The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-07-10
From the Portland (Ne.) 44irerfiser
Interesting Letter from Kansas.

As soon as the English bill was passed
by Congress, we felt desirous of learning
in some direct and authenticw way, the prob
able fate of the proposition which it
presented to the people of Kansas. We
accordingly addressed letter of inquiry
to an intimate friend and relative, (Thom-
as Ewing, Jr., formerly of Ohio, but now
of Leayenworth,) who for some time past
has been a very prominent and influential
member of the conservative wing of the
Free State party in Kansas. As we have
received permission from Mr.. Ewing to
use his reply as We may see fit, we have
concluded to publish tentire, as suhjoined.
In addition to the assurances which the
letter gives of the contemptuous rejection
of the English bribe, we are glad to pub
lish it for another reason and that is, as
an act of justice to many high-mi1ded and
honorable men in the Free State party,
whose discreet line of policy has been
(perhsps thoughtlessly) maligned by some
"o'er jealous correspondents of the East
ern press. We have not at all times
agreed With the course of the "conserva-
tives," but we think no one can deny to
: them, in the main, the possession of sound
judgment and upright and honorable mo-
tiyes. Mr. Ewing's letter presents tense
and vigorous yindication of their general
plan of action.
LEAvENwoRTH, KANSAS, May Is, '56.
JAMES G. BLAINE, Eso.-DEAR SIR
have your letter of the Sd inst, making
inquiry as to the possibility of the people
of Kansas accepting the English br1be, and
coming into the Union under the Lecomp-
ton Constitution. have noticed indica.
tions of fear of this result in Republican
papers, and in letters from persons friendly
to us. This dread lest they may be bribed
to the commission of base act, could only
be regarded by the people as indicating an
ungenerous lack Of confidence in their In
tegrity, did they not know that theiI
friends abroad have grown nervous from
long solicitude about Kansas, and thai
their ears are daily filed with untrue
statements from it.
The public were warned to expect some
thing base from that portion Of the Free
State party who, in January last, wFested
the Leconpton Government from the
hands of the usurpers, by the speeches
and letters of some of their brethren
whose favorite policy of iaaction was ther
overthrown. The "bolting'' movement
which resulted in the election of the State
officers and two-thirds of the Legislature
under the Lecompton Constitution, alsc
resulted in feeling of alienation between
those who. against great odds, achieved tn,
victory, and those who either opposed ths
movement, or gave it cold support
During the suspension Of Lecompton il
Congress, discussions arose here as to th,
! mode of disposing of it. if passed. In the
main, the .' bolters" were in favor of hav
| ing the Legislature meet and qualify-no
to elect Senators. or to pass laws for tn,
government of the people-but merely .,
pass one act submitting to them whethe
they would change the Leeompton Con
stitntion and government for the Leaven.
worth !; and providing that, in case thes
voted for the change, the. Leeomptor
lsAsala thsFsaPeH die and ths Lssven