The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-06-18
Position of Parties.


using such means as were thought most
successful in accomplishing the desired
end. The Pro-slavery party first resorted
to the invasion Of the ballot-box, by i'm
porting large number of voters into the
Territory on the eve of the election, and
returned them to Missouri on the day or
day after. By this they gained posses
sion of the law-making power. This was
followed by an armed invasion, with the
view of enforcing the laws, the product of
the first invasion. The Free State men,
true to their native instincts of opposi-
ton to tyrannical misrule, demonstrated
and importuned the general government
for redress of grievances. Although |
they offered no violent resistance which |
could be construed into an infraction of
the law, yet many of them were thrown
into prison, where they were held for
several months, and their property, and
that Of their friends, was destroyed, and
damages resulted therefrom amounting
in the aggregate to probably half
million of dollars.
The Pro-slavery party, still in posses
sion of the law-making power in the win
ter of 1857, conscious of their own wrong,
and willing to make reparation as far ss
they had the ability, appointed COM
mission to ascertain the amount of indi-
vidual losses, with the view of their ulti.
mate liquidation.
Although the heaviest claimants had
no confidence at the time in the success
of the project, and unwilling to approach
the power for relief which had despoilsd
them of their property, they stood aloof,
yet awards were made, in favor of others,
amounting in the aggregate to nearly
three hundred thousand dollars.
In due time the Territorial govern
ment passed into the hands of the Free
State men, and those who sympathised
with the early sufferers in the protracted
struggle for freedom. Conscious of the
great outrages practlsed upon the pioneers,
and willing to do them justice, they pass
ed law, liberal in its provisions, aud en-
inently just, calculated to remunerate
those sufferers, for that of which they had
been despoiled. They initiated, in this re-
spect, the laws of most of the Eastern
States. There, if property is destroyed by
mob or by lawless violence, the city or
county is compelled to make restitution,
on the ground that il was the duty OF
such city or county to preserve the peace,
and failing therein, it was easier for the
masses to sustain the loss than for a sin
gle individual. AS the losses in Kansas
were general, and limited to no particu-
lar locality, and as every citizen in the
Territory shared in the advantages re.
sulting from the early settlement, it SEEM
ed but just that those who came after
should also share the losses. And yet
as Congress had been instrumental in in.
augurating system Of government which
produced this discord and violence, anc
this loss of property, it was hoped they
would, when admitting US into the Unior
as State, assume this debt, and Ieliev,
the inhabitants, who were no way t
blame for the consequences, from its pay
ment. And such still is the hope, found
ed, too, on the practice of the fedora
government from its earliest history il
like cases.
The Democratic party, at its first con
vention held at Leavenworth last fall
where it was organized, generously tool
this matter into consideration, and resolv
ed that it was the duty of the Territory
atan early day, to provide for the paymen
Of their losses. And thus far, not press
or prominent member of that party, a
far as we have observed, has limited
word against the justice of this PROPOSE
ton, or the act of the last Legislature re
lating to the subject. We feel confden
oftheir hearty cooperation in endeavor
ing to secure indemnity from Congress
and failing there, we are sauguine the,
will be willing, in due time, to shar
those losses with the whole people of tn
Territory.
The Republican party have professe,
to be the special friends and champion
of the rights of the early settlers in Kan
sas, and on many occasions they hav
shown themselves to bs such. Will
Pro-slavsry men were pillaging and burn
ing the homes of the early settlers, auC
imprisoning and numbering them, the,
came to our relief, and gave us that ina
terial aid" which enabled us to outliv,
the storm. Their votes in Congress, too
were generally recorded in such a name
as to merit the commendation of our PEG
pie. During all this period, the ears o
the Democratic party were closed agains
us. Not dollar did they contribute 70
our relief; not a resolution of sympath!
emanated from their councils not vot,
In Congress was recorded by them in on
favor. They became our oppressors
and We learned to look upon them a
our enemies; and wrote. and talked, ant
struggled for their overthrow.
Turn We again to Kansas, and hov
stands the case now?
The Republican party 10 just organize,