The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-27

argues that the people had perfect liberty
to agree whether Kansas should be q fee
or slave State. he did not wish 70
question the veracity of the President, but
he must say the statement was utterly In.
correct He regretted that he was not
addressing q Southern audience, so that
he could present the true facts to those
honorable and generous people whom he
represented ten years. As Southerner,
he would blush even 10 argue for q mo-
ment that the people had an opportunity
to determine whether the government
should be free or slave. There were few
slaves in Kansas when he went there, and
fewer now, for these events have had the
effect to drive them on (applause); and
ne believed that the people would not
have coniscated this property if them
selves had been fairly dealt with. The
theory of the Presidents message was that
the people, in delegating their power to
the Convention, parted with their sove-
Feignty. If the Convention was legally
organized, it was only authorized to frame
e constitution for the adoption or rejec-
ton of the people; and even if the peo-
pie wanted to, they could not part with
the sovereign power, no more than they
could with their hearts blood-it is part
of them. Then when he (Stanton) was
aware that four-fifths of the people op-
posed this constitution, did not do right
in taking the responsibility to call meet
ing of the Legislature. (Applausel. He
did not complain of being deprived of an
Office which ne accepted unwillingly, and
from which he derived no personal ad-
vantage but he felt it his duty to defend
himself from the attacks of the highest
Executive. and to appeal to a generous
public of both North and South. Gap
plause.) The President also endeavors
to argue in the message, that the people
of Kansas have right at any time after
their admission, to change the constitu-
ton when they please. He would inquire
whether the sovereign power was not as
requisite in making as in amending con-
stitution. He asked any lawyer, logician,
or sensible man, whether the premises are
not wrong, and whether the President has
not been caught in his own trap. The
President says that he has received ne Of
fetal return of the vote of the last cleo
tion. This may be true, but he (Stanton)
was present when the votes were counted
by Denver, and they amounted to 10000
against the constitution. He then pro-
ceeded to question whether Congress has
the right, under he Constitution, 70 force
constitution on the people. They only
possessed the power to admit-no more.
He denied that the Lecompton Constitu-
ton was republican in form, as it only ex-
pressed the will of the minority. The
will of the majority should prevail, not in
the ideal, but iu reality. Mr.. Stanton
spoke for two hours, and traced the whole
history of Kansas affairs since his connec-
ton with the Territory.
The meeting was held in National Hall
and was exceedingly enthusiastic. The
representatives in Congress from the
State, with the exception of Owen Jones
were groaned, and at the announcement
of the passage of the resolution of Mr.
Harris, there was immense applause.
The applause at the Democratic senti-
ments show that the attendance was most.
ly of the party, and that anti Lecompton.
ties regard the meeting as highly favor.
able.