New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-20
THE soeus Eli. cTIoN DISCUSSED.

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the top of a tall tree. Yes, nine-tenths Of Kansa
having business to perform went about it with sturdy
| zeal Ope.haH Of the remainder wished to know
"wbo the devil he ?" and The balance started in pur
quit of his pro TEN E1celleney, shook hands with him
spddesiredto be avenged of their sdversaries When
can address to the people of Kansas Territory.
| signed F. p. Stanton Acting Governor" appeared
in The LcomptOn Union, minute fraction Of Kausa.
managed to get copies Of it, and with these il created
no disturbance whatever. Pro-Slavery on both sides
Of the Missouri read that the Administration recog
"nizes the authority Of the Territorial Legislature
OF course" said Pro-Slayerv "what did we elect
them for Free-State read the same thing and in
dulged in about the same style eff comment. d" Rec
Ognizes, o certainly" When this penumbra Of the
new Administration appeared in Lawrence, aceompa-
ed by Border Rufan in steeple boots the citizens
greeted him pleasantly and called him " Governor.
They received pleasant greeting in return; Gov.
Robinson made up tea-party for Gov. Stanton and
his travelling companion and it was announced that
hr. Stanton would address the citizens in the evening
My impression of Mr.. Stanton, derived from some
little intercourse previous to bis speech, was not I'M
pleasant. The impression derived from the speech
itself far from gratifying happened to be pres
ent at the tea-party mentioned above, and, nothing
confidential TRANSFERRED and nothing but courtesy and
good feeling manifested ITSELF shall take occasion to
report parts the conversation to which was
listener. l DO this more especially because it pre-
sents q brief summing up of the positions Of two par
ties in Kansas, and hints concerning third II will
be seen that the discussion mainly conducted by
Gov. Robinson and Mr.. Stanton's friend from LecOmp
ton, Gen. Mclean, who casually Informed us that
he led the advance guard of the 800 braves who
marched t0sard Lawrence sometime last Summer:
McLedn-WheDever the Free-S State party il Kansas
convince me that they have an actual majority of the
residents of the Territory over the National DemOc
racy and my friends will be found making prepara
tions to depart. If the National Democracy
Ro61nsoA-We won't dispute about titles, General,
unless they have an especial significance, but would
like to hear your definition of National Democrat.
McLe0n-A National Democrat is any from the
North or South, from the East or the West whose
faith is clearly enunciated in the Cincinnati Platform
ROJ9RsOn-But | happen to know several men in
Kansas answering just that description, who declare
themselves utterly hostile to Slavery These men are
mostly newcomers. They say they voted for Buchan-
all for the purpose of making Kansas Free, and now
they are on the ground to contribute still further to
that enterprise. What is the distinction between these
and the Free-State party?
Stanton-If you call one party Free-State, General,
you must certainly call the other Pro Slavery have
found men claiming to be Democrats myself, who in
tend to vote for FreeStae delegates to the Constitu-
tional Convention.
McLedn-That is all very well; but prefer name
which applies equally to all sections of the country
something National By the National Democracy of
Kansas understand that party which proposes no in
reference with the rights of the South.
RoLiason--BHt, my dear Sir propose no interior
ence with the rights of the South, and yet | shall
object to anybody's fastening me to the Cincinnati
Platform.
The National Democracy have invited the Free-State
men to come TO the polls certain day and deter
mine by vote which party has majority OF the actual
residents Of Kansas. You freeState men hold E0n-
vention and resolve that you have fourhfths OF the
population and that you 'front.' r0te. Now what sort OF
consistency is there in this!
Robinson-The action of the Topeka Convention
was predeated on certain facts which have been well
known to the National Democracy" from the begin
ming. Ftrst The Free-State men of Kansas have
never recognized the Territorial Legislature, as
some people call it. Whoever else may recognize it
or fail to recognize it, the FreeSate men denyits legal
existence. They claim that it was thrust upon them
by foreign power. They claim that II is not even
Government de tdcto. They do not appeal to It's laws
nor have dealings with its officers. No one pretends
TO execute these laws, and they exist merely for the
benefit of the Public Printer. Consequently, the Free
State nothing i'll the proposed election but the
old farce with new decorations and scenery No law
REQUIRES them to vote. They will not interfere with
your voting. They have no objections to your doing
all the voting In this way you viii secure unanmlty.
and reason why the plan should give the
" National Democracy moments uneaslhess'
SCcoadlv The law providing for this election takes
all power out ofthe hands of the People after the dele
gates are elected. II thrusts the Constitution INTO
Congress as the work of the People, without giving
the People an opportunity to pronounce upon that
work These delegates may frame Constitution in
fiinging the Liberty Of Speech and the Press Ihey
NAV decree test-oaths a. qualification for vohng
They may make murder balla0e onenSe' ihey
NAV infringe the right Of the People to assemble to-
oether in peaceable manner to consult Tor their COM
mon good They may establish Negro Slavery or any
other kind of Slavery permanent institution OF Nan
sas. They may take away the night oil amenaihs ,hs
Constitution from the latest posteTity. We have had
specneus of all these things IN Kansas Legislation,
and we have business to infer that the creatures OF
any Legislative body will be better than the Legsa
ture itself The Free-Stae men regard 1t as lndlspen-
sable that the entire work of the Constitutional Con-
yention be submitted for the approval or dsapprova
Of those whose welfare ii affects. IhUdy The Free
State men regard that the whole machinery OF this
,,,fN fbn hap nf fbalTh enc
mics and that 10 safeguards are ineIposed for theu
protection either in the vote itself or the subsequent
counting of the votes need not enumerate tor thls
company the provisions of that law IN this regard
The experience of the Free-Stae men ON former ocea-
spns has not been such as to impress them tav0raDy
with the elective franchise as operated by the bogus
LEGISLATURE Men who have lived two years IN Kan
sas understand that the Fiee-Stae party have no
rights on election day which Mssourans are bound to
respect and none which the United States Govern
ment takes the trouble 10 " recognize. The pro-
vision of your law concerning the registration OF votes
does not prevent the registration OF authe Unemployed
residents Of esern Missouri, nor does require that
the actual residents of Kansas shall be registered
Your registry being perfected the result OF The cleo
ton is ascertainCd before the voting commences.
After the voting is finished We have no guaratee that
the returns viii correspond either with the
ballots deposited the printed list OF guam
fed voters ! free 10 confess that |
doubt the integrity of three-fOurths OF the officers
| who will conduct this election. We solicited,
| in the face of a two years experience which
requires comment from me, 10 Contde every
thing hold dear American citizens TO the keep
ing of worst enemies and go away trusting 10 their
honor, presumDg that they have sufficient virtue 10
register but actual citizens OF Kansas to register
all the citizens of Kansas TO receive the votes OF all
the citizens who coSe TO vote to make the returns
according 10 the ro!cS even IN such returns ruin
the business which has afforded them occupation for
two wears. The Free-State men of Kansas are not
| such idiots. The evidence is overwhelming that this
election was net intended TO ascertain the relative
-
deraud them of all their rights and make slave STATE
| of Kansas. So much for The Topeka Convention