The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-07-10
LAWRENCE, KANSAS. JULY TO- 1858.

worth remain the Constitution and Gov
eminent OF Kansas This was thought
necessary, because, if the Leeompton Leg
islature should fail to meet, Marshall (the
Lecompton Governor) would most proba-
bly, have appointed two pro-slavery Sen
ators and, at all events, the Q. s. Senate
would not admit Senators under the Leav-
enworth Constitution, during the nominal
existence of the Lecompton. 1t was re-
garded by us as no more of a recognition
of the Lecompton government than would
be necessarily involved in the act of kill.
ing it-a recognition of its technical exist
ence alone, and of its possible power fer
mischief In short, those who had achiev-
ed the victory, and had stormed the last
citadel of the enemy, were determined,
before abandoning it, to destroy the bull
warks and spike the cannon. But political
leaders (of whom some had taken no part
in the fight, some had come to the rescue
when victory was at hand, and some had
fought the Free State men while they were
fighting the border ruffians,) denounced
and misrepresented the use which the
voters proposed to make of their victory.
They saw in it an acceptance of the Le-
compton Constitution-a base aud treach-
erous submission-and they crowded the
columns of the Eastern papers with letters
and speeches, denounciDg as traitors, Ar
nolds and Iseariots, those who favored that
plan, and warned their friends abroad that
they were covered Lecomptonites.
These denunciations passed here for
buncombe, and had no effect OH the sober
intelligence of Kansas. Abroad, however,
they have encouraged the Lecomptonites,
and excited forebodings in the minds of
our friends-and your letter is the fifth or
sixth have received, asking whether the
English bribe may not possibly meet with
favor in the Free State ranks.
The character of the English bill is as
generally understood here as in any of the
Northern States-and much more generally
despised The mind Of every man is made
up as to the vote he will cast upon it
The proffered bribe will get no hearing
before the people. but will be rejected with
indignation and scorn. 1t will not add ali
hundred votes to the strength of the naked
Lecompton. If the National Democracy
make no effort in its behalf, it will be voted
down by about eight thousand nagjority-if
they make such effort, it will be voted
down by about twelve thousand majority
The. pro-slavery party will vote for it, and
some of those Douglas men who prefer a
slave State. The rest of the Douglas
Democracy will go against it-and the
faces of the united Free State party will
turn all one way.
There is no terror to the people of Kan
sas in the threat of temporary exclusion
from the Union. l feel safe in saying
that if they could have had the control OF
the Territorial government from its organ
ization, they would not yet have asked
admission. They sought to be admitted
under the Topeka Constitution. only to
rid themselves of the usurpers who had
the Territorial government. After get
ting control of that government, they
| framed the Leavenworth Constitution,
merely to defeat the Lecompton. The
people of Kansas are poor, in debt, strug-
CLING to open their farms, and make homes
for their families, and have neither the
numbers nor the wealth to bear the bur-
den of State Government-and tney will
not hasten to assume that burden, or to
beleaguer the doors of Congress for ad-
mission. Very truly yours,
THO. EWING, JR.