The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-12-03

strong, and thrown off the weights that
were designed to crush them.
1t would be out of place for me to pre-
sent you sketch of Kansas history. That
history must be more familiar to you, who
have passed through its scenes, than to
me, who came here, like many other
brave men, after your conflicts and dan
gers were over. 1t were more profitable
to note some Of the lessons that history
has taught US, or ought to have taught US.
The history of this Territory has been
peculiar one II may not have taught
any ne10 truths-for "new things are sell
dom true things" But it has given IL
lustrations of certain truths which have
seldom been SO plainly exhibited. The
past of Kansas has its lessons for her fu-
ture. 1t has left its landmarks on the
road to prosperity, fixed in deep and
strong. Still in our haste we are burying
these landmarks or removing them from
their place. Let us uncover some of these
landmarks, and note carefully their posi-
ton and direction. And remember the
injunction, Remove not the landmarks
which thy fathers, or the past, have set"
forget not the lessons which the past
has taught.
These lessons we shall find much the
same as those taught in the history of the
puritan fathers, and which they learned
so well. Let us learn the lessons of our
history equally well, and we may have
an equally glorious future.
One of the lessons taught us by our
past history is, That the principles of Right
are Independent Of popular naqjorities. The
theory of popular government is becoming
so popular of late, that men begin to think
that everything must bow at the behest
of popular majorities. Tor popuH est
Uor Del" is the sum total of modern po-
litical economy. The ballot box not only
chooses rulers, and decides policies, but
claims the right to decide the eternal
principles of right and wrong. The d.
vine right of kings was never more ab-
surd than the divine right of majorities
as assumed by modern political quack-
cry. The great principles at the bottom
of our civil institutions are all resolved
into the right of the majority to rule. If
the majority decree to cuff Cuffey, then
Cutfey must be cuffed from San Francisco
to the Bay of Fundy, and all good men
must stand by and say amen! 1 could
not help smiling, the other day, at the
honest simplicity of friend, who handed
me ticket at the polls. When de-
clined his offer, he very confidently af-
firmed that he believed that ticket was
the choice of a majority of the people of
Lawrence, as though that settled the mat.
ter, and seemed quite surprised that was
not satisfied Herewith. If it were not SO
serious, and indicative of so dangerous a
tendency, it would be amusing to notice
how the press of all parties truckle to
public opinion. "Wait till after election"
say they, "and we will show you who is
right; as though election could m axe one
hair white or black, in the matter of right
and wrong. How our members of Con-
gress quote the majorities that returned
them, as vindications of their course, and
different members quote these majorities
to prove the rectitude of opposite courses!
If man can only get indorsed by his
constituents, the most shamelesEaRality
becomes the noblest heroisnNSaeS mat
ter if his constituents are as shaM6ess as
himself ~zz oS EE>
The right of the majority to rye, S not
the foundation of free institutionE 1t is
only an erpedient under those institutions,
for carrying out their designs. Let this
be the foundation o. esSovernment and
there are very few governments on earth
but would pass az orthodox, for most of
them could receiWe Fall ordinary times,
a majority of the suffrages of their sub
jects. Free government rests on the asser-
ton of certain rights and principles which
neither kings HA majorities have right
to trausgress. A majOtfy6f the pe0gls
of Italy sustained the Pope in persecut utieSs Z
the Waldenses. A majority of the ps%
pie of Spain sustained tbe horrors of the
inquisition. A majority Of the people Of
Great Britain said amen as the groans8H
the Puritans and the SeSph COvenanters
were extorted by the boot and thumb
screw. But did the voice of the majority
make them right? Jefferson laid the
foundation of civil government on the
everlasting rock, when he said, "All men
are possessed of certain inaienable rights
among which are life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness" Or, as it might per-
haps have been better expressed, every
man has an inalienable right to the un-
disturbed possession and use of himself
and all his faculties.
The right of individ ual se!f;possession
and self-use are the only basis of free
government, and any government that
fully guarantees these, whatever its form,
is free government. But neither king,
nor Congress, nor people have right to
touch these. Strike these and free gov
eminent falls, l care not how large the
majority that deals the blow. Self pos
session is an endowment of uuconvicted
manhood-manhood unqualified by rich
or great, or white or yellow. Popular
sovereignty is doubtless convenient ex-
pedient in settling diverse policies. But
when you make isa fundamental princi-
nle-tha foundation of covernu,ent-;tis Ia