Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-05-20
KANsAs-ANIMpoRTANr srATEMENr

To the Editor Of the N. Y. Daily Times:
As the proposition of Governor Robinson
and other Free State men, to Mr.. Secretary
Stanton, seems the cause of different judg
ments on the part of our Eastern friends, an
explanation of the causes which produced that
proposition may aid in the formation of cor
rect opinions concerning it.
The writer hereof was present at Lawrence
during Mr.. Stanton's speech, and heard il all:
and participated in the conversations which
ensued between him and the citizens during
the same evening and the following morning
Hence what shall here state will be given of
my own knowledge, and will also be substan-
tiated by various others cognizant of the same
facts. The most important of these facts is
this: that Gov. Robinson's proposition
the result of Mr.. Stanton's own suggestion.-
During the supper which followed the out door
speeches, Gen. Mclean admitted that the law
providing for the election of Delegates to the
constitutional Convention, had been framed
with great care to ruin the Free State Party
knowing, 10 use his words, that by it sswe
have you deadi'' Afterwards he ATTEMPTED to
account for this ruinous anticipated defeat, by
the great numerical superiority of the Pro-
Slavery Party in Kansas. So absurd a state
ment drew out a burst of good humored ridi-
cule; and amidst the excitement Acting Gov
ernor Stanton inquired of Gov. Robinson and
others whether they were willing to make a
fair trial of strength, if chance were offered
The reply unhesitatingly,was eyes" ssWhat,'
said Mr.. Stanton, would satisfy you2'' ssAn
honest revision of the census list, and half the
judges of election was the reply. The plan
proposed in Gov. Robinson's letter was then
mentioned; he approved that part relating to
the census, and thought the other might be
satisfactorily arranged. He was told that he
had not the power to secure these changes
but expressed himself confident that his in
iuence would suffice. At his own request,
the proposition was reduced to writing and as
he had left Lawrence before its completion, it
sent to him at Lecompton.
During the next morning, in conversation,
he reiterated his confidence in being able to
secure the eco-operation of the Sherffs and Pro-
bate Judges in this plan, and left town with
the apparent expectation of receiving and act
ing the proposal.
knowing all this, you may imagine my as
tonishment at the tone and character of Mr..
Stanton's answer! / had no faith in the sue
cess of the plan, but did not look to see him
so unhesitatingly and disingcniously ignore
the whole offspring of his Owl: wish, and coolly
assume to instruct his memorialists in the very
principle of law and matters of fact which they
had taught him a short time before. He was
told that he would not be allowed to execute
any such plan, at the same time that its propo-
sal was yielded to his earnest entreaties; yet
here we have him imparting to his correspon-
dents the very ideas he would not receive from
them
But the cause is clear; having found, on re-
turning to Lecompton, that his friends, the
s'Free StateDemocrats," (Sherfi Jones, Judge
Wood, Gen. Calhoun, &c.,) would allow no
such tinkering of their just and fair Conven-
tion Law-which it is the confessedly special
policy of Mr.. Buchanan to see .sexecuted''-
Mr.. Stanton was obliged to retrace his steps
in the easiest way, and chose this path. w.