The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-09
r. d. Hsrn,a Of J. freedom. =, !. !, ].
Le.ser from Jrage suiia.

FOR u1e deTb4 gf 1sccSfo1a Y
Letter from Jrage Smith.
Mr.. BRowN-DEAR SIR I'll most eur
phatically approve of your suggestion for
a Convention Of the Free State party. a;
Big Springs. in May next. That is bal
lowed ground; the platform upon which
the friends of freedom fought the glorioss
battle ofliberty, not only for Kansas, but
for the whole world, was made there on
the 9th of September. A. D. 1855, with
a foundation broad and strong enough to
hold all who were honestly opposed to
slavery. Every one who attended that
Convention viii remember the gloomy
prospects Of the Free State party at tha,
tine. A Legislature, elected by a mob
from the States, had Just closed its ses-
sien at the Shawnee Mission, and had
done everything in their power to ensllve
Us. The national administration, urged
on by the slave oligarchy of the South,
was doing all in its power To rivet the
chains Of slavery upon us, which rendered
it important in our declaration of inde-
pendence to embrace az parties in the
Territory, who were willing TO Fl sht under
the banner Of freedom. We took the
field, aud martialed our little band. un-
der this solemn compact, amid the dark
clouds that were lowering over us. threat
ehing, every moment, fearful storm that
would engulph us in the dark sea of
slavery. Blu; relying on the Great Je-
hovah /; the justice Of our Cause, and our
own strong arms lead, as it were, ..by a
clond by day, and pillar Of fire by night"
we achieved one of the most glorious vie
tories ever won by the friends of liberty
in any country. What, then, is the impe
rative duty of every honest man, who
enlisted under the blnner Of the Free
State party, flung to the breeze at Big
Springs? 1t is as plain as the sun at
noon-day, that we are bound in honor to
all who fought that good fight, to sail on
in the good old ship until we are safely
moored in the Union a free State. Every
one who entered into that agreement, on
the 9TH Sept, 1855, and abandons it be-
fore the term expires for which he enlisted,
is deserter, and ought to lose the con-
fidence of all honest men. do not deny
but all who have come into the Territory
since that time, have the right to pursue
whatever course they please, and form as
many parties as they see proper, without
dishonor; but say to all of every party,
who pledged themselves to stand by the
Free State organization until admitted
into the Union as free State, hold fast to
your integrity; you are not discharged un-
til that object is accomplished. Let us
carry out, in good faith, a compact which
has met the appreciation of a kind Provi-
dence, and the approval of every lover OF
liberty throughout the world When
safe in the Union, then every one to his
tent o Israel Political organizations
ought TO be as honestly conducted, as
private transactions between man and
man; for if not, they must end in the de.
struction, not only of the party which act,
from dishonest motives, but in ruin and
disaster to our common country, as i,
most abundantly proven from the presenr
situation Of the country, brought about b,
dishonest, profgate politicians, under the
name of Democracy, and which may b,
accomplished again, under any other name
unless the people take the matter out .
the hands of mere politicians, aud thinl
and act for themselves. These disaster.
in the government Can only be remedieG
by return to the old landmarks estab
lished by the fathers of the Republic, IL
its formations, aud prActiced for man!
years.
And in hkg manner, must the glorious
old Free State party Of Kansas, which ha,
vic;oriOnsly triumphed over enc mics Wi b.
in and enemies without, abide by tn
land marks established by it, and until
has accomplished its mission. by carry in.
out in good faith the pledge, That settn;
III lo ,,c,
tics, it is incumbent upon us to proffer al
organization calculated to recover ou
dearFs; rights, and into which Democrats
and Wings. native and naturalized citi
zeGs, may freely enter, without any sacri
fee of their respective political creeds, bu
without forcing them as test upon Others
And that when we shall have achievef
our political freedom, vindicated our right
Of self government aid become on iadepen
dent State Of the Union, then those issues
may become Vita, as they are now dor
mant; then will be time enough to divid,
our organization by these tests. the i'm
portance of which we fully recognize il
their appropriate sphere" But enougf
for the present; % word to the wise il
sufficient" l may, upon future occasion
give some reasons to show that the Ere,
State party is not too large, (as allegec
by sone,) to accomplish the object TO
which it was organized.
| GEO. ". SMITH.
News from Chase County.
| CoFToSwooD FAILS, Chase Co.,