The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-07-03
ae asra,a q Freedom.

cation, an error was made in printing,
where it reads "the South and the ADJ
ministration really have no interest in
this election, only to defend the govern
ment under the Lecompton Constitution
The manuscript reads, "dJeat the govern
.ment under the Lecompton Constitution"
It is urged By some, that it is much
better for the people of Kansas to remain
8 Territory, that they are not able to sus-
tain State government. To this propo-
sition beg leave to dissent. The Gen
eral government pays small proportion
of the expense of sustaining a Territorial
government, and what it does pay is in
part our own money. The county expense,
the most of clerk hire of the Legislature,
and hundred other things have to be
paid by taxing the people; and school
fund, to make the common school system
effective, must be raised IN the same way,
when, as soon as we become State by a
general Act of Congress, FIVE per centum
of the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands will be paid into the State Treasury,
which would be amply sufficient for years
to sustain State government, our COM
mon schools, &c. But if we remain Ter
ritory a number of years, the public do
main will be disposed OF, and we lose all
benefits to be derived therefrom. As a
State, we would also receive grants Of land
for Railroad purposes, which will be with
held as long as We continue in this IN
settled condition, together With grants for
building capitol, penitentiary, universe
ties, &c. 1t may be said Congress viii
appropriate money or lands to put up pub
lie buildings. Ifthey do, where will they
be erected? It is contended that the seat
of government cannot be removed as long
as we are Territory; if so, these build
ings will be erected at Lecompton where
all the swindles-as they are called-have
been concocted and matured, and the last
place, as have always understood. where
the people wanted the seat of government
located. To be sure, the Legislature can
remove it as soon as we become State,
but if they do, as matter of course, Con-
gress will not appropriate either land or
money to build on others. So the people
will have 70 be taxed in the end to erect
other buildings, if the seat of government
is removed, and We are kept out of the
Union until the lands are disposed Of
But this question of dollars and cents
does not weigh feather in the balance,
with me. Give the people peace to fol-
low their daily avocations. and they will
be able and willing to pay taxes, fnec-
essary, to sustain government, and their
money will be expended under their own
supervision, by officers elected by them
selves.
We can see other difficulties near at
hand, besides what We may reasonably
expedition past experience. Where isthe
first Territorial Legislature to meet? The
last one said at Minneola. / understand
the Governor says at Lecompton. One
or the other will have to back down.
and, if so, how does the matter stand? If
the Legislature agrees to meet at Leconip-
ton, and they have power to remove the
seat of government, their acts would be
void, for they actually passed law re-
moving it to Minneola. If the Govern
or consents to go to Minneola, and the
Legislature had not the right to remove,
their acts are void, for the Legislature
must meet at the seat of government, and
SO we must be year and half or two
wears more before we know whether We
have any laws or not, for it appears to be
difficult to tell what laws we have at
present, at least there is a glorious uncer-
tainty about them.
It will be said, no doubt, that l am
becoming troubled; it may be, but I am
judging of the future by the past, and the
old adage is certainly true, that expert
ence teaches dear school, but some will
learn in no other" which is the case here.
Besides all this, Territorial government
is nothing but complete monarchy, at
best, under which people attached to Re-
publican institutions will be FESTIVE of
their rights, and will not bear as much from
federal appointees as they would from
officers elected by themselves, that they
can remove at pleasure. The President
has the sole control of the Territory he can
remove and appoint whoever he pleases,
and what is there to prevent him from
removing Governor Denver. (whom l
admit shows disposition to discharge the
duties Of his Office faithfully and appoint
John Calhoun or any other radical Pro-
Slavery man who viii renew the distur-
/
Dances and keep up this unnatural warfare.
We have an inkling of it already. 1t is
reported, Judge Fame is appointed Mar
shall of the Territory-the man who
headed mob two years ago, came into
Lawrence, arrested some of our citizens
for no offence, sacked our city, robbed
cur citizens, and was engaged in other
outrages at other places. II such things
have been done in the green tree, what
may we expect in the dry. Bpt it is
said the people will not suffer such things
to be done again, that they have the poyeT
now, and prospect of having to useitsto
protect themselves. Why notdoit at onee,