Year: 1859

ah1OA VIZ youNOee OOi4oe-"
tuition, and am glad to see you acquiesce
in the sovereign voice of the people.


The Constitution is far from being
perfect instrument but it is probably as
good as can be made at present in Kansas.


You had your objections to the docu-
ment, and manfully you batsled against
it, till the majority bade you stay your
hand. Like genuine Republican you
needed the deciding voice, and thus vim
dicated your practical adoption Of the
great doctrine of self-government. 1t is
the crowning glory of our form of govern
ment that we yield willing obedience to
the will of the majority.


The specific difference between the
Democratic and Republican parties o. the
present day, is that the former believes
in government made for the people, while
the latter believes in government made
By the people.


The cornerstone of the magnificent ed
ifce of human freedom is self govern
ment. In the despotisms and aristocracies
of the old world, the people are ruled. In
our government, they are the rulers.


The Democratic party of the United
States attempted to expand and perfect
the doctrine of self government but they
soon allowed themselves to be corrupted
by the Introduction of false men and an
aristocratic slave element.


Gen. Jackson's administration was char
acterized by the enlargement of the rights
of the people. Pierce's and BuchanaD's,
by the overthrow of the doctrine of self
government. Expansion under the ad-
ministration of jackson made the party a
tower of strength. Contraction under
Pierce and Buchanan not only gave us a
base-born Lecompton government, bat it
overthrow the party.


Self-government, repudiated by the
Democracy, created the Republican party,
and gave it its present power with the
people. While the Democratic leaders in
Congress were eulogising the doctrine of
self-government, they were doing all that
could be done to force on the people of
Kansas government made for the people
Practically, the Democracy have repudi-
ated the doctrine of self lf-government, and
like Sampson, they are powerless with
the people. Their candidates tell us of
the glory of the past, but they are as ST.
lent as the grave in reference to those gi-
gantic crimes which have driven from
their ranks the real friends of self govern
ment. Self complacently they wrap
themselves in the skin of the lion, but
their roar is the braying of the ass. Ig-
noring the rights os the people, their sun
is shrouded in fearful gloom.


No party can long control the destinies
of this great nation, that does not scrupu-
lously regard the rights of the people.
The people will vindicate the doctrine of
self government, though it wraps thou
sand parties in their final winding sheet.
Non-interference with the rights of others
is the polar star for our political mariners.
Our Constitutional, State and individual
rights must be sacredly regarded, or
"Mene, Meme, Tekel, Upharson," will be
written all over the history of our politi-
cal parties.


But must not say more, or some of
our Republican friends will cry out, Dem
ocratic as they did when respected the
rights of the minority, and gave my voice
for the annexation of needed and val
liable portion of Nebraska.


am glad to see you favor the election
of NJ. F. Conway, but sorry to see an at
tempt made to blacken his reputation by
connecting him with Old John Brown.
Some of US happen to know him from the
moment he came to Kansas. We have
seen him tried. Brides and threats have
had no power to warp him in his course.
In their midst he fearlessly struck the
key note of self-government and personal
freedom, in his memorable repudiating
letter of resignation to the Bogus Legisla-
ture of Kansas. And from that hour to
the present, he has been the same fearless
champion of the rights of the people.


He may possibly have transacted some
legal business for John Brown, and may
have sympathized with him so long as he
confined his action to maintaining the
rights of the people, against the encroach-
ments of Federal and State power. But
that he had the least possible completely
with John Browns mad attempt to inter-
fere with the rights of the people Of Vir-
ginia, is position that no friend will for
a moment admit. 1t would be lie-bill
on his whole history. Such charge is
false, and can have no other object than
to curtail majority which his enemies
expect he will receive. The people of
the Territory will show their confidence
in his ability and integrity by sending
him to Congress to vindicate their rights
and teach the nation the triumphs of self
government in Kansas. Very respect
fully yours, S. D. HOUSTON.


OF The invention for liquifying flint
and quartz, several times announced with