The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-13
The Topeka Government.

Hant Vi tlS oOtciuOt dpDIOFdls
The Topeka Government.
The name Topeka, we regret to say,
has become almost a reproach in Kansas,
because of the obstinacy which certain
prominent men have exhibited in their
advocacy of the Topeka Constitution and
government; Juggling that term in on every
occasion. and trying to make fealty to it
the touchstone to the Free State party.
Thousands, like ourself, advocated the
Topeka movement as means of getting
rid of the usurped Territorial govern
ment; not that We desired State gov
ernment; on the contrary, our judgment
taught US all the time that we were not
able to sustain one. yet it offered way,
with the aid of Congress, by which we
could transfer the reins of government
from the hands Of the usurpers, and pass
it into the hands of the people. With
its defeat in Congress, and the defeat of
the party which went before the country
with that Constitution emblazoned on its
banner as their pole star, We thought we
saw no longer any hope of gaining any,
thing further by an adhesion to it, and we
abandoned it for something practicable.
We thought the time had come when we
could throw of the usurpers, and get con-
troll of the Territorial government. We
said So and said further that We believed
it better for Kansas to remain in Terri
torial condition for q year or two longer,
provided we could have suitable execu-
tive and judicial officers to administer
the affairs of government, than to occupy
the other position. We think so still,
and we think further that no effort would
have been made at this session of the
Legislature to organize State govern
ment. but with the hope of forestalling
the action of Congress in regard to the
Leeompton Constitution.
Had not immediate legislation been
indispensable wo should have favored the
idea of the Legislature, when it first
assembled, redistricting the Territory, pro-
viding for new election of members to
the Territorial Legislature, and for an
other session of the Legislature as soon
as the new body could be elected, and
then to have resigned; but as we were
situated, with such disgraceful statutes
hanging over us, We thought it better to
waive the objection to that body founded
upon wicked apportionment, and say
nothing in regard to its substitution by
another election.
From the hour we had control of the
Territorial government the masses of the
people abandoned the revolutionary Tope.
ka government for the LEGAL Territorial
government, and every man who has per.
sistently adhered to the former in direct
conflict with the wishes Of the people
has only been destroying himself, as he
has show lack of political sagacity which
marked him IS man of the times.
We know whereof we affirm, and were
conscious where we stood last Summer
when we said the Topeka government il
an igneus tatuus which is leading US and
the country to destruction, and the soonel
it is abandoned the less will be our dan
ger as party from falling into the slough
just in advance of u.s." The people die
abandon il. At Grass hopper the orden
We're given to |" about face,n with the view
Of retracing our lost position. Every
movement towards voting since then ha.
indicated an early escape from our dan
ger. Some of our friends were dazzlef
with false lights on the I'd and 23d o
December; but as good fortune would
have il, there were enough to lead th.
van. and our danger has been ayerted.
While we love Topeka. her people, ant
the honorable part her citizens have bourr
in our past struggles, and the alaerity sh,
has always responded TO our call for hell
in the hour of danger; and remembe
with just pride the sacrifices of few O
our personal friends who left Lawrence il
the middle of Winter in l854-55. ant
located that town, exposed to every hard
ship. yet we cannot help feeling indignan
at the course of those who q in season ana
out of season are crying at the top o
their voice, in every public assembly, ans
proposing it in resolutions, that adhesion
to the Topeka government is the evidenc,
of feally to the Free State party" Sucl
balderdash Is ct for linton, Redpath
Phillips, and Thacher, who are the par
ticular advocates of that government, ana
whose only political capital and stock il
trade are invested in that direction.
Gone 70 Washington.
Al the leading pre-slayery men in Kan