The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-05-14

of the "Law and Order'' party, aud under |
took to enforce the laws thus made, and |
thus perpetuated, upon free people, by |
the aid of federal bsyonets, backed by a
mob from the State of Missouri aud other
Southern States, fed and pay ed and srmed |
by federal money. -
In its effort to carry out this design, the
most shocking excesses were committed
by the federal officers charged with the
duty of breaking down the will and
crushing out the spirit of the peopleof
Kansas, and the history of '56 was written
in blood and devastation all over the face
of our Territory. Our towns were sacked,
our farm-houses burned, our lands laid
waste, our horses and cattle, and all
other property stolen, and our people muir
dered in their own houses and on the
public highways, by these men employed
5y tie national erecutiue, and paid out Of
the national treasury to do these deeds
of infamy; and the leading men Of these
times, such as Jones, Clark, Emory, Whit
field. Woodson, &c, are today enjoying
fat offices at the hands Of James Buchan-
an, as reward for their fdit.ftslness and
participation in the bloody transactions
Of that period, whilst others, who were ap-
pointed to do mischief and whose feelings
revolted at the task, such as Reeder,
Geary, Walker, Stanton. Wier, &c, are
disgraced and stripped of all power and
emolument by the man who rewards the
others,
In 1857 this party assumed still another
name, and called themselves the ma
tional Democracy" Under this name
they made and refused TO submit, the Lee
compton Constitution to vote of the
people for their ratification or rejection.
Under this name they stuffed the ballot
box at Kickapoo, Delaware Ferry, Shaw
nee, Oxford, MCGEE county, &c., and ter
minated the campaign in 1858 by en-
closing the "returns," the living, burn
ing, damning evidences of their disgrace,
in "candle box" and burying the same,
with its filthy contents. in the ground in
the city of Lecompton, fit place for the
tomb of such an incarnation of fraud, cor
ruption and perjury.
In 1859 the party still cling to the
name of Democracy-not that it has not
been disgraced as deeply as any of its il
lustrious predecessors, but because they
have come to the end of the list of party
names, are compelled to own the name,
however much it may be darkened by
spots that will not ''out at their bidding"
Such is the history, and such the re-
cord of the party with which we have to
contend to-day. Though that party has
repeatedly changed its name, its policy
|. and practice has been uniform and un-
checked. Its great object has been to
maintain the institution of slavery in
Kansas against the aciN Of the people thereof.
To accomplish this purpose, all the black
catalogue of crimes that have Gisgraced
} the annals of Kansas. have been perpe-
J trated. Usurpation, theft, arson, frauds
upon the ballot box, and cold blooded
murders, have marked the line of its pro-
gress, and have been the means and in
struments by which it has sought to ac-
, compliSh its designs and fulfil its mis-.
sion.-
With this party We have to contend
: to-day. Its object now is to secure ma.
jority in the Constitutional Convention tc
, meet at Wyandott on the 9th day o
July next, and then to frame Constitu.
ton establishing slavery in Kansas, and
perhaps submit that Constitution to the
: people Of Kansas, knowing that it will be
voted down by an overwhelming majori.
ty, and thus to defeat the will of the peo-
pie lately expressed in favor of Consti-
tuition and State Government, and relieve
the administration and its friends in Con.
gress from the responsibility of rejecting
our application on the heels of the con.
test Of 1860.
, During the past five years, a sketch Of
/: the political history of which has been
. given above, the opposition have had but
, one name. "FTee State" and but one OBJ.
iect. that Of making Kansas a Free State
by the fairly expressed tciW Of the people
The great leading principle for which W,
, have contended, and for the maintenance
: of which many of our people have suffer
? ed loss of property, imprisonment and
death, has been and is to-day, the grea
boon for which our revolutionary fore.
fathers contended, simply. the invaluaW
! and inalienable right Of sell. !f.gOusrment.
At this late day, when we are about tc
accomplish the great object of a five
years struggle-when we are about t
/, bring forth the capstone with rejoicing
. and complete the work 80 nobly beguI
and earnestly and boldly prosecuted, W,
can see no good reason for abandoning
our long cherished and honorable name
i "a name endeared to us by every con
e sideration that should endear any nam,
"a name that stands before the worlC
: to-day without blemish, and identified
with deeds Of honor and patriotism un
; surpassed in the records of past time
:. name, at the mention of which the ap
+ plause Of the free goes up to Heaven
!: name that good men everywhere deligh
to honor
With this record of the past and thi
+ true exhibit Of the present condition
of parties before us, VIC can see no goo,
"a reasoa why our lines should be extended
. why we should leave our intrenchmsnts
! why we should introduce other and ne,
party tests, that may drive from our side
those who have nobly stood and Tough
in the ranks in "the times that tried mem
souls"
One of the most difficult maneuver
the commander Of an army is caIle
upon to perform, is that Of changing from
in the presence of an enemy, and no goo
general will undertake it, unless the sal
u vation of his army depends upon its sue
t cessful accomplishment, and unless il
Y success is secured by the strongest proba
), bility. f. g
Is there any such necessity now exis,
:. ing in the Free State army?-is our posi
n ton untenable, or have any of our lne
r. been broken? We think not. Has on
i enemy abandoned the field, or has hi
means for aggressive or defensive WI
y been shortened? Is there any defect
lie his appointments, or have his supple
been cut of? We think not.
is The same power that supported tn
IN Pro slavery and Border Ruffian party {
u, "a an1 '55, the Law and Order party {
lr '56 and '57, and the Lecompton Nation,
Democratic ballot-box stufing party
:. l,6Q aisa c,, nrnrfa tha Ruchanar nao.n<