The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-09
Earae Asrald er ntseson.
Letter from franklin.
FRANKLIN. KAN. Anril III. so.

Mr.. BRowN-DEAR SIR We were
tru Nv glad to real in your last paper a call
for FREE STATE CoSvENTInS at Big
s. rings on the 81 proximo Fur along
n me we have been panied to see the posi-
I ION of parties in this Territory. Many
Of us have been connected, in the pasf,
with the Democratic and Wing parties
/, she Republican party having been formed
:since our settlement in Kansas. Neither
tof those parties exist to-day as they did
when we left the States. The Wing
party has ceased to exist, and the Demo-
cratic party is governed by different conn
seIs, and directed by different men from
what thy were in the past
The Republican party Of 1856 was or
ganized to meet an emergency then ex.
isting in our national politics-ln emer-
gency which. if it exists now, has assumed
an entire different character. WHAT issues
these parties will present to the country
IN 1850, isone of us can satisfactorily de-
termine. To organize these parties in
Kansas nov on the old issues, is TO drive
many of us into positions we do not care
| TO occupy. Either of those parties may
adopt measures in the next Presidential
1 canvass whi' h we cannot endorse. As we
are who'll disconnected from these par
ties, We choose to remain so until the is
! sues are fairy made, and then we will
select between them, and save ourselves
the censure and mnrtifcation of leaving a
! party, with which we have been associ-
at ed, to connect ourselves with another.
The Free State organization, made at
Big Springs on the 9th of September, 1855,
was brol'l enough in its provisions to EN-
brace all who were in favor Of making
Kansas a Free State. without regard 10 their
former political associations. That or
ganization was made in the darkest hour
ct our political history, and was maisly
instrumentalin defeating the willy schemes
tof Pro Slavery men TO cnsave us, and
fasteu.the institution Of slavery upon the
country forever. All parties who were in
favor Of freedom to Kansas, merged them
selves into this party, under the distinctive
name of FREE STATE, and its members,
in adopting the Big Springs platform,
pledged themselves to labor together iu
This organization until Ktpsss sic,.id '5s
eosae an independent State Of tie Union -
(! Having virtually taken that Obligation
when we connected ourselves with the
Free State party, we feel that we would
be guilty Of a great breach of faith to
other members should we abandon it now
and though not crime punishable by
law, yet we view an abandonment &C it as
moral treason, and deserving Of the
sevrrest cenSlire.
Kansas is not yet "aa independent
State in the Union" Until it is. the mis-
sion of the Free State party Is not ended.
There is vet a great work before us. 1t
is duty we owe each other, and the
whole country, 70 work together in the
great party of Freedom until the glad
shout of victory shall ring over our lovely
prairies, and echo along the distant hill
tops, and be caught up by millions of
sympathizers in other States then We
can well say : at is time to divide our
organization by national tests and parti-
san issues, and each man is at liberty TO
take the name of Democrat, Whis, ma
tive or otherwise, as his own inclination
shall prompt him"
Thus feeling, and thus acting, we thank
you for the suggestion in regard to Con-
vention at Big Springs on the 3 of May
next. Whether it is better on that day
than at a later period in the month, is for
Others to determine; but let the call go
forth as soon as possible, and let the Con
vention be held, and let the masses I've
represented there. We have no fears OF