The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-06
From ae Ssp EanE Tsssss.
Ths IanEas Free State Rsrn.


Ths Kansas Free State Parry.
The Hi5ane is one Of. the ''outspoken
friends of free Kansas'-whatever that
ungrammatical phrase may mean. It
takes great credit to itself for not being
false to Liberty, treaeherous to human
ity," and intimstes serious censure of the
Hsaes for "inpesching the Free State
Party il Kansas as factious and unfaithful,
because-of their repeated refusals to vote
at elections held under Pro-Slayery aus
pices By officers whom they know to have
derived their authority from the most au-
daeious frauds, whereof those officers
were at once contrivers and bene6ciaries. -
We are not especially anxious to avoid
the ziIbsEe's censure, but we are quite
willing to sustain our position. We do
consider much Of the action Of the Free
State party IN Kansas as having been fac
tious-dictated by unworthy personal and
partisan considerations, and calculated, if
not intended, to bring Kansas into the
Union as Slave State. That Party, like
the 1sibune, is committed TO the predic-
ton that Slavery is to be forced into Kan
sas and we are compelled 10 regard very
much of its action as apparently designed
to fulfill the prediction, rather thaD to
avert the evil.
The Tribune insists that the Free State
men could not vote because they could
not recognize the Territorial authority
which had its origin in fraud. Why,
then, did they vote in October? They
waived this objection then-upon what
szround of principle can they review it
nov? The elections, says the Tribune,
are held under the auspices of their oppo-
nents. Very true; so they were in Octo-
Der. The Free State party decided to
vote at that election, and did SO with the
most satisfactory results. They carried
both branches of the Legislature and Sc
cured complete possession of the Terrific
rial Government. Why did they change
their policy? Why did they resolve not
to vote for State officers at the January
election, when they had every reason to
believe that by doing so they could Sc
cure all departments Of the government,
elect both United States Senators, and
have everything in their own hands, in
case Kansas should be admitted under the
Lecompton Constitution? The Tribune
gives no explanation of this remarkable
change of tactics, but attempts an er post
facto justification of it by showing that
Pro- Slavery men cheated at the polls. We
have not the slightest doubt ofit-though
the inaction of their opponents rendered
it quite superauous to cheat largely
But this only affords an additional reason
why the Free State men should have en-
tered actively into the canvass, and either
carried the day or been in position to
prove that it was carried against them by
fraud.
We find in the Boston Traveller the
following letter on this subject, said to be
e from gentleman who has taken dis
insuished part n Kansas politics -
LAwREscz, Friday, an. 8, 1858. :
DEAN SR alt i now believed thai the
Free State men have carried the State
Ticket and majority of the Legislature
under the Lecompton Constitution, not
counting Leavenworth county, which is
still in doubt. The frauds were practical
as usual, but it is believed not quite big
enough to defeat US. You will remem-
Der that this result was obtained after o
State Convention had declared not 10 uote.
| Had that ConueatiOa dectded to tote, TIE
toould hare tTiumphed eueryschere nearly.
Some of US have been in favor of taking
possession of the Lecompton State Gov
ernment, but were overruled in the Con-
vention by, in my judgment, an unworthy
game. But the people, many of them,
determined to vote, and have signaliy re-
buked these tricksters.
fit proues that zoe haze that Government,
Mr. Buehanda can do tOhat he pleases scih
the Constitution, Toe are safe and dependent
upon no outside POscers for protection from.
tyranny.
For the past two or three years the Free
State men in Kansas have claimed to be q
majority of the population; yet with one
exception they have refused to vote, and
have contented themselves with iamenta-
tions over the tyranny which the majority
were practicing upon them. They will
not vote, because the polls are in the
hands of their opponents-snd they are
afraid of being cheated. Suppose politi-
cal parties should act upon this principle
Elsewhere. Suppose the opponents of
Mayor Wood had refused to go to the
polls, because his creatures had charge OF
the boxes and were determined to carry
the day by force or fraud. They would
have deserved the disgrace and misgoy-
ernment which their conduct would have
| ingited. The Free State men in Kansas
faselast ground at every election by theil
4 refusal to vote. They might have elected
1 majority of the Lecompton Conyention,
i as they subsequently, elected majority
of the Legislature-and they could ther
/ have made a Constitution to suit them.
1 selves.
Our adyices from Kansas this nos ling
indicate that, notwithstanding tht ter.
I mination Of the Free State Cont oI
not to vote, enough of che party dsa !. 1
to carry both branches Of the Legislature
elect their delegate to Congress. and con:
4 within 300 votes of electing their Cover
nor Can anything further be needed tc
show that they ought to have rallied il
full force at the polls r. b
> We earnestly hope and believe tia
Kansas will not be admitted int th,
Union as Slave State, and shall suppor
every just movement that seems calcu
lated to prevent such result. But If th.
Lecompton movement should be success
: ful, Its success will be due, in No incon
siderable degree, to the factious and m
wise action of the Free State Party.
5 wssfh Needing.
II has been suggested. and We thin