Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-05-14
Letter from Kansas.
LAWRENCE, X. T. April %.


a few lines, with your permission, to the
readers of the Standard. This is the
day on which the Free State Party meet
in Convention to nominate candidates
for State and other offices, to DE support
ed at the election to be held on the 18th
of may, under the Leavenworth Consti-
tuition. OF the qualifications of the can
didates and their prospects of success,
we may speak hereafter. For the pres
ent it will be sufficient to say that the
prospect on the whole is quite fair that
this Constitution will receive the votes of
a large majority of the people of Kan
sas. The friends of liberal ideas have
strong ground for encouragement, though
the free state party is much divided in
sentiment, and the pro slavery men are
using all their intrigues to SOW dissen-
sions in its ranks. They are raising the
cry of Negro equality" Amalgama-
tion,'" and the like, to dissuade the free
state men from supporting Consti ution
every way worthy of their enthusiastic
approval. We are sorry to see that this
action is exerting an injurious effect on
many otherwise good Republicans
Many seem TO be frightened by this
bugbear, from giving their votes for the
Constitution. There is danger there
fore, that it will be settled. Yet we
hope not. 1t is an excellent instrument.
1t forever abolishes and prohibits slave
~. 1t secures to every child the right
to obtain good education at the public
expense. Ii makes no odious distinctions
of color.
Its provisions also, in regard to the
right OF suffrage, homestead exemption
the rights of women to hold properly
&c, are exceedingly liberal, JUST and
humane. On the whole it is equal to the
best Constitutions now existing in the
United States. 1t is superior to the
much abused Topeka Constitution which
/ l defended through your columns last
summer, against, the bare-faced, ISLANDERS
Of the North Star. If this Constitution
becomes the organic law of the State, il
will render Kansas a powerful bulwarb
of freedom and free labor. Its adoption
would be fitting response to the glori
Gus uprising for free labor in ST. Louis
Jefferson and Kansas cities, in Missouri
as we'll as the late free soil victories ii
Connecticut and "surely Kansas admit
ted into the Union with this Constitution
will" in the language of the patriot
Sumner) " be guardian angel to thu
Republic while South Carolina with the
cloud of darkness which she hugs lie
bowling" Nor is this all. The com
mercial and political capitals of Nilsson
ri, are already in the hands of the fret
democracy. Soon that state will throw
off the bonds of slavery, and stand fortl
with her sister Kansas, in the manhoo,
of freedom. But / will come to a sub
ject more of present importance. Pres
ident Buchanan has set the 9th and I5tI
of July next, as the time for the sale of
large part of the public lands in Kansas
On account of the financial depression, i
will be very difficult, if not impossible
for many of the squatters to pre-em2
their claims previous to that time, il
which case they will be forfeited, an,
= knocked off TO the highest bidder.
The opportunity (doubtlessly nue.
desired) is thus offered to the Psesiden
to vent his malice and spite against th
free state squatters, under the forms q
law, and though petition has been for
warded to him 10 postpone the land sale.
; his answer will without doubt be in tn
language of Shylock, I'm only nave m
bond" 1t is for the friends of freedom
IN the North, while granting him tn
: pound of flesh" to prevent him fror
obtaining more, or shedding drop {
E blood" How are they to do this. Ii
q every lover of free institutions, who il
{ tends to emigrate West and can rails
$500 or more, come Immediately I
a Kansas and take up or buy a claim, an
Il let every man, who has money that
{ can possibly spare, lend it to the squattei
here and take security on their claims
. Money brings readily ) per cent q mont
J. with good security. This territory cal
{ not be surpassed as a region for farmin
purposes. All that is needed is capt.;
u to commence with. 1t is the duty of II
e North to stand by the people of Kanss