Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-01-29

houn? We know our men are elected, and with
God for our leader, wo will have cvcry branch Of
that government.
VOICES. Ago the time for action has come.
LANE Certainly it has Why the very chill
drcn in tho streets declare that the time is here
when tyranny and usurpation in Kansas must
cease (Applause.)
met friend to-day and asked him "what Log
latures arc you member of ~ Well, he began to
count them over, and he hadn't got through when
| came away lie said 81 belong to the Topeka
State Legislature, and the Territorial Legislature
and tho Lecompton State Legislature, and" we'll
there left him. (Laughter.) There many Of
friend. who belong to all three Of these bodies
But now we have these governments, what shall
do with them That is The question. | over
heard man remark to-day-and think If he had
said it to me | should have spit in his facc-with
all due respect to him ghter) that if tho Lc-
compton Constitution should pass Congress, he
didn't know but We ought to take that government
and live under it, until we could change it. Great
God That Free State man should say this, in
the face Of the resolutions Of the ID of December
resolutions passed by stern and unyiedng men
the descendants of stern and unyiclding ance.-
tors We entered into solemn league and COW
cnant, plcdgng before God our lives, our proper
ty, and our honor, that would ncvcr permit that
government to 60 into effect on Kansas soil. cloud
applause). But to carry out the suggestion have
just alluded to, must break that covenant, tar
nish our honor, and violate our plghted faith
With such a movement have sympathy. Gap
plausc)
Why is it that Kansas tonight is not covered all
over with slaves? There laws in our bogus code
recognized both by th, and the lato Administration
which legalizc and regulate slave property here
Why not their provisions carried out Simply
because people said those laws were not laws,
and should not be enforced in Kansas. But for this
our Territory would have swarmed with slaves.
If we consent to live for moment under the Le-
compton Constitution, soemnly believe that Kan
.as is lost to freedom. Wemay be brought into tn
Union under Pugh's bill gotten up to deceive the
North y but if we receive it, the free and the slave
States cquali1cd the floor Of the T. s Senate
andno free state will sgain be admitted to tee
| Union unless it is hand in hand with the slave
States.
What excuse i. there then for backing down from
| our position Of tho I'd Of December If We had
taken different sort Oft swear at it, the would
| bo changed. We might have pledged our lives our
| fortunes and our honor, ina solemn oath before
| God, that would never permit the Infamous GO
vernment TO go into efect-unless we should elect
/ all the officers under it (Laughter.) But we
| have Just as much excuse - and no more--as our
fathers Of the Revolution would have had for back
| ing down. l think see "old Put favoring such
| policy
Well, hero is tho Topeka Constitution and Gov
| eminent 1t was born in great tribuaton, but
born logitimately; it is tho child Of tho people OIL
| Kansas. They cherished it's childhood; they love
| and respect its manhood Applause Ithas long
| been our cloud by day and our pillar of fire by
night; now it seems to be the political ark Of oui
| safety.
| "But Lane" says one, "why you don't propo,,
| to rush into rebellion, do you" Rebellion Why
| l met Sam. Walker to-day and he said: {" I've go
a writ Of hdbeas corpus from Cato, for John B. Hen
| derson." sam. didn't find Henderson, though, anC
| | suppose that was rebellion; but didn't feel ny
heart beat any quicker on account Of it, What d.
| We care for rebcllion' What do we care for writ
from Cato or Perkins?
| However, TO relieve sensitive friends, viii
say that We don't design to 60 into rcbellion-jus
| vet But do propose to get the old ship ready
| to frame n code Of laws by the Topeka Government
| to oganIe the townships and counties under it.
| to have everything ready for starting at moment
| notice And then if the Lecompton Constitution
| shall PASS Congress 1pect Gov Charles Robin
| To issue his proclamation as Chief Executive o
| the State Of Kansas-ve expect 70 unmoor the oil
| ship and let her O.. Tremendous applause don
sec rebellion in that, but do SEQ consistency an
| manhood
If il is rebellion for US 10 insist on our right +
| live under own governmcnt--a government bor
| Of the popular will, baptized in tho blood Of on
martyrs and endorsed by the peoples vote, then W
| are ready for it. (Applausc) But difer from gen
tlemen who call this rebellion 1t was not rebel
| lion whom done by our brethren in Michigan an
| California Oh no. then it was the people exeros
ing the right Of self-governmsnt, as won by our ia
| thcrs,
Blu, we have also tho Territorial Government
| wha: shall we do with that 1t wasa distinct IN
Outstanding, at the Convention in Topeka an
| Grasshopper Falls whom resolved to go int
the territorial election Of October last, that "
only did so to pave the way for tho people
Constitution and Government. Out" says on
"thero ARC some FREQ State men opposed 10 the
| Topeka Constitution" | deny it. When W
shall pa.. it through another Constitutional Con
Convention as tho Territorial Legislator
will provide for. not Free State man il
kansa. will oppose it, That Convention need
to sit but few days. 1t may do nothing per
haps but ndopt resolution like this;
| Resolved. That the Topeka Constitution is an
has been from the day Of its first submission t
the people, the Constitution Of tho State Of Kan
| sns.
Our old settlors-our pioneers-need no sac
| action hut by this measure all our new settler
will be sati.ied-and Congress will DO either salts
| Ted or .ultifcd. Then presume every officer IN
der the Topeka Constitution will have the magma
| nimitv To resign. and leave the field open for al
| Free state men.
1T is good Constitution" say. one "but
owe. hundred thousand dollars" This is a mi:
| take The whole debt Of the Topeka Government
| is less than $4,000. Well, that's an enormous sum
And if there is any trouble about that, presun
the cold line" Of tho party are ready to assume it.
| "But If this plan is carried out, why should tn
| Topeka Legislature now pass a code Of laws -
Simply that if the last emergency does come, W
| may be ready at a moments warning to redeem gu
pledge, and put the government in motion
1t is the utmost Importance that both Legi.la
lures should act together-should act harmonious
that we may present an unbrokcn front to III
enemy. The simple fact, that in the TerritoriG
Legislature half the countie. in tho Territory ar
DISTINGUISHED, is sufficient reason that it should
nothing but repeal the bogus code, or else shoul
lcgi.late in concert with the Topeka Legislature
which represents fairly every locality.
Let us he ready then to put the Peoples Gov
eminent in motion-let US prepare the vessel
trim the sail.--and soon Kansas will be safely an
triumphsnty moored in the harbor Of Freedom
[Applausc,l
Tho weather is exceedingly cold this morn
ing and the woods and fields are covered wit
a coating Of frost 80 heavy that it looks Xix
snow. A. D. r.