The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-22
From the Philadelphia Press, lsf.


partisan feeling, We should now be
rejoiced at the action of the Congress of
the United States in the passage of the
great fraud, consummated at the city
which bears the honored name of Wash
ington, on the 30th day of April, 1853 on
Friday, the most ominous day of all the
week, (according to superstition, obeyed
even in the most intelligent circles.) This
wicked deed of profigate politicians will
stir the moral sense of the country to its
profoundest depths. 1t will awaken wide-
spread indignation. 1t will call out
emotions which have been stilled because
such deed was believed to be impossible !;
and it will hurl into utter obseurity and
shame those servants of the people who
have sought this opportunity to assist in
a betrayal, as wanton as it was causeless
and unnecessary. To see these men glib
beted and transfxed before the eyes of the
world may be melancholy satisfaction !;
and to this extent the black business of
the blacklist Friday that ever this country
has seen, may be full of compensation.
But we have no rejoicing over COM
mon shame. We have no words of
congratulation at an event which inhicts
disgrace upon our common country. The
more we deliberate upon the record of the
| last fourteen months, the more do we feel
that blow has been struck at the very
heart of our institutions, from which we
may never recover.
| We saw in this Kansas business, when
it assumed its new shape, last autumn, the
seeds of fatal decentralization. Previous
to that period it bore the aspect of eminent
fairness. MIR. Buchanan appeared to US,
in all his early movements in regard to it,
to be inspired by Washingtonian patri-
otism. 1t had been difficult problem to
others; to him it was as clear as sun
beam. He felt so himself up to the
moment when he supposed he could
change his course and be sustained by the
country. That was the weight which
pulled him down. The whole nation
stood appalled, at the transformation. His
very Office holders hesitated, and there
was not Northern Senator or Represen-
tatiye, within our circle of acquaintance,
who did not, at first, doubt or denounce
the unexpected and extraordinary exam
pier. The only interest that applauded
his course was that extreme pro-slavery
cabal, (known to desire dissolution OF
the Union,) which had induced him to
leave those true and gallant spirits who
had so lorg upheld his standard, and to
surrender the holy principle, without
which he would be reposing in honorable
quiet at Wheatland.
| that 70 ha ,oracapt ~
have we witnessed Nothing but sue
cession of personal and political degrade
tions. The principle of the "will of the
majority" had become Overwhelming
The principle of fidelity to sworn pledge,
and to a consecrated creed, had sunk into
all hearts. The President, the Cabinet
all men had met upon this patriotic plat
form. 1t was built upon honor, and
riveted and clinched by thousand sol.
emn assurances. To destroy it, required
herculean exertions, and series of opera.
Administrations have paled their inefec.
tual fires. 1t stood out full l-armed before
the nation, instinct with energy, and resist.
less from the associations that surrounded
it. But the word has gone forth, ana
though it could not be anniiilated, it iods al
least betrayed. And to accomplish thi!
betrayal, the character of the Democratic
party, ard of the country, has been shame.
lessly dishonored.
Independent men, who would not bow
to the attempt to sacrifice principle, were
turned out of Office, and base and charac
terless knaves put into their places.
Solemn assurances to high functionaries
written, spoken, and painted, were ruth
lessly broken.
| Representatives were compelled tt
change their votes and to violate thei
plighted faith, and where conscience faileC
to approve, patronage came in to suppor
them.
Calumnies, the most atrocious and cruel
were hurled against all who dared to b.
true to the truth. Is this all WoulC
that it were! The formal declaration O
proud, national party was sought to b,
nullifed by the action of Congress, and il
substitution for principle, impressively
declared and solemnly sealed, before th,
eyes of the whole country, we had Offered
to us miserable cheat The dark deco
of gang of reckless spectators in Kansas
was made the test of Democratic faith
Fraud and falsehood were erected in car
dinal virtues, and the protests of ou
fifteen thousand freemen against this deco
was laughed at, as the protests of ou
fathers in the Revolution were laughed at
as the raving rebels, and the threats of
mob.
i So far for the footprints of this unhal
lowed Despotism. They are marked ol
the historic page as the evidences of
recent morality and regenerated Democ
raey. They turn back the hands on tn
dial plates of time, and remind us that W
are living in the feudal ages. Nay, wors
than that; for then, if power was great
public men were brave, and the knav
that sold his character died the death O
the infamous
But the great crime did not stop here
: One wrong after another was tried, till a
last, as if to mock at even the semblane
! of right. the so-called English bill wa
proposed, the incarnation of treachery an
OF duplicity-a bill, be it understood
which differed from its precedents in this
that they were swindles and this was
bribc: which. protesting to submit LIE
compton to the people, did not submit i
: according to its Southern expounders an
a which, starting out in the preamble wit
scandalous misstatement, crowned th
, whole proceeding with declaration tia
if the people of Kansas did not take j
they should tester in dissensions till
: suited their masters to admit them!
Is And this is the scheme that was force
t through yesterday-the black Friday {
d our century,
ri Well may the Senator from New Yor
: CRY "shamer' upon the damning deed.
81 All history viii cry shame upon il, to-
It The burden which this outrage attscht
Il TO the Democratic party cannot be carrie
' without crushing il. Candidates for Off
o win be compelled to speak out against
n asd those who are silent win pay ii
Il penalty of such an acqaiescen se-
it. What Kansas nav decide upon, we a