The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19

constitution to the voters of the Territory.
They might hide behind the Green hue of
the proposition, and, in their own iaun-
| diced views, imagine themselves free from
the awful political sin of suffering a free
people to decide at the ballot-box, upon
the organization of their own State gov
eminent.
Then, ow-citizens, rejecting all quib-
bles-brushing away all the cobweb OBJ
structions of false and fimsy logic-we
must unanimously admit, that if we vote
Proposition accepted" we will be in the
Union, with the Lecompton constitution
as the chosen government Of the people of
Kansas. II, on the contrary, we vote
Proposition rejected" then we remain
out of the Union, and the Lecompton con-
stitution will be forever buried under the
stern condemnation of free and cour-
ageous people.
Gentlemen, am unalterably opposed
to the adoption of the Lecompton consti-
tuition, under whatever specious device it
may be presented, or with whatever ac-
compartments os alluring temptation of
benefits on the one hand, or of crushing
wrongs and disadvantages, or even humil-
iating disablements, on the other. Never
for single moment, by my own free will,
shall consent to pass under the degrading
yoke of that monstrous and unmitigated
fraud. If Congress, regardless of the
clearly-expressed will of the people, and
tyrannically trampling upon their dearest
rights, had Internationally adopted the
Presidents despotic and insulting recon-
mendations, and forced the Lecompton
constitution upon the people of Kansas, as
citizen of that subjected State, l would
have been in favor of taking the parch-
ment on which that instrument was writ
ten, and, by any common hangman, pub
liely burning it in the presence of all the
people-the same people who have once
solemnly rejected it at the ballot box, and
who, believe, still regard it with the
same loathing and indignation which they
then felt and expressed, in every legal and
peaceful form, in which they had the op-
portunity either to speak or act
am here to-day, gentlemen, to lift my
voice against the acceptance of the Le-
compton government at the hands of Con-
gress, and to persuade you Gift be not an
insult to talk of persuasion ON any such
subject to stand up now, and do battle
against this great wrong and outage, as
manfully and as efeetually as you did on
the 4th day of January last, when you
overwhelmed its supporters by majority
of more than ten thousand votes.
l do not come, gentlemen, to arouse
your passions, any farther than a just in
dignation against wrong and oppression
may be proper and necessary to induce
prompt and decided, but peaceable action,
in the present emergency. / come to
counsel and advise with you, and above
all, to give my "reasons for the faith that
| is within me-" on this most important sub
ject, which, in the past history and pres
ent condition of Kansas, involves the lib
critics of the people, the rights of the States
of the Union, and their equality in the con-
federacy. Never, since the foundation oi
our free government, have more important
fundamental questions been presented fol-
the discussion of the people of any State;
and Kansas now has the opportunity to
wreath her own brows with imperishable
laurels, and, even before her admission
into the Union, to present an example oi
courage and frmness, of resistance to spe-
cious allurements, and devotion to the
constitution of the Union, and the rights
and liberties secured by it, which will
rival the glories won by any of the veteran
States of the Union, even in the heroic
age of their purity and love of liberty.
Gentlemen, the people of Kansas ought
to resist the proposition presented to them
in the act of Congress, passed on the 4th
of May last; if for no other reason, on
account of the terms and conditions incor-
porated in that very act itself. If the
decision had been made to turn upo1. the
question already uggested-whether the
moon is, or is not, made of green cheese
the evasion would have been, at least,
innocent; and the votes of the people
regardless of the form of the ballot, might
have been determined upon the simple
merits or dement's of the Leeompton Con-
stitution, and their interests or their
desires, in reference to admission under
that form of government. But the actual
law of Congress, while it embodies an
evasion of the same kind, and thereby
enables its authors and supporters, with
plausible reason, to assume one position in
the North and another in the South, is fal
from being so harmless and unobjection-
able as in the case supposed. For, if the
people should refuse to submit to the Le-
compton constitution, by rejecting the
proposition made by Congress, the Law
further provides, as follows:
ain that event, the people of said Ter.
ritory are hereby authorized and empow-
cred to form for themselves constitution
and State government. by the name of the
State of Kansas, according to the Fedora
Constitution, and may elect delegates fol
that'purpose whenever, and not before, it j:
ascertained by census duly and legally
taken, that the population of said Terri.
tory equals or exceeds the ratio Of repre-
sentation required FOR a member of the
House of Representatives of the Congress!
of the United States; and whenever there
after such delegates shall assemble in con
vention, they shall first determine by
vote whether it is the wish of the people
of the proposed State to be admitted int
the Union at that time; and, if so, shall
proceed to form a constitution, and take
all necessary steps for the establishment
of State government, in conformity witt
the Federal Constitution, subject to sucf
limitations and restrictions as TO the mod,
and manner of its approval or ratification
by the people of the proposed State, a
they may have prescribed by law, ant
shall be entitled to admission into tn,
Union as State under such constitution
thus fairly and legally made, with o
without slavery, as said constitution ma.
prescribe"
There is not one of you, gentlemen,
am sure there is not one, who is not per
fectly familiar with the language of thi
clause, and who does not thorough,
understand its legal effect and its obvious
intention. am sorry to say, indeed
am mortified beyond expression, to b
| ohI;rad 10 admit that / hara fonnd sornI