The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-03-20
For tie Herald Of Freedom.
r....e, fro-n NJ fJrns,c.,
MAxHArrAs. KIT. Feb. %. ,5a.

u
your issue of the 18th inst. ! notice an
extract from one of my private letters,
which contains an expression or two liza
bic to be misunderstood. The clause to
which refer is in reference to submitting
to the Lscompton Constitution, provided
it should pass Congress in a modified
form. Among the host of intelligent
freemen now IN our midst, I do not feel
that my opinion is worthy of any special
weighr, still Fam not willing to say or dc
anything that can be construed to favor
the Lecompton swindls.
lam in favor of submitting to the Le-
compton Constitution rather than have
civil war, provided that it passes in such
q modified form as will enable us te
amend it exactly as we please. But if il
passes as it is then our rights and honor
demand that we should resist it with ali
the energy of freemen. 1 am unable to
see how the Constitution can be altered
at any time as the President of the United
States asserts. The constitution, when
properly ratified By the people and accept
ed by Congress is virtually contract be-
tween all the parties that its provisions
shall be faithfully carried out. If it pass
es Congress unmodifed how can we amend
it before the hour of agreement, which is
1864? And if received how can we change
the slavery clause at that time? IF we
adopt the Constitution as our own, we
certainly adopt it with all its provisions,
one of which is that slavery shall nerer be
interfered with. Whether the Supreme
Court of the United States would not re-
quire us to fulfill all our clearly expressed
contracts and obligations, is a question
each one can decide for himself. And
now sir, In view of these facts and in
view of the great primary fundamental
right of self-gove'rament, I hold that we
cannot receive the Leeompton Constitu-
ton without the most humiliating degra-
dation. We must lick the dust of nncon-
ditional submission, and like the ancients.
"kiss the great toe" of our oppressors.
The freemen of Kansas will do no such
thing. They will bear, they have bourn
enough already to revoIutionize almost
any other people. They have done it for
peace, for the Union," )" and from sense
Of christian duty. Are our expressions
never to end? Are we still to be pursued
and misrepresented by the very Govern
ment which should ever be watchful over
every right of all her citizens? Must we
tamely submit TO the dictation of a for
eign power and lick the dust of abiect de-
basement, because the parent gov
eminent has Joined hands with our ene-
mics in overthrowing our liberties? New
err no never. If the purity of the bal
lOt-box, the only safeguard of american
liberty, cannot be extended to Kansas in
violate, better, far better, for our children
and mankind to throw UP another Bunker
Hill monument. Far better to sleep at
the foot of a gigantic column with the
sons of freemen. than to yield up our
manhood, our rights and our liberties to
any earthly power.
1t is the unquestionable duty of re-
publican people to submit to gross wrongs
before they resort to physical force to re-
gam their rights, but when the last peace
iul means has been exhausted, when the
nlsh, the sacred aud blood bought citadel
OF human freedom has been overthrown,
taen the decisive hour is at hand.
Until nowI have not been without some
nope that either in the Senate OF House of
representatives of the United States,
'nefe' would De found generous and patri-
QUO spirits enonghto triumphantly vindi-
cate our cause. fear am mistaken
we must receive fraudulent Constitu-
'0a apd that forced upon us. IF so, the
s'' Is cast and we may as well prepare for
'ae work. The next mail that reaches
~wlli probably tell as that our chains
as nVesed fast. What is the, Union worth
y the right of self-govemment is stricken
e03ns The Union, so dear to every true
american, what is its value, if the bal
~s00x is to be trampied under foot?-1
"as u come to this, that eu general gov
1nenI has become so corrupt that it is
-0N Wiling to prostitute its high powers,
% ,aosasredly dedicated by the blood of the
revolutionary patriots, to the work of
,0'e'hs on the toll worn sons of Kansas a
naadulent Constitution?
iae Organic Act of this Territory con-
.''s ample and unusual Territorial powers
- 'he people. It is our Charter, our.
us'l'aslon. These rights have been
'' ~antonly wrested from us by outside
frauds ess s'ee'oA
~ i0rce and by iugglery tricks has the
:. '..oox' the only safeguard of Ameri-
~ noefty been stricken down, and now
' Federal Government sanctions the
s.aec IS. wrong By forcing the product of
enormous crime upon us. There is
a'sfnative left. We have done ali
h, : aoald do The last peaceful measure
!. !, osen exhausted. and now IL pressed
'as wall, let us As one man vindicste
sa's Let every freeman in Kansas
ea' before high Heaven that no earthly
Eve. shall force on Us the Leoompton
,h.'aslon, ~ until it has first been made
A'ading sheet of her freen,en.
-sSs ho man cllar1a ~, .x.:x5. z...xs-.- !.