The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-30
The Kansas Election.

While it has never been our policy 10
say anything which should look like in
termeddling with the internal affairs Of
Kansas, we are free TO confess that i:
would give us great pleasure to learn thai
the Free State men generally voted fcr
State officers on the 4th inst, and, Of
course, elected them. By that action, IT
is true, they were necessitated to give
qualified endorsement Of the Leeompton
Constitution. But it was the consequence
of a species of political duress. The pre-.
dicament was none of their work, as their
overwhelming vote against the Constitu.
ton will doubtless sufficiently indicate
In voting, therefore, for State officer,
they had to choose as many good citiEea
often finds himself under the obligation Of
doing, between two courses, of which
neither is free from objections. If they
voted, it would bear the appearance Of
yielding in measure to scheme which
had received nothing but their just abhOr.
renee. If they did not vote, that schems
might be forced upon them by the fedora
administration, and being iItrenched J!
fit set of official creatures, wielding IN
ternal power and patronage, and enjoying
the favor of the federal government, is
would be a long and difficult task to dis
possess them in favor of the rightful ma
iority. The actual leaders of the Free
State forces, DR.. Robinson, Gen. Lane,
Judge Conway and Others, preferred the
substantial and honest advantages of the
former course, although exposed to The
nominal charge of inconsistency. But
the more radical portion, for time. a.
lowed their honest indignation to clOed
the dictates Of prudence.
But if all finally joined in voting and
carried the day, as the latest intelligence
w.,lld seem to indicate, the wisdom Of
the course must be manifest. In thsi
event, the Free State men have the legal
Territorial Legislature and State govern
ment. They pronounce the viii Of the
popular majority against the acceptance
of the Lecompton Constitution, and ever!
man elected TO Office by their votes Stands
pledged, should that Constitution be aP-
proved by Congress, ''to adopt and exc
cute immediate measures for enabling tbs
people, through new constitutional con-
vention, to obtain such constitution q
the majority shall approve" Thus, they
are ready for any event. If the Admins
tration, in accordance with its professions,
bows to the viii of the majority, and re-
iects the Lecompton Constitution, ther
the Free State men have done the bea
for the Territory of Kansas. But If The
Administration, in accordance with il
practice, is determined TO uphold thsi
constitution, though it be overturned il
two months, then the Free State mel
have done the best for the State Of KsD-
sas.
We are assuming that the elections Of
the 4th have been conducted with some
decent degree of fairness, and that the
votes will be honestly returned and
counted. We know that this is an as
sumption very scantily warranted BY the
past, even down as late as the 2lst of De-
cember, and it will be remembered that
the Free State party are divided on the
question of voting, their Convention de-
eiding against it. But stiH scs sepe f0
tie besf, especially as il is probable thai
the Free State men took every means ID
their power both to prevent frauds ana
expose them, should any Oe committed;
But ON these points, and many Others OF
an interesting nature involved In this
matter. we shall soon have accurate ibior-
nation. Boston JoHrnai, Republican, jan
tdru 13.