New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-18
REMARKS OF HON. GEO. BANCROFT
SPEECH OF HON. f. P. STANTON.

The Chinese Assembly Rooms were crowded isst
evening by large and intelligent gathering OF citizens,
without respect to party assembled to hear tho history
of the latest wrongs against Kansas told by one of its
cl ef Territorial officers, appointed to bis post by the
nreseDt Administrator. The hall crowded soon
af,er7 o'clock, and many ett without being able to
gain admittance though the notice of the meeting had
been limited, and the weather was exceedingly cold.
At II clock Mr.. McMasters editor OF The Free~dns
Journal, called the meeting to order and nominated
the Hon. George Bancroft to preside. The nomination
was received with loud cheers.
hr. BAscRoFr said: The first duty that claims our
attention the perfection Of the organization Of the
meeting. beg leave, therefore, to read to you the
names of those gentlemen among whom ara Democrats
of the oldest standing the longest service, and Of the
utmost consancy and fidelity to the true principles Of
Democracy and freedom. The Germans Of the city,
too, were burning with Indignation at the thought that
the system by which the liberties of Germany had
been suppressed should be brought into effect in these
free United States.
Mr. BAscRorT then read the following lst Of Vice
Presidents and Secretaries the announcement OF which
wa4 received With loud applause:
yICE-PRKsIDIsT5:
George Doudas Emanuel g. Massaf,s, editor Of
VIM. =. Hsyemeyer, the Courier de' Et0s tHisj
John Emen VIM Harry,
' A McMssssis. tor Of 7ae5 oaend.'s editor OF he
Fireman. journal; the STAT, Ze'ung;
liver e t5:sE Ds Fers.. Grant, IIssS a;cslsssSS
sEcRETARIEs:
A. NJ Peu Geo B. Butler, Vim. Gale. IT,
Mr.. BAscRoFT addressed the meeting as follows:
REMARKS OF MR.. BANCROFT.
FELLOW CITGzEss: shall detan you but q mo-
mept The principle of forcing the Lecompton Const
tuition on an unwilling people s diametrcaly at war
with the fundamental principles Of Democracy. The
same principle also that lie at the bottom Of this
attempt to defrsud the people of Kansas Of their
rights are dangerous, il not fatal for Liberty and
property and in their tendencies lead straight toward
disorder and despotism. The proposition to admit
KaRsas under Constitution which the people Of
Kansas sbhor and at -he time 10 enable ksnsss
at once 10 mooify s Constitution without regard TO
the restriction placed upon such notifications on the
instrument ITSELF are equally violation of principle
and are s; more dangerous in their tendencies They
assert the principle that Convention may assume 10
rsef absolute power. A Convention Of the servants
Of the people may assume to themselves al absolute
power 70 dictate Constitution to their sovereign but
We are all persuaded that the power to estab bish
Constitution or TO change il remain. at all times un
iu paired in the possession of the people, and for the
very that the people are themselves pOssessed
of this power, II should always be exercised with
ceiiberaiion and camLsss lspplausel and the
proposition 20 the people of ksusas suddenly
10 enter into a radical complete and through
transformation is only sn imitation TO the people
Il Kansas 10 enter upon long series Of the ia-
duyerce OF tie passions aud participation 10 the con-
ficts Of a continuous revolution. ApplsuseI. The
d-lay which has attended our assembling has enabled
re 10 ascertain that the voice Of the Conservative
BODY Of the uen ofproporty, of.tandng and wealth
in this city Is and mus, be BY the necessity Of the case
opposed to system revolutionary and disorderly
N is character. The Democracy cannot but stand
hin in this point A thousand witnesses present
themselves to the bosom Of every true hearted
Democrat, rg Linn 20 resist with all his power
the impOsi.ion If Ccns:tuti0n, people that sb-
hor- tfst Constitution at the point Of the bayonet.
The foreign reople Woo become our ernigrauts 10
whom We hold out the hand Of brotherhood aud
fellowship, they remember wha. has t'oddeo liberty
in EuTupe under foot, and kno9 il Is couphoty De-
tween the Central Government and q miserabie