The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-05
The Lsavsnwor.A oonstiuaep.

The Leavsnworth Constitution.
The xenia 7orehliglt, a Republican
newspaper edited by WV. B. FA1RcHILD,
Esq, and certainly one of the best edited
papers in Ohio, in its leader of Nav 18th.
under the head of sThe Leavenworth
Constitution, after introducing its subject,
fsnd remarking that the vote on it would
take plaza on the Tuesday following, thus
discourses in regard TO it,
There appears to be some Earring
among the Free State forces as to the
policy of adopting this Constitution in
advance of the final disposition of the
| Lecompton Swindle," as it is thought
simply to be still further entangling the
already sufficiently mixed up constitution
al question in that much distracted Ter
ntory. 1t IS thought to be quite evident
and upon this there can be no doubt
that the application to Congress with this
| instrument IN view of the late action of
that body, will simply result as did the
application with the Topeka instrument.
Two facts are quite elear-irst, that no
hope can he entertained for favorable
action by Congress upon any application
which does not come in the tortuous way
marked ont by the English Swindle.-
and second, that the making of Consti-
tuition and its adoption by the people docs
not constitute Kansas q State in full
brotherhood in the Union. The Leayen-
worth Constitution s0iH Be votef upon and
adopted acithoat opposition-and what then?
So was the Topeka Constitution. A set
OF State officers viii be elected under il.
So there was under the Lecompton Swim
die. Here will be three sets of officers
under three different constitutions. And
what does the Free State cause gain by
all this! 1t appears important that Kan
sas be admitted into the Union, and if the
Free State men desire this result. they
will find it necessary, in the first place. to
get rid of the Leeompton Ssoiadie, by the
rejection of the bride offered in the late
action of Congress, and then fight their
way to majority in future convention.
So long as the present Congress exists.
this is the only hope. If the Republicans
carry the next House in Congress, it does
not better the chances for the success of
any other course of action. The Senate
will be, for some time yet, the impregna-
BILE fortress of the Pro-Slayery party, and
no Topeka, no Leavenworth Constitution,
though it be the unanimous choice of the
people of Kansas, can find favor in that
body. This is a sorrowful truth, and a
dlsgraceful one, too, in view of the fact
that majority of that body claim to rep
resent a free constituency. The slave
holders and doughfaces who control it.
have determined upon particular line of
policy, to which, We apprehend, they will
adhere-aad the result of it will be to
keep Kansas back until her population
ranks something like one hundred thou
sand. Admitting this to be the case, is
anything gained by the accumulation of
Topeka and Lecompton Constitutions, and
Topeka, Lecompton and Leayenworth
State officers? 1t looks to as like BEATING
the air.
1--WE trust the PEOPLE of Kansas-not
the Jim Lanes and other similar indiyid-
uals who are watching the chances for
office-will determine upon line of poll
cy, and then adhere to it, even should the
result be long continued territorial state
of existence. If that policy involves the
adoption of the Leavenworth Constitn-
tio2, all well-but take that, and abide
by it to the end. Under the bad lead of
ambitious small men, the Free State cause
has run a narrow chance of becoming |
farce. By their advice, the fairest oppor-
tunity to have throttled the whole brood |
of Border Ruffian politicians and to have |
shaped the political destiny of the Terri |
tory by controlling the Lecompton Con-
ventiOn. was thrown away simply because
these men held off;ss or had hopes under
the Topeka instrument. Having worked |
this mischief, in the name of the Topeka
the same individuals now
discard that instrument, and have induced
the making of another, simply, it appears
to Us, to procure new shuttle of the DO
Iitical cards. The reader will bear in
mind that this is done, not by the FREE
STATE PEOPLE of Kansas, who are true
as steel upon the question of liberty,
but by political hacks whose importance
depends upon the amount of noise which
they can make under the name of Free
State-ism. We confess dislike for the /
whole of these self-constituted leaders,
and want of faith in their love of lib |
erty."