The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-27

a Prc5esf Against LecomPtcn.s
The followingis is the Protest reported by
Senator DAVIS, from the msiority of the
Committee on State affairs, to be present
TO to Congress, in the name of the Sow
ereign State of Wisconsin, against the ad-
mission of Kansas into the Union under
the Lecompton Swindse:
10 tie Honorable Senate and House Of Rsp-
resentatsUss Of the United States, IN Con-
gyess assembled:
PROTEST OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,.
That when the repose of the country is
disturbed by the general feeling of great
common danger, and the institutions Of
this Republic seem to be totteriDg on their
foundations, It becomes the duty of the
people to respectfully manifest their wills,
wishes and apprehensions to their nation
al representatives. This duty is the more
imperative, as the question which agi-
tates the public mind involve no less the
peace of the whole country, than the In
terests of single territory. The princi-
pies of the Kansas n ebraska Bill did not
correspond with the true interests of the
people of this State. The most ingenious
arguments and the most plausible repre-
sentations brought forth in support of that
measure could not make us believe that
the fathers of this Republic had under
stood by popular sovereignty, the break
ing down of all barriers to the extension
of slavery, and a practical reputation Of
the great principles of human liberty.
In our opinion, Popular Sovereignty
means the sovereignty and independence
of every individual, subject only to the
constitution and such laws made BY his
consent as protect the Iekts of life, lib
erty and property of the whole people !;
and we always have believed that faith
full adherence to that principle would have
saved the Republic the troubles and dan
gers which now threaten its existence
Nevertheless, the people submitted to a
doctrine obnoxious to them, as soon as it
was clothed with the authority of law
They took part in the contest that follow
ed, carefully laying aside the use of all
means which the incest construction of
the law would not accord to American
citizens. We need notrecount the events
that have taken place. They are familiar
to all. However atrocious the frequent
violations of right and justice may have
been, the people confined themselves to
the defence of constitutional rights, by
constitutional means.
But whenever those rights, which a
perverse construction of popular sover-
eighty has left in our hands, are invaded
by barefaced frauds and violence when
the last safeguard of Democratic institu-
tions, the purity of the ballot-box is pol
luted with impunity, by the hand of dar-
ing criminals, when the violation of vest
ed right threatens to assume the form oi
permanent usurpation, and when, at last
the Chief Executive of this Republic un.
dertakes to sanction such an attempt, first
by encouragement and indulgence, ther
by open and emphatic recommendation, ther
| it is time that all good citizens should
unite their voices in a solemn protest.
The people have submitted quietly to
law they considered wrong in principle.
They have opposed with the weapons oi
| free discussion, what they considered
criminal in practice. They have confded
in the good sense of their fellow citizens,
north and south, firmly hoping that an
erroneous policy would eventually be
crushed by the verdict of the true Demo-
cratic spirit of the country.
That spirit is alive, and those who have
undertaken to defy it, may well consider
how dangerous it will be to put the for.
bearance of q people, used to the free ex.
ercise Of their rights, to too severe test
To conine ourselves to peaceable means
in opposing manifest wrong, while the
fundamental principles of the Republic
remain unattached, is duty we owe to
our democratic institutions. But we call
upon you to consider what other duties
viii force themselves upon the people
when they see that those institutions are
no longer safe in the hands of their con-
stitutional guardians.
The people of Kansas, after having
looked in vain to the general government
have strong claim on the patriotism ei
all good citizens. The appeal Of men
whose constitutional rights have beer
trodden under foot, cannot fail to elicit
from a majority of the American freemen
i sympathy for which mere words would
| be but an inadequate expression.
/ The supporters of the uslirpation are
raising again the CRY of disunion; but the
1 threat serves only to show how much
those who make it mistake their position
/ The danger is not that the Union will be
dissolved, for the free States would show
themselves fully able to take care of it
integrity but the danger is that ths
Union might miss The very aims and end.
! for which it has been instituted.
That the Lecompton constitution is ths
offspring Of most unserupulons fraud
! that the people of Kansas had no share
4 In making it, and viii never submit to i
! mo candid man can doubt. A govern
j ment which would attempt to force it up
] on an unwilling people, would tread il
i the foot prints of the perjured despots o
the old world, who consigned their name
to the curses of their subjects, and TO th'
/ execration Of coming ages.
Il And hereby we would most respectfully
represent that whatever means your wis
dom may devise to expurge this opprohri
um from our national history, you ma.
rely upon the prompt and patriotic sup
port of ali American citizens who trul.
cherish the institutions to which We owi
cur liberty and prosperity, and withou
! which this republic would never have as
tanned its power and greatness. To thi
We solemnly pledge the people Of Wis
congin.
me ssnaie On Lsscz1ptoa.
4 If the Lecempton Constitution can B
I delayed IN The Senate for two weei
loHgeF-and that it will be 50 delaye
!. there Is no doubts viii be killed in ths