The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-16


two weeks since, but has been delayed
in order TO give place to matters OF
pressing importance:
RosEDALE, Kansas, Dec. 20, 1858.
G. W. BRowN-DEAB SIR :-Permi'
me through your paper to answer the IL
quiry which has often been made by nu
merous friends in the States with regard
tn your position relative to the Free
State party in Kansas.
answer this inquiry the more freely
because in most instances it has come
from personal friends and thosesknown
by me to be the true friends of freedom
1t has been argued that your endorsement
of Reeder, Geary, Walker and Stanton, are
proof positive of your attachment To the
Pierce and Buchanan Administration.
Your denial of this was only to make
more certain the destruction of the party
10 which you professed the warmest at
tachmeHt. If this were not so, it has
been asked how the opposition you meet
with in Kansas from Free State men, and
journals, both in the Territory and the
States, could be accounted for Some
have explained this ON the ground that
you were Democrat Others that you
were not really imbued with anything like
an Anti Slavery spirit. Some have gone so
far as to predict that before next spring,
you would be openly and avowedly a
Pro-slavery man.
Possibly the effort to show that your
position has never been equivocal, or in
any way contradictory upon the Anti
Slavery question, or rather the Free State
question, which is the only phase the
question has yet presented in Kansas, will
be more than shall prove equal to /; but
/ have certainly no hesitation in trying.
With regard to the endorsement Of
Reeder, Geary, Walker and Stanton -
First, this endorsement has never been
unqualified. The Herald of Freedom has
never evinced any of the zeal in its en-
dorsement Of these gentlemen that par
tisan journal rs always sure to manifest.
1t has simply said where any Govern
ment official in Kansas discharged his
duties as honorably and faithfully as the
dilemma i'll which they were placed would
permit, wiz, having sworn to execute
laws never enacted by the people)
such person or persons should receive his
approval whenever they went beyond
what their oath of office bound them to
never. On the contrary, he would de-
nounce wrong doing and oppression, come
from whatever quarter it might. If thi:
be not both honorable and polite, we are
not able to comprehend what constitute:
the one or the other. If this be not do,
ing as we would like to be done by, theI
We think the golden rule should be SIM
pfifed, that people of common understand.
ing might comprehend it. Now as to the
policy of treating these men in friendly
manner, and with the respect due to thei
several stations. None will deny that i
is the right and privilege of the Presiden
to appoint or select the executive judicia
officers of the Territory.
And it is so plain proposition that n,
argument can make it palmer, that mel
in any situation when met in friendl,
spirit, and treated with confidence, ar
more likely to reciprocate that friendship
and confidence than they are to thus ac
when repulsed by coldness and distrust
This being the case we think, as We hav
always thought, that Mr.. Brown wa
right when he said, "I can conceive of n
good result that will be likely to folio,
from seeking quarrel with Gov. Walk
er." Many Others if they did not reaso
differently they certainly acted differently
1t would seem from the course taken b
many persons in this Territory, and eve
out of it, that to quarrel with Gov. Walk
er,was good per Sc. All this class of pei
sons have invariably and incessantly de
nounced Mr.. Brown, as being indiheren
as 10 the success of the Free State party
and even seeking to build up the Demo
cratic party. Whether this last charg
has not been the ghost that has fright
ened some people out of their senses
Granting they were ever in possession 0
the hairs of anything so desirable) we ar
not entirely certain, but nevertheless fee
confident such is the fact.
But let us see whether experience a
well as reason will justify Mr.. Brown il
the course he has pursued with referenc
to the several gentlemen alluded to-
Gov. Reeder lost his position because h
possessed too much manliness for tn
work required of him. He returned t
the States and became one of the mos
efficient and able lectures of the Presi
dental campaign in favor of Free Kan
sas.
Gov Geary labored to the extent of hi
ability to restore to the people their los
rights. After having sustained the Gov
ernment for considerable time from hi
own private funds, he was obliged t
abandon his position. Gov. Wake
came, and by proclamatiens and speech
es, told the people what they might ex
pect from him. Mr.. Brown said "wel
enough" Others said ''these are onl
words of promise to the ear; they Wi
never be kept to the hope" But th
Governor redeemed all his pledges, an
is now advocating our cause at the seat Q
Government, aud throughout the State:
Secretary Stanton has made good all hi
promises, and even sacrificed his high pc
sitien, for the good of Kansas. Whethe
the people of Kansas viii soon, or eve
cancel this debt of gratitude, remains t
be seen. If not we hope they will nc
again ask from Government officials. Q
tools of the Administration" as the
are pleased to term them, for favors whic
they are certainly under no legal obliga
ton to perform.
From what has already been said,
win beseen, that Dir. Brown has only don
in advance what all have been eompeile
subsequently, to do. There are none in tn
States or Territory now to be found VIII
are base enough to denounce the men Ml
Brown has been previously denounce'
for sustaining. Perhaps, however, it
his misfortune, and even his crime, tha
he saw in advance, what others hav,
learned by experience. We leave other
to Judge of the seriousness of this charge
One word with reference to Mr.. Brown,
feaity to the Free State party. He is moi
strictly speaking, a party man. He la
claimed to be an Independent Journalist
frequently asserting that when Kansa
shall become Free State, his missiol
here viii be ended. So that if he ha