant consequences which, pursuing an .un-
known path, would have led him into.
The last four months have entirely
changed the character of our Kansas
struggle. Then the Lecompton Constitu-
ton had just been cast upon the troubled
waters, and with the complexion of Con-
gress it was felt that there was almost a
moral certainty of its being endorsed, and
sent back to us as our fundamental law
II was conceded on all sides that it could
be defeated if the Free State party could
ge. the offices under it; but branch of
the party, a mere faction, as subsequent
events have demonstrated, a class of croak-
ers, declared that it was useless to make
the effort; that frauds, faisehood and
forged election returns would defeat the
will Of the people, and that to en-
gage in the election was to be defeat
ed. 1t was argued in reply that it was
better to be defeated by fraud than by
inaction, so portion of the party plunged
into the canvass and came out victorious.
The effort was to overthrow that giant
swindle in Congress, and to entirely
change the complexion of the contest.
The Lecompton Constitution is no ION
ger in our way. In some of its forms it
viii be disposed OF, and no particular
anxiety is feltin the country as regards its
fate. It is a phantom of the past, useful
only with which to frighten class of pol
iticians who always
:" See men as trees walking"
and are turning aside from "babling
brooks" or their own shadows, apprehen-
sive they are evil geniuses alluring them
to danger.
The Topeka Constitution already with
drawn and "a dead cock in the pit" the
Lecompton Swindle, about to follow its
prototype, with certainty that the Leav-
enworth Constitution will meet the same
destiny, the reader naturally feels anxious
in regard to the future. A word in that
direction may not be out of place.
The present session of Congress will
close in about three weeks. There is no
probability that any measure for the relief
of Kansas, other than the disposition of
the Lecompton affair, will be disposed of
in that time.
The next session will be convened in
December, and will close by limitation on
the Sd Of March following, making short
term of three months. There is no hope
of any thing of practical Importance
passing through that body at that time for
the benefit of Kansas, because it is but
re-assembling of the same Congress now
in session.
This carries us to December of 1859, q
year and seven months hence, the COM
mencement of the long session of new
Congress. We have no doubt but the
House of Representatives by that time will
be SO constituted that they will be willing
to give us relief, and will probably pass
an enabling act for our benefit; but not in
time to be acted upon by the people of
Kansas, Constitution framed under it,
and endorsed by the people and returned
before the first session will close. But il
will reach Washington in time for the
second session, which viii convene in De-
cember of 1860, and sometime during
that session, after the Presidential contest
of 1860 has closed-after Kansas has
played her part in the great political
drama, and aped the martyr for aspiring
ambition, she will then take her place in
the Federal Union along with her elder
sisters.
In the mean time Kansas will remain
in her Territorial condition. Another
Legislature, gathering wisdom from expo
rience, and escaping the errors of the last
session, Win labor in sensible aud prac-
teal way to work out the great problem
of freedom. Instead of looking forward
to a State government to correct the
abuses of corrupt Territorial Legislature,
they will correct those abuses, and the
people viii everywhere applaud them for
it
The people, instead of electing mex
perienced persons, and young men mostly
to look after public affairs, viii adopt the
maxim, Old men for council and young
men for war" and, hence, will return the
former class TO the Territorial Legislature
which is to be elected in October.
| Two Sides.
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