The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-25
A corrsc, Posiaon.

rogatories propounded to him by Mr..
Austin, while the former was speaking on
political matters at Port Byron, N. Y,
said -
"Every member of the Republican par
ty in Congress, except one, voted for the
most atrocious slavery law for Kansas that
villainy and fraud could concoct, or the
human mind conceive"
Mr. SMITHS statement, we believe, is
strictly correct. The so-called Crittenden
bill, almost unanimously supported by
Republicans in Congress, was infinitely
more Objectionable to the Free State par
ty in Kansas, and would have been fraught
with far more serious consequences if it
had become law, than the English bill.
The Crittenden bill made provision for
our immediate admission into the Union
under a new Constitution, in case the Le-
compton Constitution had been defeated,
as it would, of course, have been. There
was no avoiding this, provided there had
been an elector in each district who would
have voted for a delegate to Corstitu-
tional Convention, and that delegate had
accepted the trust. There was no provi-
sion by which the people could signify
their desire to remain in Territorial con-
dition, but provision for an immediate,
unconditional transit into the Union
Had the Crittenden bill become law, the
excitement growing out of the framing of
new Constitution, when the public mind
was so much agitated, would have pro-
duced any number of broils, and occa-
stoned feuds which long years could not
have healed.
The English bill, on the contrary,
though containing ridiculous bribe, and
bearing upon its face the concentrated es-
sence of demagogueism, yet on its defeat
by the people, we are left free to remain
for time at rest, during which the pub
lie E9lse, SO much agitated, is enabled
to acquire repose, and that degree of
tranquility to which we have been q
stranger from the earliest settlement of
the Territory. After few months we
can begin to talk about Constitution for
the State of Kansas, with comparative
calmness. A Constitution thus framed,
will not bear upon its face the evidence
of haste, which has characterized all the
other Constitutions framed for our govern
ment.
The Topeka Constitution was made un-
der peculiar circumstances. The Border
Rufian Legislature was imposed upon us
in the spring of '55. In September of
that year, the Topeka State Constitution
was determined upon, not that we wished
to take upon ourselves the responsibility
and expense Of State government but
we hoped Congress would admit us into
the Union under it, and thus save US from
border ruffian tyranny. 1t was the latter
we wished to escape; but Congress twice
rejected our petition, and twice sent us
out of that body without relief. It wa,
then we determined to storm the citade
of the border ruffian power in Kansas, and
take the offices of government into oul
own hands. We succeeded most admir-.
ably.
1t was then the Lecompton Swindls
began to assume form. The people be.
gan to be alarmed, and measures were
taken to defeat that fraud. When it wa.
apparent all other means would fail, ,
new Constitutional Convention was pro
posed not that we were SO anxious tt
get into the Union, but that we nigh
head off Lecompton. 1t was in this way
that the Leavenworth Constitution wa
framed; but while the question was ye
pending, relief in the shape of tho Englisl
bill was Unexpectedly given US. We art
conscious that barrels of ink have beel
wasted in showing up the iniquitous char
acter Of that bill, which, in its details
were justly obnoxious; and yet in it
practical results, we are frank to concsde
it was better for Kansas and for freedom
than the Crittenden bill. 1t was like tn
, bugbear of popular sovereignty" itsell
. The intentions of those who passed tina
bill, were any thing else than patriotic, an
t was, no doubt, designed to give the slav
power the advantage; yet in its practices
T results, it ,oiU give freedom to all the ,sel
l Territories of the United States.
, By implication, it was understood Will
Il the Missouri Compromise line was th
law of the country, that all that territor
. south of $50 30' was desecrated to slave
ry, as all north of that degree of latitud
was consecrated to freedom. Not so now
A majority of the people are to settle tn;
1t question, and they will settle it as b.
: comes free people though, as in Kar
n sas, it may be attended with immen:
,, cost. A free press has already found i
l' way to Arizona, in anticipation of an earl
II organization of the Territory, and, as
q consequence, free emigration will folio
9 it, and free institutions must necessaril
e be the result Freemen are light-foote'
" and have little to restrain them, while IL
. advocates of slavery are clogged down b
t. negroes, and retarded in all their NOV,
d ments in looking after their human cha
q tells.
A.. Laws Completed
10 The General Laws, passed at the la
=, session of the Territorial Legislature. al
now completed, and are ready for deli