The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-05-01

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Kansas. The organic act failed to secure
one, for two reasons: 1st, the intrusion
OF non-resldents voters and, End, the
improper Intervention of Federal power
Prior In point Of time to the passage oi
this law, but in anticipation of il. a secret
| political society was formed in the west
ern counties of Missouri. The object oi
this society was to forestall the domestic
institutions of the yet unborn Territory by
unfair means. Through the mischievous
Vaccinations Of this association, working
by means of secret signs, oaths, and ritu-
ais, a most formidable power was concen-
trated and disciplined for the destruction
of the popular rights in the Territory, on
the first available occasion. byafhs exer-
else of physical force. An occasion soon
occurred. a census of the inhabitants
and voters, preliminary to the election oil
the first Legislative Assembly, as basis
upon which to apportion the representa-
ton, having been completed and return
ed to the Governor, in the Spring of 1855,
that officer, after regulating the details,
such as defining the Districts, appointing
judges, &C., fixed the election for the Both
of March. 1855. Every intelligent man
in the country, knows what took place in
Kansas on the Both of March, 1855. ]
shall not repeat details that are familiar.
| I-only say tbis-that the secret society
unloosed its folds on that day, and poured
its emissaries into the Territory, with The
ayowed design of bearing down the pop
ulation, and taking possession of the polls
Every precinct in the Territory but one
was carried by the invading horde. In
this manner and by such means. was the
right of the people to choose their own
local assembly wrested from them, and
the power incident thereto, lodged in the
hands of irresponsible invaders.
Being now securely entrenched behind
the awful powers thus usurped from the
people, to whom they rightfully belonged,
the invaders met in the month of July,
and proceeded to enact their guilty de-
signs into the forms of law. Whatever
else may be said of these laws, it cannot
be denied that they are well adapted for
the object for which they were designed
That objectiof course was the retention ot
the ill-gotten power OF. the Both of March
in the hands of its then possessors. To
that end, it was becoming that they should
seek to destroy all the great aids by which
public opinion is generated and expressed.
They buried the baliot-box beneath in
famous or impossible conditions f; invidi-
Gus test oaths were skilfully contrived, by
means of which the elector should either
be thrust as recusant from the polls or
be debauched and demoralized by the
act of submission to the test. Freedom OF
speech was stihed the ball and chain the
collar and the lock, the halter and the
scaffold, were prescribed penalties for the
violation of that saiutary provision OF
despotism, that none shall call in question
the title " of the powers that be-" The
press muzzled and the people gagged, the
far-reaching influence of literature was
next assailed.
The imprimatur of the usurping As
sembly was made as a condition precedent
to the circulation of any printed matter
of political kind. The lessons bequeath-
ed by the Fathers, as well as the best ap-
proved doctrines of our Democratic CO.
tempories, were alike cut short in this
procustean bed. The Assembly tramplec
down the prospective rights of The peo-
pie to municipal officers of their own elec-
ton, and imposed upon them creatures OF
| the invading class, with prohibition ot
popular election for two years. In short
they stretched across the whole field OF
popular rights, as Congress had defined it,
a network of pre6dious legislation, with
| which to ensnare and finally enslaye their
adversaries. Now let me inquire what
the people thus outraged and despoiled
of their rights had to say ito this busi-
ness On the 5th day of September,
shortly after the adjournment of the bogus
Assembly Convention was held at Big
Springs. 1t was the first public assemb-
lage of the real citizens of the Territory
to consider the aspect of public affairs
After reciting the facts as they transpired
in respect to the manner of the election oi
the Legislature, they repudiated its enact
ments, and declared themselves released
from any obligation to acknowledge OF
respect its assumed authority. An issue
was thus made up, on the validity of this
legislation. Those who maintained this
legislation were now reinforced, in this
behalf, by new and powerful ally, the
President of the United States. Already
within the spell of that fatuity, %hieh
hurried him rapidly downward through
every graduation of sentiment, until, from
the pride of the nation. he became its
shame and reproach, he struck boldly out
with the military arm of Government, in
behalf of this great wrong. Instructions
were given 70 the Territorial Executive
to enforce the laws. They were rapidly
reduced TO practice, and state of war su-
peryened. In the month of December,
twelve hundred men, recruited in the
State of Missouri, in response to the call
of the Governor, appeared in Kansas and
were enrolled as Kansas militia. They
were led against village of the interior,
the nucleus of New England settle-
ment, on the specious plea that the in
habitants were hostile to the pretended
laws. For some time, this infuriate force
invested the devoted town, and rayaged
the adjacent country. On this occasion
the first innocent blood was spilled. The
first victim fell by the hand of Federal
Office holder. then, as he is now, recipi-
ent of the confidence as well as the pat
ronage of the Administration. The pow
er of the President was interpesed, after
he had been indicted : to shield him from
any accountability for this dreadful crime.
Amid the gloomy forebodings Of this ex-
-citement, we entered on the year 1856.
The co,erdinate branches of the local
Government yied with the Executive in
prostituting their functions in this unho-
" cause. The most powerful branch,
the one more powerful than all the res,
beside, the subtlest engine always and
everywhere, when prostituted to base pur-
poses, that can be brought to bear against
the liberties of civil society," m can the
judiciary-was particularly CONSPICUOUS in
Its infamous ZEAL The Chief Justice
had. in fact, already violated propriety, as
we'll as his oath Of Office, By deciding in
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