The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14
THE STATE CONVENTION IN KANSAS-THE
DIVISION AMONG THE FREE STATE MEN
IN RELATION TO VOTING
RosEDALE, KANSAS, Dec. 81


RosEDALE, KANSAS, Dec. 81, 1857.
To the Editor of the National Era:
1 send you statement of the proceedings of
the Convention held at Lawrence or the 23a
and Oath, that You may be correctly advised Of
its action, and, if possible, the causes which
led to that action.
The Convention was, properly spe liking, an
adjourned Convention, and came together in
obedience to the call of the Chairman of the
Convention which met at Lawrence on the I'd
of the present month. Consequently, the dele
gates of the Convention held on the 23d and
oath were not elected to decide the question
which absorbed the whole attention during its
two days sitting. The question was, Shall
we, or shall we not, participate in the election
to be held on the 4th day of January, 1853, for
the election of State officers, members of the
Legislature, and Representatives in 'jongress.
Upon this question the Convention was unable
to agree. The principal men known % exert
ing an influence in the Free State party or.
ranged themselves on the side of Voti g. The
names, as recorded pro and con-, yot will see
in the papers publishing full proceed gs ofthe
Convention.
The arguments made use of by thos opposed
to voting were as follows: To vote az sinst the
Constitution, and then vote for Offices tnder the
Constitution, is first to condeean the Constitu-
ton, then to endorse it, and, as a consequence,
Stultify ourselves. 1t was also urged as rea-
SIN for not voting, that we should be beaten by
invaders and should the number of invaders
prove insufficient for our defeat, thea fraudu-,
lent returns would be brought in, and that, be-
tween the two, we stood no chance o. carrying
the election.
1t was further maintained that the Constitu.
ton could not be forced through CON- ress, and
consequently voting was unnecessary
But, lastly, should we be admitted '1nder the
Lecompton Constitution, we must esist the
Federal Government by force CT armF, and that
such resistance would be crowned wit success
This sentiment, by whomsoever ute ed, never
failed to call out the most enthusiastic applause
from the uon.voters. 1t would SCI N, from
carefully observing the effect produe I'd by the
different sentiments uttered, that no. hing was
capable of calling ont so hearty a res ponse
from the radical nOnuoters. az the iGea of en-
tering into conflict with the United STAGES forces
Whether the idea of radical 60 nothing
party will be comprehended by ourfriends in
the East, or not, am not able TO say.
1t has always seemed to US that Knoao
Nothing party was ridiculous enough; but
while that party professed to knov lothing, it
did intend to accomplish the defeat Of its enc
mics. The radicH do nothing party in Kansas
are organized to stand still, and see the salca-
ton of Kansas. 1t would at first seem that
an organization for the purpose of doing moth.
ing was wholly 1ncalled for; that this much
might be accom- plished without an orgauiza
ton. But such i not the fact Not only is the
most thorough organization, party drill, and
discipline, necessary for such purpdse among
practical men, out it is doubtful r even all
this, together wrh the mighty patronage this
party Yields, will be sufficient to hola its mem
bers in check. 8|#
By those in favor of voting, it was said that
the only time we had ever gained a 8 ngle inch
of ground upon, which to stand, was at the
first election, VIXEN we were beaten by fraud
and violence. This gave US the sytlpathy of
all good aud hiyh.minded men; AID by the
proof of this fraud and violence, VIII sch could
not have been procured but by our 9articipa
ton in the election, we had ever since been
able to hold our senemies in check. Again, at
the October election, we were not only more
capable of proving new frauds, but were able
to overcome thoss frauds, and gained the entire
control of the Territorial Legislature.
Again: Had we participated in the June
election for delegates to the Constitutional
Convention, we ) hould now have aConstituton
in accordance with our wishes and instead of
| being in our present dilemma, protesting
against our Admission into the Union, we should
be petitioning for such admission.
But, to the future. Shall we carry the Janu-
| airy election? We can but be defeated. We are
| certain of defeat in case we do not participate
In the election. Should we be beaten by fraud,
| (which is the oIy chance of defeating u.s. we
shall be in be ter condition to resist the en-
forcement of the constitutional provisions, than
should we suffer it to go by default We think
we lose nothins<by going into the election in
any case; and should we carry it, and not be
admitted, we ga n the moral force of victory.
Should we be admitted, we add to the moral
force of victoiy the legal force of State Gov.
eminent; and that force will be welded by
ourselves. All re opposed to the Le;ompton
Constitution, bey it is certainly bette, to live
under 1t a short lime, with the State off GERS and
Legislature of CIR own choosing, than It would
be, we're We to :offer our enemies to take DOS
session of those Offices. But the most certain
mode of defeats,g the Constitution is, to take
possession of thy Government, choose our Sem
ators and Representatives, and thus heap Goals
of fire upon the head of the Administration, if
| it will force rs into the Union under the Lee
compton Constitution.
! To the argument that the Constitution could
not be forced through Congress, it wac replied,
| that the histcrT of this Government proved,
that whenever the Executive had sought to
| carry an Admin stration measure, it had always,
invariably, succeeded. The answer to the charge
of stultifying Ourselves by voting down the
Constitution, aid then electing officers under
it, was, that vsting for officers was no more
endorsing the Constitution, than by voting on
the naked quesiion, Constitution or no Conati
tuition. In csss we we're beaten on the consti'
tutional question, We were bound to slbmit to
it. Nothing more could be inferred fr)m elect