The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-11-27
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Our Reasons for Sustaining the Big Springs Plat
form.
A friend suggests that we are inconsist-
emit with ourself in standing upon the Big
Springs Platform, and asking Others to
stand upon it, when it embodies views
which we do not endorse. Let US ex-
anime the subject.
Until the Convention which assembled
at Big Springs on the 9Th of September,
1855, the Free State party was in chaotic
condition. The elements were here, but
in an unorganized form. When delegates
were elected to that Convention, the issue
was made in nearly every district in the
Territory of black law and anti-black
law. Every person who read our journal
at that time, will bear witness, that we
exerted all the influence in our power to
secure the election of the anti-black law
delegates in Lawrence, but was defeated,
and the black law delegates went up to
Big Springs to form platform, and orga-
nize the Free State party. The black
law men were as much in favor of max
ing Kansas Free State as were any of US
radicals; but they urged that if free
negroes were allowed to settle in the Ter
ritory, that Missouri would turn all her
free negroes upon US; that they would
mako their slaves toll for them until they
were worn out and worthless, not able to
pay for their own support, and then they
would be sent over to Kansas as taxes
upon our charity. Of course we replied
that We recognized the lineaments of
humanity in the negro, though he was of
different hue, yet none the less man.
He was brought to America against his
will. Since here, he was entitled to an
existence, and home, as much as were
those of Caucasian descent; that while
we were contending for our own freedom.
it was but just to extend to all per-
sons who desired to locate in our Terri
tory, the same freedom which we enjoy.
But many said: eve will sooner vote
to make Kansas slave State, than free
State, if it is to be the resort Of unedu-
Gated negroes, just released from slavery
in Missouri, and other slaveholding
States" Indeed, it was felt that these
black law men, as they were called, from
Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, con-
stituted very large proportion of those
who were in favor of making Kansas a
free State. In the election of delegates
to the Big Springs Convention, as we have
before shown, they had a majority in that
Convention, and they controlled it.
Should we, who were radical in our views,
rspudiate these men; stand aloof from
them, and ensure the establishment Of
slavery in Kansas or should we Join
them and secure as much of freedom as
possible, and wait the proper development
of the public mind on this subject, and
ultimately make it all we desired?
This was question of momentous i'm
portance, and it was finally decided in
favor Of taking half a loafif we could get
no more.
The Big Springs Convention, made up
OF, and representing Democrats and
Wings, Free-soilers and Americans, all
abandoned their distinctive party organi-
cations, and merged into new party with
Free State inscribed upon their banners.
We were panied, as hundreds Of others
were, to see the black law feature en-
grated on that platform. We were
equally panied to see the same position
endorsed by the people, in direct vote,
when the Topeka Constitution was sub
mitted to them but it was the voice of a
majority of the "sovereigns" Of Kansas,
and we asquieSced in that decision for the
time being, though very reluctantly. We
did it the more cheerfully, in view of the
expression in the 9Th resolution of that
platform, which, after declaring 'that the
best interests Of Kansas require a popula-
ton of free white men, and that in the
State organization we are in favor of
stringent laws excluding all negroes, bond
or free, from the Territory" yet "neuer-
taeless, such measures shall not Be regarded
as test Of party orthodoxy"
Though we are rejoicing over our vic
tories, Kansas is not yet free State
There are still difficulties in our way, and
revival of this hateful question is the
most dangerous subject which can be in
tToduced into Kansas politics. We have
only labOred to keep it out of sight, not
that We have changed q single principle
we formerly entertained on this question,
or desire the freedom of all mankind any
the less than formerly. In fact less than
two months ago, we took occasion to ex-
press our individual views on this ques-
ton, and probably took more ultra grounds
than any other editor in Kansas dare take,
and that was that we were in favor of ex-
tending the right Of suffrage to every
person, without regard to age, color, or sex,
80 soon as he should arrive to years of dis
cretion, so that they could understand the
principles of government, and could read
undertandingly the constitution of the
United States. But while these are our
individual views, we do not desire to press
them upon any person, and shall not do
50. In religious views we chance to en-
terrain opinions in common with the Uni
tarians, yet no person can say that We ever