The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-10-16
A Nsv p,,,so,rn- IN.

F.
a Platform and line of policy for the
Free State party. /
Since then we have thought much OF
the proposition, and have wondered what
is to be gained by it. There is no Terri
torial election again until year from
October. Prior to that time Conven-
ton must necessarily be called to nomi-
nate Delegate to Congress. Then is the
proper time to prepare Platforms, not now,
when there is no question at issue to set
tie at the ballot-box. Eleven months are
not needed to quarrel over Platform
before the matter can be settled at the
polls. But it is urged that the Legisla-
ture is about to convene, and they need
instructions. We recollect on the eve of
the session O. the Legislature near year
ago, similar convention was held, and it
attempted to instruct the Legislature.-
That Convention was governed, in its de-
liberations, by Jim Lane, man whom
many of the honest voters Of Kansas be-
lieve to be incurably insane. The action
of the Convention showed insanity on its
part at any rate, and though it has not
been held up to ridiculs by the press of
the Territory, yet it richly deserved
being treated in that manner.
The idea of Mas or Delegate, Conven-
tions, for Territory, instructing Legis-
lative body in regard to its official action,
is simply ludicrous. Members Of the
Legislature are not elected by Conventions,
but by the PEOPLE, and it is their con-
stituents whom they represent, and whose
interests they should conserve. If the
people of Legislative district have not
confidence in their Representatives it is
well to instruct them; but no Mass Con-
vention, made up of the fag ends of all par
ties, nor of Delegate Conventions, who are
generally packed for such occasions, have
! any direction over legislative body. If
J Conventions wish to assemble and petition
law-making power, it is their right; and
the petition will be received and treated
the same as if it came from any other
body of men equally numerous, but when
} they come to instructions, they simply
: make asses of themselves. If that is the
. intention in calling the Convention in
. November, from the character Of ma
jority of the members elected to the Leg
islature, we should advise the delegates
} to remain at home.
If it is the design to frame Platform
we would suggest to them that one of the
ablest of American statesmen once re-
marked, that "We are governed toe
much" What is true of States is fire.
quently true of parties. There is toe
great desire shown to make platform:
for men to stand upon, to prevent a. free
expression and discussion of certain ques.
tiors. Moses, when conducting the chill.
dren of Israel from Egypt, was in the
habit of quoting "Thus saith the Lord, ,
in vindication of his policy; and these
partisan leaders in Kansas would desire
7 to frame Platform, which they can quots
with 'sThus saith the Free State party
? in its support, and compel all opposition
to yield, as a consequence.
: Let us suggest that Platform, large
enough for every genuine Free State mar
in Kansas to stand upon, was framed a
: Big Springs. It has few planks in i
E which time has shown to be rotten, anl
they are universally discarded; but thu
T balance are as sound as when first pu
!, together. We have fought several i'm
: portant battles while standing united OIL
K that platform; but the moment we ste]
d from it we shall see the flaming sword, :
IS which will be our destruction.
., We cannot allow new banner to b
C raised as we are about entering the Ian,
d of promise, nor new counsels to diver
II our steps. From Pisgah's top we hav
y looked out upon Canaan, and are abou
P claiming it as our reward; but men VIII
o know nothing of the fatigues we hav
n endured; the hsrdships to which we hav
n been exposed; who did not look outupo
e the Red Sea as it closed over and en-
% gulphed our enemies, would wish US t
u travel again over the same route that the
> might share in the victory.
y The great curse of the Free State part
y has been its repeated conventions an
d elections. We, in Lawrence, do not fes
re them; on the contrary, every delegat
9 who comes from distant part of th
lie Territory is expected to leave some mono
ot IN the town, and we are all made richs
y for their visit, and the oftener the bette
y but we forget the fable of the frogs, whic
our friends in the country are repeating
as "Boys, though it is sport for you. it
st death 70 U.s." sar ID
re Delegates who come from the extrem
a portion of the Territory, to attend cor
T. ventions in Lawrence, are frequently p,
ID to an expense of from fifty to one hundrs
re dollars, especially if they are compelle'
m IS they often are, to hire conveyanc
he A hundred delegates to attend Terit'
" rial Convention, are thus taxed from SIS
re 900 to $4,000, to suit the caprice of . fe
men who chance to be clothed with "a
little brief authority" as committee mel
If they do not attend and submit to tn
re sacrifice "for their country's good" VIII
he is the result? Why, Douglas county
e. always fully represented, and she has