The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-01-02
UhoIr "A 1isuss

0dQ SObcu d. ofCi O1CSsAo1 oa,tVlntcQ W 1
law in Kansas from the beginning, what
would have been the result? Why if |
it be true that they have such a majority |
as is represented, they would have car
ried every election since the exit of |
Reeder. Legislature, Convention, Cone
stitution, "Freedom," everything would |
have been in their hands. Who, then, is
20 be blamed for the present condition of
things in Kansas? If majority sssa not
vote, the minority must inevitably carry
the election.-Soutkexa Aosst0r.
We copy the above from the Sasthern
Monitor, pro-slavery newspaper publish
ed at Philadelphia It seems to be igno-
rant of the fact that at the election held
on the 29th of Nov, 1854, for Delegate to
Congress, an armed mob came over from
Missouri, visiting the towns along the
borders, and particularly at Leavenwcrth,
and controlled the elections. It was for
short term, extending only to the 4th
of March, SO the question was allowed to
pass without contest.
The second election was held on the
30th of March. The "Free State men,
did propose to vote, but were forcibly
driven from the polls by an armed mob
from Missouri, and even here in Lawrence
an army of 1000 entered the town on the
day previous, and held control of the
ballot-box until the day expired. And
what was true in Lawrence was true of
every other district but one in Kansas, to
a greater or less extent.
The next election was in October. The
" Free State men" held their election for
Delegate to Congress on different day,
to avoid the violence which they had
reason to expect from their experience in
the past.
The fourth election was in October,
1856, for Delegate to Congress, and for
members of the lower House, the Council
holding over. The country at the time
had but just laid down its arms, after a
protracted civil war. 1t was believed by
many that an attemptto vote would bring
on a renewal of the difficulties. And
then, even, should they engage in the
election they would accomplish nothing,
as they could not get control of the Leg
islature, one branch of it being still in
border rufian hands. 1t is true they
might have prevented much wicked leg
islation, but it was believed the villains
would not attempt anything as bad as
had been experienced in the past. Sub
sequent events have shown that it was an
unwise course, because had there been
any number of Free State men in the
lower House above one-third, with Gov.
Geary's veto the action authorizing the
Lecompton Constitution would not have
followed.
The next election was that for Delegates
to the Constitutional Convention, held in
June last. We thought then, and think
still, that it was an unfortunate and ILL
advised step, and if we should be forced
into the Union under that instrument
framed at Lecompton, on those who OPP
posed voting in June be the responsibility.
We prepared legal argument, in which
we showed that all persons who had been
residents of the Territory for three months
preceding the election, whether regis
tered or not, were entitled to vote. We
kno,c, too, that such a0as the opinion Of Coz.
WALKER, and he aU0uld haze acted on that
opiaion, and tUould haze sustained it by a
proclamation had the people shoaon s0tlling-
ness to hare engaged in the election. When
we found the people could not be brought
up to the voting standard, pleading as an
excuse contrary determination at Tope-
ka on the 10th of March previous, and
as the elements were all united at that
time to crush US personally, we thought it
our duty to stand aside until the gale had
passed, when we would rise up and face
the storm, which we did in our issue of
July 4th, "a fit day for such position,)
when we resolved to vote at every SUBJ
sequent election in the Territory, and thus
acquit ourself of responsibility for any
consequences that should follow. Wetook
ground then for voting in October, and
resolved to vote for officers under the
Lecompton Constitution, and on Monday
net we shall carry out that portion OF
our platform.
The Monitor may censure the people
or rather the leaders, for not voting in
June last, but it has no occasion to CEN
sure them seriously for inaction. at any
other time.