The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-22

measure which will not invest them with
the dignity of State, unless they adopt
the Constitution of his choice, the Consti-
tntion which you lately held was the off
spring of fraud Your party, in voting
for this bill, has but acted in its true char
acter, as the support and bulwark of slave
~ and slave labor-it has been true to
itself. Your misfortune is, that you have
been true, neither to your party nor your
selves.
1t is easy to say that, after all, the bribe
and the threat are alike insignificant
Kansas will soon have. the requisite popu-
lation, and whenever admitted, she will
have the usual land grants. That may
be, but not by your act. The discrimina-
ton inflicted by your bill may not operate
as great hardship, but still tits an odious
discrimination. The bribe and the threat
may be very paltry, and yet you cannot
conceal that the object of them is to in
duce the people of Kansas to sanction q
slave Constitution which they abhor, nor
can you deny that, if that Constitution be
rejected, the organization of Kansas as
State is postponed to an uncertain period.
And for what, after all, have you de-
serted your friends, yielded the position
you at first took in defence of the great
principle of self-government ? For the
sake of securing victory and renewed
strength to party which, with view to
plant slavery in Kansas, repealed the Mis-
souri, Compromise encouraged and sus-
tanned the Border Rufianism which then
established Pro-Slavery susurpation in
the Territory; prosecuted the Free State
settlers, under the forms of law, and in
violation of law; dismissed in disgrace
five Democratic Governors, who could not
make up their minds to sanction all the
acts and frauds of the Usurpation re-
sisted all attempts to inquire into the
grievances of the people of Kansas, and
secuted their complaints; and, finally,
sought to fasten upon them slave Con-
stitution, manufactured by q meagre mi
nority, and baptized, as Governor Walker
says, in fraud and crime, for the purpose
of dragging Kansas in as slave State,
and giving to the Slave Power in the Sen
ate the advantage of two more votes. You
have sacrificed yourselves for such party,
which, bearing an honored name, has
prostituted itself to the worst purposes.
Protesting equality of rights, it is simp-
ly the INSCRIPTIONS instrument of Des-
potism. For what great policy is it now
distinguished What good thing does it
propose Southern Slavery Wings
are its leaders in both Houses of Congress,
and they dictate its policy; while Pro-
Slavery Propagandists look to it as their
chief agent for the extension of Negro
Slavery and Slaveholding empire. And,
for this party, you abandon your friends,
give up your position, sacrifice your con:
sistency, consent to place a stigma upon
Kansas and Free Institutions, and yet ex-
pect to be sustained by your constituents !!
We shall not doubt as to the decision
of the people of Kansas. They will reject
the bribe, and scorn the threat. They
will not stultify themselves, and justify
their enemies. Theyawill not pronounce
in favor of an abhorred usurpation, twice
rejected Constitution, an Administration
which has insulted and outraged them.
They viii send you their Leavenworth
Constitution in few days, and you will
| reject it. They will vote down your Le-
compton fraud, and, by the next session
of Congress, you will be again called upon
to admit them, as free State, and again
there will be agitation and discussion,
which you boast are now closed forever.
But you will be blind and stubborn-kan-
sas will be rejected, thrust back into the
Territorial condition, and her only hope
will be in Republican House. and Re-
publican President. The whols question
of slavery will be inseparably associated
with her, will go into the elections, be
the one topic of every canvass, determine
the result; and this is your mode for end
ing the question, and giving peace to the
country, and triumph to the Slave Democ-
racy! Be it so, another session will bring
you the decision Of the people Of Kansas
another Congress, the decision of the peo-
pie of the United States.
In 1850, statesmen were almost deified
for adjusting so wisely the question OF
slavery. and people congratulated one
another on the end of controversy and
permanent restoration of peace.
In 1854, your cannon exultantly pro-
claimed that the great controversy was
again adjusted, this time finally, and the
country now might slumber undisturbed.
Four years of unexampled agitation
followed, and now. in 1858, more exult-
antly than ever, your booming guns an
nounce that this time, certainly, now and
forever, the great controversy is settled
| and permanent peace established
The people do not believe you-they
begin to think your craftsmanship sham,
your legislation a blunder-and in 1850
If we understand them, they intend to try
new men, new party, and a new adjust
ment.
| ura1 pn4