The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-09-01


SPEECHES OF GENERAL WHITFIELD, JUDGE
PERRIN, AND S. B. GARRETT THE REsoLu-
ToNs.
We are indebted 10 the Lecompton Kansas Ma
tional Democrat of August 20 for the following re-
port of the great democratic meeting recently held at
Osawkee
Al democratic meeting held in front of the osawkee
House, in the town of osawkee, Kansas Territory, ON
Monday evening August 10, 1851, Judge Rush Elmore
was called to the chair and Pascal S. Parks and William
J. Preston were appointed secretaries The president
stated the object Of the meeting in few appropriate
marks after which, on motion, Wilson Shannon, J. W.
Martin William IL. Tebbs, William +. Dyer j. H. 81.
Matthew, d. d. Burnes, s. B. Garrett, r. s. Stevens,
Hugh Cameron, ID. Yandersice, and j. A. Haderman,
were appointed committee to draught resolutions ex
pressiye of the sense Of the meeting
After the committee retired General j. w. Whitfield
was called to stand and addressed the audience in
few we'll timed and spirited remarks Although his posi-
ton and his duties not of political character
vet many had made frequent inquiries to how he stood
upon the issues in Kansas and he gladly embraced the
opportunity here presented of stating his position fully
frankly, and fearessly He was democrat OF the old
school, and good prosayery man as could be found
in the Territory He differed nom many so-eated pro-
slavery men, however He made his ideas upon the pes
culiar institution" subseryient to his democracy, and
thought that good democrats lived in New York as
lived in Louisiana
tuition which will be framed at Lecompton in September
next to the people of the Territory As to who the
people he did not the province OF determining
but gave his opinion that the convention should
leave this question to be settled by the territorial law
which prescribes residence OF six months of the
qualifications of a vote He has heard with astonish
ment that protesting to be democrats and members
the convention bitterly opposed to submitting the
constitution the people He prepared to tell all
such men that he did not believe that such constitu
ton they wished to adopt would receive ten votes IN
Al: ~ a,,.lf %, IJa. If
the opinion that it would be unparalleled piece Of inn
pudence to ask who pledged to the doctrine OF
allowing the people of the Territory to form their in
sttuons In their way to stultify themselves and
vote for constitution which probably did not contain
the views and wishes of majority of the bona tide citi
of Kansas He warned the members of that conven
ton that failure to refer their constitution to the people
for ratification would not meet with favor from the de-
mocracy of Kansas and he pledged himself in such an
event to be among the first to call meeting of all true
democrats Of the Territory for the purpose of opposing
the constitution of that convention and petitoning TO
Congress to reject it.
He endorsed Gov Walker in all his speeches, proca
nations and acts and he expressed abiding confidence
that his exceency would solve the great problem OF self
government amicably, equaby, and to the entire salts
faction of oil rational He spoke in scathing terms
of those know nothing emsaries who have sought and
seeking to lead the democrats of the Territory par
ticularly those who without having drop OF demo-
cratic blood in their veins had been making speeches in
Missouri and asking the people of thatStae to come over
and vote at October election. He knew them WE'LL
out to the black republicans in Kansas they sought to
reinstae themselves in the good of the Mssou
rans by Just such contemplate humbuggery as invo-
king their aid in the coming elections Such men were
unauthorized and all their abos in this regard would be
fruess No person believed that single man from
Missouri coming into Kansas to vote at the election
The speaker made many more home hruss which escaped
the pen Of the reporter At the conclusion of this adj
Dress the committee by s. B. Garrett reported the fol-
lowing resolutions:
Whereas the time is approaching when in accordance
with the provisions of the organic act the people of this
Territory will be called upon TO exercise the highest priv
ege Of freemen in the selection of territorial legisla
ture and delegate to Congress and whereas the prin
cplcs and position Of the democratic party in this Terri
tory have been greatly misunderstood, wilfuy msrep
resented it is due to ourselves to the cause OF TRUTH
and to true national democrats everywhere, who sympa
thize with in effort to establish correct principles
in this embryo State to take her place in the con-
edeacy invested with oil the powers of State sovereign
y that should make public declaration of our prn
cples and define position clearly that neither
friend foe mistake the ground we occupy, or mis-
state the policy we advocate without subjectng himself
to the charge of gross and wilfu Misrepresentation
therefore
Resolred That as members Of the national democratic
party of Kansas and of the Union have undminshed
confidence in the principle distinctly enuncated in the
organic law Of the Territory, (known the Kansas Ne
braska ac that the people should regulate their aairs
and shape their institutions in their own way that any
principle antagonistc to this antagonc to the cons
tuition repugnant to the genius and spirit of nsu
tons and subyersive of civil liberty social order and po
among
Resolved, That regret that designing demagogues
and insane fanatics in other States in violation Of this
great principle have warrantably nterfered in the do
mesc affairs of this Territory and that their machina
tons have been far successful to engener unkind
and hostile feelings among people, estrange those who
should live in faterna concord and convert beau
full Territory into theatre OF civil discussion, strife and
bloodshed
Resolccd, That we hail with pleasure the dawn of
brighter and ausoous day. the return Of amicable
and friendly intercourse among the people of the Terri
tory the free and full discussions of all questions affect
ing political condition and welfare and that we
reprobate the efforts Of all individuals and factions here
elsewhere, who, by their incendary appeals to the
preudices and passions of the multitude, seek to
again the seeds of dcor aud revive the unhappy and
suicidal strife which destroyed the peace parayzed the
energies, bghted the prosperity OF the Territory and
drenched its plains in fraternal blood.
Resolved That we hurl back into the teeth Of OPP
ponents the charge that any person. with the sanction of
true democracy OF this Territory, is invoking foeign
aid at approaching elections that if any persons
making such appeals to the people Of any State ad
jacent remote they disappointed aspirants
licious agtators whose conduct utterly repudate and
condemn denying that the democratic party should be
held responsible for the rawlings OF political mailman or
the acts of emssares employed by opponents at
tach odum to and bring defeat to banner
Resolped That in Robert Walker governor of this
Territory recognise able and sagacous statesman
whose ability and patriotism conceded all sides in that
memorable Of history when he encountered as
adversaes such intellectual giants Clay and Webster
cannot be questioned by the pgmes Of this generation
that thanks due to the President the honor