The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19


judgment and conscience of the people
No man of ordinary sagacity and expert
ence in public affairs, will for moment
doubt that these considerations will in
fuence future party contests in the coun-
try, and that the cause of truth and right
justice and equality. will inevitably tri-
umph. l feel the strongest assurance
amounting almost to positive certainty,
that in this respect Kansas will gain, in
stead of losing, by holding fast to her in
tegrity, and suffering even present incon-
yenience- and loss, if that were necessary,
IN defence of her rights and her honor
There is no reason why Congress should
not, IN addition to the ordinary land grants,
appropriate for railroads in Kansas, as
much as was given to Minnesota, Illinois,
or other States containing public lands.
doubt not future Congress, upon the
admission of the State. will perform this
act of justice, in recognition of the stern
and indomitable virtue of asuffering peo-
pie, who will have resisted all the bland
Ishments, as we'll as all the threats of
power, adhering to great principle, for
the sake alone of truth, and right, and
freedom.
But laying aside mere pecuniary. not
to say merccBary considerations, / am
opposed TO accepting the Lecompton Con-
stitution, because it will be the triumph
of wrong in itself, and will rebound to
the advantage Of those who have shown
themselves to be the oppressors of the
people and the enemies of liberty. II
You should be weak enough now, after
you have virtually triumphed, to surren-
derall the advantages to those who have
set this miserable trap to catch you for
their own benefit, you will deserve and
receive the seorn of the people of the
North. and the contempt of the people of
the South. The administration will
claim the result as great victory, and
VIII Justly despise you, even while they
profit by your desertion, at the same
time, both of your principles, and of the
friends, who, trusting to your frmness
and determination, have identified them
selves with your cause, believing it to be
the cause of constitutional free govern
ment. | beg you, gentlemen, to remem-
Der that l have no fear of your decision.
know it is utterly impossible for you to
fai;er or to fall, at this momentous crisis
of your fate. No. You are masters of
the field. The administration of Mr.. Bu-
ehanan trembles, and awaits your action,
with full consciousness that it must
stand or fall as you may determine. If
You accept their proposition, you yindi-
cate and endorse all they have done.
You sustain the treacherous, double
dealing of the President and his advi.
sers. You enable them to deny that
they ever attempted to Cypress you, or to
force upon you constitution which you
have neither made nor adopted, technical
ly, legally or morally. You reward them
for alltheir perseYering wrongs and OPP
presslons. You strengthen their politi-
cal power, and you thus give them the
means of making new and even more
successful attacks upon the constitution
and Liberties of the people. Were it pos
slbfe Tor yon to pursue this course, you
would fall like Lucifer, from the high DO
sitlon of defenders of the cause of free
dom, to become abettors and participants
IN the crimes of those who have sought
by all means in their power, to crush and
destroy it.
Gentlemen, have been Democrat all
my life. | have never been anything
else. Born and reared in the South, un-
til came to Kansas, | never lived out
side of slave holding community. |
am not conscious of having changed any
principle. or violated anv conviction
which entertained before [ came here
came here twelve months ago. firmly
determined to see fair play between the
contending parties, and to permit the peo-
PIE, so far as had any official authority
10 establish institutions for themselves
to make free State ora slave State, as
the majority of the people might fairly
determine. pledged my honor and nv
character for the faithful prosecution Of
this line of policy, without trick or equiv.
ocation, or reservation of any kind what
ever. | understood this to be the demo-
cratic principle to which all men of that
party, north or south, had solemnly
pledged themselves. I believed then
and still believe, with the most conscien.
tious conviction, that there is no principle
more important or more sacred than this
feel, gentleman, that have adhered
to this principle, and if party administra
tons or party organizations, however
cherished they may formerly have been
are now in opposition to it-if they hav,
not merely abandoned it, but have basel,
betrayed it, with every aggravation O
personal wrong and treachery, | SHOULD
despise myself, if / could adhere to tn.
rutrid carcass of party organization
after its life giving spirit and principle hat
departed. The principles of democracy
will never die. But the organization.
which abuse those principles, by perver
ting them TO selfish and corrupt ends
ought to be dissolved and DESTROYED
The democratic party must be re-organ
lied upon the broad basis of constitutional
freedom and popular rights. If thi
new party should enlist under Its banner
most of those who have stood BY til,
rights of the people in this Kansas con
troversy, ], for one, will rejoice in the ex
change OF such men against those, who
having abandoned the democratic princi
pies. are no longer useful to maintain
them.
When l look back no further thar
October last, and see what was then tn,
condition of the Democratic party-wher
] remember how the Kansas policy O
Gov. Walker had effectually restored
peace to the country, and we'll nigh dis
banded the Republican party-when Ire
fleet that the President himself wa,
forced by pablo opinion to telegraph his
friends in New York in the midst of the
election, denying the rumor that he wa:
about to remove or censure Gov. Walker
and when I contrast all this with the
present state of parties, arising from the
fatal change of policy on the part of the
Administration, cannot deny the justice
OF that fate which dooms the authors Of
SO wilfuI q wrong to inevitable destruct.
tion,-a fate which they had brought
upon themselvss,-for which they alone
ara responsible. thourh innocent ,,orsons