The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-09-03
Ju,,ie. TO th. olaim.p,..

JuBucO 10 tne Clatn1n8.
The Claim indebtedness has met the con-
stant and almost unanimous opposition OF
the Republican press of Kansas. The
Legislature Of last winter made it impera-
tive on the Constitutional Convention to
provide in the Ordinance Of the Constitu-
tion for the payment of the Claim debt, by
the General Government. This was COM
batted by the leading Republicans, on the
ground that there was "no propriety nor
Justice" in making this debt payable blythe
State if not assumed by The General Gov
ernment. The Convention was warned
"against incorporating the assumption of
this claim debt into the Constitution" The
Lawrence Republican threatened the Office
seekers that "The Constitution iciH surely be
be rOted dopn II this Claim debt is to be sad
died on the Slate"
The ofice-seekers in the Convention ac-
ceded to the demands of the Republican
press, they spnrned their legal duty, and
merely passed a resolution asking Congress
to pay the Claims and other Territorial
debt Public sentiment had been attempted
to be manufactured against the claims, by
representing them, in part at least, as fraud
ulent and unjust. When the awards of the
Claim Commissioners are thus stigmatized,
is there a probability that they will be
promptly honored by Congress? When
under the influence Of such representations,
the Convention was induced to so arrange
the claim debt, that unless honored by Con-
gress, ''the party holding an interest in
these claims will never see dollar Of re-
muneration," it has certainly perilled the
payment of those claims at all, by cast
ing on them the odium of reputation at
home. For this reason, to effect this object,
they refused to incorporate in the Ordinance
provision for the payment of the claims
by the General Government as a condition
of admission. OF course these men are
intensely gratifed at their success.
1t is claimed that while Congress has
paid the Territorial debt of every other
new State, "yet, rather than hazard our ad-
mittance to an equality with other States,
that customary gift was asked for as
boon, and not demanded as right" For
this modesty, this hesitancy, to ask for our
rights, the Republican party deserve what
ever Of praise is merited. They expect to
appear before the Federal Government as
suppliants. They take great credit to
themselves for thus Glowing the knee" to
what the same class Of men have just char
acterized as "the most corrupt and des-
perate Administration which has ever
marred the annals of our national history"
They ask this boon of General Govern
ment which the Lawrence Republican claims
"has wreaked terrible vengeance upon us
for refusing the Lecompton swindle and
standing tue to Liberty" If the General
Government is the engine of despotism, and
the people of Kansas ga dependency, colo
ny, satrapy, a despotism," as is pretended,
certainly it is useless and absurd to expect
any favors from the Federal Government,
and the lie direct is given to Republican
pretences. They knew it was perilling
utterly the claim debt to put it in the posi-
tion it now is, or they were aware that their
ljeremiads over the doleful condition Of
Kansas and their diatribes over the perse-
cution of the Federal Government, were
electioneering falsehoods. Let them take
either horn Of the dilemma, they will, they
stand f-convicted, of insincerity, base
ness and falsehood.
The Federal Government, they assert, has
ever most foully tyrannized over Kansas
and yet they have endeavored to place thu
people in the attitude of supplicants t.
tyrants! They tell these outraged people
your claims are just, and should be paid
but we will not pay them, and will assured
Iy vote down any constitution assuming
them as part of the Territorial debt; no
are we willing to assume that the United
States should pay those debts as an act O.
Justice to the sufferers, and hence have re
fused to incorporate such demand in tn,
Ordinance. We, they say, have no faith il
the Federal Government or in its sense o
justice, but have cast you upon its bount!
and, if you fail, you will never see stive
, of that Indebtedness Their motto is "Eve
ry man for himself, and the devil take tn
! hindmost." Having secured the creation
of large number of Offices, to be filled b.
, themselves and friends, they care nothing
, about the rights of the people.
Just SO far as it was in the power of tn
Republicans of the Wyandott Convention
: the claim debt was repudiated, and ever,
, vote for that Constitution is an endorse
ment of the rightfulness of that repudia
t tion. We do not believe the people will
) thus surrender their rights, and indorse tn
; villainy of Thacher & Co., who care moth
ing for the people unless they can thereb,
: gain place and power.