The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-30
For TIE Herald Of Freedom.
Letter from e. s. Lovman
T..-pvucp ADril 0A.h s125Q

Letter from e. 5. Lovman
LAWRENCE, April 24;h, 1853.
G. W. BRowN, Eso,-DEAR SR -
You inquire as to my sentiments in re-
gard to the necessity of the organization
of the Old Free State party. 1 do not
flatter myself that any opinions that I
may publish, upon this and kindred sub
jects, will be Of any consequence /; but as
your inquiry is altogether Legitimate and
proper, it is entitled to candid and full
reply.
By portion of the people of Kansas. it
is proposed to organize the Republican
party, which, of course, is intended to
form part and parcel of the national po-
litieal party of that name. 1t is not, as
yet, definitely understood upon what ba-
sis this organization is to be made, as the
call for the convention circulated in this
part of the Territory, is radically different
from the call published and signed in
Leavenworth-the difference consisting in
the fundamental principle of organization.
For instance. the call, as published in the
Lawrence Republican, is for the orgauiza-
ton of the Republican party generally,
without laying down the basis intend
ing, suppose, to leave the question open
for the discussion and determination Of
the convention; whereas, the call pub
| hshed in the Leavenworth Times, is for
organizing the Republican party upon the
basis of the Philadelphia platform The
discrepancy in the published calls must
be settled by those who originated the
movement, if determined at all before the
assembling of the convention. 1t is pro-
bable that the convention will be organ
lied under the former call, and that the
freest and fullest discussion will be had
upon the platform that is presented
Should such be the case, it will be worthy
of note that, for once at least in the his
tory of Kansas, liberal tolerance ofopin-
ion, upon the political questions and poll
cies of the times, is conceded and pro-
tected by that party.
What may be the ultimate decision Of
the convention, as to the platform OF
principles for the Republican party Of
Kansas, by an outsider, of course cannot
be predicted or foreshadowed. These
things are settled, in conclave, and none
but the faithful can know of it. But it is
difficult to conceive how the Osawatomie
Convention can do otherwise than re-
assert the principles of the Philadelphia
platform. Ifthey do less-if they ignore
the radical conditions of the national
platform, and organize on the general
pnEciples of Free Soil, then, at that mo.
ment, the organization ceases to be the
Republican party, and can no more join in
principle, with the party by that name
throughout the nation, than with the
Democratic party.
The Republican party, as such, was or.
ganized to prevent, specially, the intro
duction of slavery into Kansas, and, gen.
orally, to prevent the extension of slavery
into the Territories of the United States
And the repeal of the Missouri Compro
mise, in "a, was the first act that breathet
vitality into that party. If it has any
other positive doctrine to stand upon, i
does not appear in the platform. 1t il
based upon the ''irrepressible conflict be
tween the two systems of labor obtainin:
in the North and South respectively
The rest of the Philadelphia platform il
made up of negatives it asserts nothin,
except opposition. Now this question o
slavery is the distinctive issue between
the North on the one side, aud the Soutl
on the other; or in other words, of tn
administration Democracy and the Re
publican party-all other questions ar
subordinate and insignificant. The lin
between the free and slave States, is th
axis of the nation. The Republican par
ty seeks to prevent the expansion of tn
peculiar institutions ofthe South by posi-
ttve legislative prohibition 1t seeks t
limit slavery to the States where it nov
exists. 1t insists that it is the right an,
bounden duty of Congress to intervene
and protect free soil from the blightin
and contaminating effects Of negro slavery
This is the basis of the party and take
away, and it has nothing to support it,
If the party (Republican) proposes t
maintain the ground it has taken, then
cannot but adhere to the doctrine of Con
gressional Intervention in the Territories
If the platform means anything, it is +
obtain the ascendancy of the Free Soil o
Republican element in Congress, and thu
accomplish, by direct legislation, the pro
hibi,ion of slavery in the Territories
Should Mr. Thayer's proposition, to leay
all domestic questions to the determine
ton of the people of the Territory them
selves, uncontrolled and uDquestioned b.
Congress, be adopted, the Republical
party. as such, would, by that act, be dis
solved-unless (Which is circumstanc
SO improbable as to approach the absurd
it should turn itself into giant corpora
ton to aid the settlement of the new Ter
ritories. If my logic be sound, then tn
Republican party Of the nation at larg
viii, at their Presidential Convention il
1860, re-assert, in terms, the principles @
the platform of 1856, adopted at Phila
delphia, and with the doctrine of Con
gressional intervention inscribed upo
. their banners, go into the fight. lido nc