The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19
WHY The English Proposition Should Be Voted
Down.

4 = 1850
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why The English Proposition Should Be Voted
| Down.
The advocates of the English bill, while
they urge strongly the arguments noticed
in our last article on this subject, namely:
That the support of the proposition will
make Kansas a State, and make the Gov
eminent strong and adequate to the full
protection of life and property therein !;
and, further, such action on the part OF
the people will but be an exchange of
slave Territory for Free State. They
do not forget to mention the effect that an
affirmative vote on the proposition will
have upon the sale of the public lands in
this Territory, which is already proclaim
ed. 1t, perhaps, cannot be doubted thatif
the ordinance be accepted by the people,
that an indefinite postponment Of the
sales would take place as certain ceAse-
auence, and those who have not the
means at command, wherewith to enter
their lands, would be greatly relieved,
and undoubtedly saved heavy sacrifice.
But we believe that if the sales had taken
place at the time first appointed that there
would have been comparatively few that
would have suffered thereby. The most
that can be said in regard to the effects of
so early sale, is, that it would have been
generally a great inconvenience. Should
that inconvenience be increased an hum
dred fold, and the frightful ghost of con-
fscation stalk in to take the fruits of hon.
est toll from the squatter, no true man
would so far forget his duty, his country,
and his God, or so far renounee his own
manhood, as to bow down like cringing
slave to the despotism that threatened
these things, to obtain immunity there
form.
When the people are fully aware ofthc
purposes of the administration in pro-
claiming at this time the sale of the pub
lie lands, they will seorn to do aught in
the manner expected of them to prevent
it. The destitute condition of the people
of Kansas, consequence of the prolong-
ed disturbances here, was well known to
the President and his cabinet. They
knew that no argument was so strong to
carry point, as impending poverty and
destitntion. They knew that simple
acceptance of their favorite scheme, would
relieve the people from all apprehension
of these results. Hence, the proclamation
of the sale of the public lands. 1t may
be said that this proclamation was made
before the English bill passed Congress.
Very well, supposing it was; and did rot
President Buchanan in his inaugural ad-
dress anticipate the tenor of the bred
Scott decision? He who knows any
thing of the intrigues of politics, knows
that schemes are conceived aud complet-
ed long before they are exposed to the
light of day.
IF the proclamation was not designed
for political effects, why was the expressed
purposes of the President so suddenly
changed in that behalf? In his annual
message, if we remember correctly, he ex-
pressly declared it to be the policy of his
administration to encourage the settle
ment of the public lands: to discour-
lage speculation therein to show IA
vor to the hardy settler, and to prevent
as far as practicable the schemes of the
land monopolist. In furtherance of thi:
policy he expressed the only logical ex.
pedient to accomplish that result, viz.
To open the land for premption and give
ample time for settlement before public
sale. These were the broad and states.
manlike views of the President, nol
more than eight months ago. To what
can we attribute the change in hi:
opinions and purposes The people o.
Kansas in consideration of the suffering;
they had endured and the stern ordea
they had passed through, were entitled tc
the application of the principle We
have adverted to in its most liberia
sense.
The pretext for thus hurrying the pub.
lie lands into market, is the depleted con-
dition of the Treasury. No one will de.
ny that the present state of the Govern
ment finances imperatiyely demands the
adoption Of some expedient to rerlen.
ish the Treasury; but that the proceeds
of the sales of the public lands in Kansa:
would relieve in any considerable degree
the existing embarrassment, is proposition
too absurd to merit serious consideration
If It was the earnest intention of the ad-
ministrstiou to augment the pecuniary
means of the Government, and nothing
more, by precipitating the sale of the pub
lie lands in Kansas, why has it not made
exertion in any other direction for the
same object? Why has not economy
been the rule, instead of fragrant and mex
cusable extravaganza
If measures had been taken to increase
the duties on imports, which is the only
considerable source OF revenue to the
Government, simultaneously with the
movement to bring the lands under the
hammer, the sincerity of the President in
his wishes to raise revenue in connection
with that movement would be more ap-
parent.
| These facts show that this impend-
ing land sale has a political purpose to
subserye. and is il not plain that that