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

the case to be one of double instead of
single injustice. 1t proves only 1t was
wrong, ihjuriously affecting both sides
and the whole people, and not party
only.
'The truth is, there was obviously a
sinister and anti Republican purpose in
thus giving an unfair election as to part,
coupled with no election as to the whole.
1t was to force the people to adopt the
Constitution framed by the Convention.
No man was allowed 10 vote for slavery
who did not also vote for the Constitution;
and no man was allowed to vote against
slavery who did not vote for the Ccnsti-
tuition. He might reject slavery or adopt
il, provided he would vote for the Consti-
tuition; and if he voted against the Con-
stitution, his vote for or against slavery
was not allowed to be counted"
He takes strong grounds against the
schedule on another points require
ment of test oath as a condition of the
right to vote He denounces this in the
most emphatic terms as anti-republican.
We quote:
"Now behold an honest, peaceful, law
abiding citizen approaching the polls in
Kansas under this schedule; I imagine
myself an ultra Southern STAKEHOLDER put
to the ordeal of challenge under this
clause of the schedule; I am anxious,
very anxious, to record my vote for my
right to hold the chief part of the little
property I own; am told that have
the right, by the giant of the high Lee
compton Convention, to vote for or against
property in slaves I approach the polls
to exercise the right; / am challenged
the Bible is held out to me to swear first
to support the Constitution of the United
States % I ask why impose on me that
oath l urge that the obligation is bind
ing on me without the oath-that love
and obey the Constitution of the United
States, and that it is made the supreme
law of the land, binding of itSelf-but
being willing TO support that instrument,
and anxious to vote for my property, as
sent to swear to support it. But / am
told must, in the second place, swear al
SO to support the Lecompton "Constitu-
ton, if adopted, under the penalties oi
perjury under the territorial laws"
redden into wrath under the insult OF
an oath rendered to freeman at the polls
Ito support a Constitution, if adopted
before its adoption! / denounce the OBJ
stacle of my freedom of election. 1t is
in vain; l must take it, or leave my pro-
perty unprotected. l suppose-the sup
position is almost intolerable-I take the
oath; am then, and then only, granted
the privilege of voting. vote for slaue.
ry, but against the Constitution. lam then
told that nay Uote cannot be counted. yet am
sOorn to support, If adopted, sokat / hav,
vOted against! Stung by insult, and ther
disfranchised. I go away maddened tc
| violence by injustice, inequality, and in.
suit added to injuryl Is that my act and
deed? !? Is that republican If Caliguls
was tyrant for posting laws too high te
be read by the Roman people, what does
this deserve to be called, which puts the
whole and part together, so that a mi.
nority for of the whole may prevail ovel
majority for or against the part? Is il
not the very hocus-pocus and legerde
main of keeping the promise to the ear O
the people and breaking it to their hopes
1 tell you that no proud, free people soil
stand insult and outrage kke this, and su
despotisns IS enough to drive peaceful ofac
good citizens to viosence for redress fgriep
ances.
=
Why hold the peopleresponsible for not
attending the polls, when, if they had at
tended them, they were not allowed tc
vote but in one way, not all allowed tt
vote their own way, and the minority o
one was given the majority of one over
| thousand ? Do you call this election
Election has which of the taco ''at least Il
choose" But here there was no alterna
tive, but in respect to slavery, and tha
was not allowed unless you voted the on,
way en- the Constitution. Such naenstrou
injustice and inequality neUer offended tn
moral sense Of Jfreessea before IN this country
cannot agree with the President, there
fore, when he says :-"It is impossibl,
that any people could have proceeded
with more regularity in the formation o
Constitution than the people of Kansas
have done" The people of Kansas has,
not been allowed to hold fair, free, ant
full election at all, though the whole Con
stitution was pretended to be submitted
to them. No, not upon the part whicl
the President says was alone submitted t
them"
i Gov. Wise thus argues that the accept
ance and confirmation of the LecomptoI
Constitution by Congress, would be vic
lation of the principles of popular sove
reignty consecrated by the organic Law o
the Territory. He then notices the Pres
ident's argument of expediency:
4 aWe are told that it is i1acrpedient t
raise this question at all /; that expedien
| CT requires Congress to decide the ques
ton. When was it morally determine,
that the policy of this nation should b
governed by expediency rather than b,
Justice or right? But what right ha
Congress to set up its DEGREES of expedi
Z ency over and above the sovereign right
of people to free and fair election?
! expediency to be carried SO far as to al
, low Congress to intervene so as to act it
, will over the viii of the people of Kan
sas, or to substitute its viii for theirs, an,
|, to give minority Constitution to ma
jority This would be Intervention wit
: vengeance, in the teeth of non-inter
: vention, so much exclaimed for by thos
: who advocate this Constitution :"
He asserts that the argument of expe
; diency is not only illegitimate, but that
: is untrue:
. sBy ausheHticating this instrument b
the arbitrary Intervention of Congress:
every sort of question of vested right an
/: of bounded sovereignty would arise. B
: leaving the people perfectly free to cleo
their own form OF government in the
= own way, without fear, force, fraud. or in
teryention, those issues and worse woul
be avoided. Pke agitation IN Eanso
ioosH Be intense, to adopt Esis Lsocmpton u
struAseat, and Tie excitement there sUould
roasei IN aesz and more fearful form dsa
eveT, and Tessaais stiH Ia Congress, the Cad
/ net, and the country universally"
81 He closes his letter with this line {
thought. and uses language of remarks
!, bic emphasis. We do not undsTstan
. how Southern man of any patriotism, c
. any sense Of right, can resist an aPpes