The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-12-17
PnOsPEoTUs
OF THE
HFRATD OF FREEDOM.

editor and publisher was associated With prior
to the springof 1851. 1t was established as carly
as 1854, and since the appearance Of its second
number on the first Of January, 1855, it has been
issued with great regularity, save during the
summer Of 1856, when it was suspended because
of the turbulence Of the times, and the impris-
onmentof its editor. 1t has now reached nearly
the middle Of its fifth volume. Numberless
journals have been established in Kansas. fitted
their brief existence. hurled their anathemas at
the HERALD OF FREEDOM, and passed away since
its first appearance, yet our paper Lives on"
and its independent and truthful position is ad-
mitted by every true lover of the cause il was
established to advance.
The HERALD OF FREEDOM is no ephemeral
affair, and its politics have never been equivo-
cal. Though pdrFisdns have labored to place it
in false position, and charged il with being
mercenary and subsidized, yet it has always been
the firm, unfolding friend of freedom, and too
devoted to the prosperity Of that cause to resort
to subterfuge, calumny. or vituperation in its
defense. Its circulation. although somewhat
abridged in consequence of the stringency of the
times, is far larger than any other published in
the Territory, and is now rapidly Increasing.
We purpose at an early day to give it a new
dress, to materially improve its form and genera
appearance, add a literary department, and
make it all its most jealous friends can desire.
without abridging, however, one particle Of its
trHhtfHlness or fearless Independence.
The HERALD OF FREEDOM has been violently
opposed because its motives were not fully under
stood. The people of Kansas robbed of their
Liberties by an invasion Of their franchises in
the autumn of 1854, and for long time stripped
OF every political right. it was but natural that
they should be extremely sensitive Of every move
ment which they did not fully comprehend, and
particularly jealous of the guardians Of public
. interests who had control of the press, We
cheerfully excuse them for whatever hard things
they have said of US.
We were first denounced for sustaining the ad-
ministratiOn Of Gov. GEARY. When he abandon
ed the Territory every Free State man among us
regretted his leaving, and now say "he was the
best Governor We ever had" Letters from val
pable Republican friends in Pennsylvania, who
wrote tiiat they had known JOHN ". GEARY
long and well, and who assured us that 'his
heart was in the right place" prompted us to
sustain him. We fsel proud that we did so.
When Secretary STANTON came here we ex-
tended to him the hand of friendship, and the
HERALD OF FREEDOM, instead of abusing him,
did what it could to set him right in regard to
our history. Mr.. STANTON il now laboring in the
Republican ranks, and VIC trust shat infiu-
ence will never drive him elsewhere.
Gov. WALKER came to Kansas. A long con-
fdentiAl conversation with him on the second
or third day after his arrival, and renewed fire.
quently, gave us a high opinion of his honorable
intentions towards the people of Kansas. We
sustained him as far as we thought him RIGHT;
md
acroRg. Look back upon the history of that peri
cd when every Republican paper in the nation
was pouring gall upon us, and who is there now
who does not approve of our course with Gov.
WALKER?
We advocated the getting possession of the
Territorial government by competing with the
Prc-slavery men for the Offices, When pro-
posed this on the 4th Of July, 1857. We were
threatened with annihilation, but the policy
prevailed, and the Territorial governments now
welded almost wholly by Republicans as con-
sequence Of that line Of policy.
The Pro-slaVery party had laid trap for our
perpetual enslayement, in the guse of the lie
compton Constitution. eysurrounded it with
such features that they thought Free State men
would Keep wholly aioof from it. With strong
backing from the federal administration and
could only get possession of the offices under
it.their struggle foryears would be accomplished,
and Kansas would be slave State in earnest.
we saw and felt this and as carly as July of 81,
advised the election of all the Offices under that
Constitution, in casean opportunity was denied
-nsto-vote it down. In deposition to hundreds of
personal friends, and in direct conflict with the
action Of the Free State Convention of the ead
and sd of December of that year, we advocated
the measure. 1t triumphed, and to-day Kansas
1sfree,whereas by differentline Of policy Kansas
would have been slave State long since and the
Institution would have received such strength
from the movement thatt scourge would have
been fastened upon all the Territory west of us
es well as upon Nebraska.
One Of the first to become identified with the
Free State organization, we were unwilling to
surrender itfor any other party until Kansas wa:
State in the Union. We fought as long as We
could to perpetuate that party, and only surren.
dered when completely borne down by over.
Whelming numbers. Though violently opposed
for trying to keep up that organization, yet We
feel proud that we were not the one to sell out
nor desert the party while corpofars guard re
manned to defend its blood staiued banner"
Throughout our entire connection with Kansas
affairs we have sought only for peace. Instead
of laboring to embroil Kansas with the people o.
Missouri, we opposed il from the first and advised
the practice of the Christian virtues toward
them. When they invaded the Territory, wresteC
from US our franchises, and sought the an
Inhalation of every Free StstesettIer. we opposed
them. and resolved to resist them to the death i
need be, We always talked about acting on tn
on ha Asa
as they withdrew their armies, and invaders, W
were ready to resume amicable relations wit
them, and had no notion of holding all Ms
souri, responsible for the murders and villain
of some of the basest of her population who al
tempted to harass our people on the south east
ern border; neither were we in favor of gettin
up civil broil, or a servile instruction merel
to crafty the caprice of Old John Brown. job
E. Cook, Richard Realf, J. H, Kasi, an
their endorsers, aiders and abettors, who a.
still so numerous in Kansas, and who acted ar
sympathiZed with these men while here,
whom we might mention a large number were v
disposed.
five have opposed men for Office whom othe
supported 1t was because we felt the best int
ests Of the country and of Kansas demanded
WehaFe sought nothing for ourself; havee
"a luOO- no cOInDlnatlOnS Dy which we nave Z
changed the support of our friends, (ofwhich '
have always had son'e,) for the support Of othe
We have labored to keep wholly independent
all parties and cliques, because we felt that o
influence in behalf of the cause which broug
us here would be advanced BY it.
Nowis the time Of all Others to subscribe fort
HERALD OF FREEEoM. Winter, with its 10
evenings, is at hand, and the news, both FRI
Kansas and abroad, will possess unusual inter-
during the next six months. Congress and Q
Territorial Legislature are about to convene
The former viii be called to act upon our
titiOn for admission as a State into the Uni
upon Land Grants to Kansas, and payment
our Claim debt. Our Territorial Legislatl
will have a large amount of business to trans
of absorbing interest. The HERALD OF Fri
DON will keep an eye upon those bodies, and z
whatever of interest transpires IN either of the
Through its columns the most important la
as passed, will probably first be given to the pl
lie. Though its sympathies and feelings
all with the Republican party, and i will g
its entire, unreseryed support TO the Republic
nominees Of the National Republican Cow
ton yet il will not preyaricate in the least