The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-03-26
Rsnoluiion and plsunion.

civil war, and that their object was plum |
der and a dissolution of the American
Union. When they opposed participa-
ting in our Territorial elections, and brand
ed all who favored the project, with
having "sold out to the Democracy"
"gone over to the Pro-slavery party" or
with being "cowards," we thought we saw
conclusive proof of their real motives, and
we SO told the public.
The summer of 1857 was an important
one. Many good men resolved, at an
early period in the year, to engage in the
elections, and wrest the Territorial gov
ernment, by peaceful means, from the
hands of the usurpers but they were
everywhere opposed by the hireling cor
respondents of Eastern newspapers, and
by portion of the Kansas press. The
Lawrence Republican, and the Leaven-
worth Times, were the Kansas organs Of
those ire-eaters. Many will remember
the meeting at Centropolis, in September,
we believe, of that year, and the peril
nancity of Redpath, Phillips, Thacher,
Walden, Ralph, Cook, Hinton, Conway
and others, all Of whom were early upon
the ground, and active in their hostility
to the voting policy. Some of them made
violent speeches against it, and branded
the Convention as Walker Convention,
and then as Brown Convention.
These men were augmented in numbers
at Grasshopper Falls. They prepared
for more vigorous warfare at the Con-
vention, but their desertion by Gen. Lane.
who had the sagacity to observe that the
voting policy would prevail at that place,
caused them to abandon the further pros
ecutiOn of their cherished plans Ito bring
on narevolution) at that time They had
labored to rally their strength upon the
Topeka Constitution, for the purpose OF
involuing the country in civH war, but
failed.
They took occasion, however, at that
Convention, to signify their position, in a
resolution offered by Phillips, and sohich
,Uas endorsed by all these men, providing
that if possession of the Territorial gov
ernment was thus obtained, it should be
abandoned to give place to the Topeka
government. Though defeated in the
adoption of their resolution, yet when
they returned home they labored to Sc
cure the election of those only to the Leg
iSlature who would carry out their plans.
And when that Legislature convened, in
January, for ten days, bill was pending
before that body, and was gravely dis
sussed, proposing to pass laW legalizing
the Topeka constitution and government,
and then to resign and give place to that
revolutionary bantling. They urged tina,
the people of Kansas could maintain
themselves against the Pro-slavery party
of the Territory, and if Missouri or the
General Government interfered, the sew
cral Northern States would ihterpose,
and give the victory to the party of free
dom. With view to such scheme, q
Military Board was authorized by law
and organized, and Gen. Lane, as Com
mander-in- Chief, caused the entire mill
tary strength of Kansas to be taken, and
issued express orders, directing that those
who refused to be enrolled should be re.
ported forthwith to head quarters, dc.
signed, evidently, to strike terror upon al
opposition.
After the Free State party resolved tc
engage in the election, it was then pro.
posed to get up general icar by massa.
ereing the Delegates 10 the LecomptOn Con.
stitutional Contention. The business mer
of Lawrence viii call to mind the ener.
getic efforts which they were compelled
to employ to chcckmate Gen. Lane and
his cohorts, and prevent their going tc
Lecompton in body. and destroying
such members of that Convention as
should have escaped assassination at the
hands of the tools of Lane. True, many
of them afterwards went to Lecompton,
but they were accompanied by our best
citizens, and they changed Lanes plan oi
assassination into PROTEST, which Lane
afterwards adopted. Who does not re-
member the speech of Lane in front oi
the Morrow House, and the cheer upon
cheer which was sent up when he d.
vulged his plans of murder and arson
and who does not remember the telling
speech of Captain WALKER, which par
tally turned the current against Lane,
and which was followed by the sarcastic
speech of GooDIN, who led the multitude
along, and received the cheers and
plaudits of Lanes followers, until he
turned the tables on them, and said:
Gentlemen, We shall go up to Le-
compton! The people of franklin, An
derson and Lykins counties will be there !;
and when they find that the circulars of
Lane are false; and painting for blood as
they are, and will be, tell you they will
have blood! They have been invited
there to see hanging, and the movers in
this warlike expedition may be disap-
pointed if they do not see one in which
they will participate to fuller extent
than they desire. The people are not to
be called from their homes on every trivial
occasion, TO fatter the vanity or the
clprice of madman.'
Who does not remember the pacific
speech Of Lane which followed; how he
iabOred to put down the storm which bis