The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-05-01
For lie y erald Of Freedem.

IL muSt eefsatHiy escape oy that lnSSfu-
mentality from the thraldom of anarchy.
No sooner has "Lecompton" gone as
supposed, to the tomb of the Capulets,
than "Leayenworth gives birth to q con-
stitution to supply the void" Let US look
at some of the features of the new born
stranger before taking it to our embrace.
We confess, as its friends refer its pater-
nifty to the people, we feel fatherly in
terest in its welfare, and are far from in
tending to turn our face away, yet we wish
to scrutinize the new conner little. Is
this the one to which our eyes have been
so long directed. or do we still look for
another, to save US from the despotism of
the slave power. or that of majority which
may be equally fatal to liberty and justice :?
Permit me to occupy a little space in
taking glance at the Leavenworth Con-
ssitution. Is this a free constitution-iree
from any faint of injustice do the great
principles of human rights, and does true
democracy underlie it? Can under it
every human being stand up freeman. or
must we still bend our necks to the yoke
of slavery, and after all our struggles
consent to do the bidding of the slaue
poDerf
We look upon any government as right
fully founded, only in the consent of the
governed. That consent can only be OBJ
tanned by submission of the form ofgov-
eminent to the whole people who are to
yield their allegiance to it. Now to pre-
clude any portion of the people from pas
sing upon the fundamental law-the Con-
stitution-is no submission at all. Prac-
tically a majority must govern, but an as
eertained majority. If one portion can be
precluded from voting upon the submits
sion-can be denied the privilege of ex-
pressing their dissent, on account of color
or particular caste of ancestry, so may
other portions for like reasons, and there
shall be instituted under the guise of re-
publicanism, the tyranny of a usurping
majority or minority, as may happen
The true doctrine is, submission TO the whole
people, upon the great political maxim
that "aH men are created equal ;" which,
if it has any meaning, must signify equaE-
ty of political rights. There is no other
possible form of universal equality among
men there's no other way of vindicating
that great truth than by according this
equality to every man. Any other sys-
tenn or plan of government is but des-
potism in spirit, and will soon become such
in substance in however plausible form
it may be presented.
This Constitution violates or miserably
evades these 'tself-evident truths'-frsi
in the provisions for its submission to the
people (D-secondly, in defining the cleo
tive franchise fur future exercise by cleo
tors, limiting it to male citizens of the
United States, and thus excluding negroes
and other colored races, according to the
now received dogma of the national sla.
very party, extrajudicially delivered to
them by certain Judges of the Supreme
Court, and subscribed to by large and
influential portion of the so-called Free
State party of this Territory.
Every community has sort of standard
of morals, high or low, possessing in this
respect the characteristics of individuality
The elevation or depression of this stand.
ard has its effect upon all its members
Once admit corrupt rule of action in the
public administration, you corrupt the
whole community introduce a despotic
principle into the fundamental law, you
have despotism establish an inequality
by depriving particular class of any o.
the rights which the majority enjoy, free.
dom is but name to those whom that in.
equality affects. The only sort of freedom
the absence of which is most keenly felt
is political. You remind at every election
the prescribed class that it is not equal
that it is not free in word you establish
slavery in fact, if not in name.
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE is to be taken a
an axiom, it cannot be submitted sub
mission is denial. The very provision il
this Constitution on the subject admits
that universal suffrage does not exist un
der it.
To whom is the submission to be made
and by whom ? who claim the right Il
submit this question, and whence tina
fright derived ? It were more sensible Il
ask. who have the right to withhold tn,
elective franchise from any man, not Il
speak of woman
It is proposed to establish q govern
ment among the human beings inhabit
ing district Of country within certail
fixed boundaries.
It is admitted that in justice, the con
sent of those who are to submit to tina
government, ought first to be had, tina
assent is to be given or withheld by tn
exercise of the elective franchise. Ye
this constitution stultifes itself by refer
ring this all important question to the de
Icision Of restricted vote-the very re
/ striction which it is believed is mos
prominent in the public minds regard
negroes.
There are some men who never deem
themselves prosperous or fortunate unles
at the expense Of Others. So it seems 4
have entered the minds of many dema