New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-02-15
10 TIE PEOPLE or YEH-YoRK.

I'm Tuesdey evering one of the Directors Of the
Academy Of Music came 10 my house and expressed
himself very strongly against the terms in which the
meeting was called and against the meeting; and OK
nressed bis unwilngness that meeting should be
held in the Academy under such call aud for such
,rros. Rut he added that he spoke only for himself;
,hsre were eight other Directors, and they might all
dg.r from him He also expressed his unwilling
- o, o,ont the use of the Academy of Music for any
,I;,icaI meeting whatever did not debate with him
either the language of the call ts purpose, and he
u,bdrew excusng himself on the ground that be was
in sesrch OF another person and not of me. The next
day | saw the receipt for the use OF the Academy,
which unequivocally leased the Hall for an - Anti
Lecompton meeting" l was also informed on Thurs
day on what seemed and It'll seems to me- the highest
authority that the building would be opened on Friday
according to contract. On Friday morning went to
the Academy courteously received by the agent,
found fires lighted and every necessary preparation
proceeding rapidly nor did receive the slightest nti-
nation that there any obstacle in the way OF hold
ing the meeting proposed.
1.-THE thousand. who showed heirwish to be present
last evening had been allowed to assemble might
have been called upon to preside, and in that
should have addressed them. The opportunity was
denied ne but the free expression Of opinion cannst be
hllneU, tDe press TtHcNtS lIOiH NlouE' ouu
having written out remarks, very nearly such as
/ should have spoken, submit them to my fellow
citizens of NewYork being that nothing is want
ing to just judgment the subject in question but
the attention Of the people
Saturday Feb l3 1883. GEORGE BANCRoFI'
FELLOW. CITIZENS: The proper solution Of the ques
ton before the country, which, in some of its aspects
is the most momentous that has been presented since
the adoption Of the Federal Constitution, IS seev
dent but that solution has been thwarted that it is
made necessary to revert to first principles, and to
take counsel OF the People, who are the source OF
wisdom and of power. We are assembled tonight
not in hosti to the Administration. We venerate the
President tor his age and past services and desire to
out of his path the great obstacle to his present
usefulness. Still less are we at variance with the
South. We have never feared to sustain the South
on anv question in which the South in the right
and we are justified in asking its cooperation to pre-
vent great national wrong which, IT consummated,
will njure its friends. Far from opposing Democracy
we come here tonight to uphold IT. by ireshenlng in
our minds the love of Justice and Freedom without
which Democracy is a deluslon.
We are assembled to protest against forcing the
Lecompton Constitution upon the people OF Kansas
aganst their will Bear with me, fellow.citzens, II,
in the fewest possible words speak to the facts IN
the case to the right and to the means of redress
As TO the facts of the case, the Lecompton Consttu
ton was authorized in advance by no one branch OF
the General Government. The Senate OF the United
States passed bill for Convention in Kansas, having
in view very different mode Of procedure. The
House, by decided vote, declared itself willing to
accept the real and true opinion of the majority OF
Kansas, however it might be expressed. The Pres-
dent through his agent the Governor of the Territory
vetoed the bill for the Convention The Senate, the
House. the President Of the United States, are all in
nccent of the Lecompton Convention The people Of
the Terri DRY never elected that Convention, ana
never had an opportunity to do So The lists OF voters
were made out by partisan officers, who acted under
no penalties for neglect of duty Fifteen counties, oy
no fault of their own, had possible opportunity to
vote at all The Convention, therefore, never ad even
pretex for binding the people. Before the Conyeu-
ton did its work election Of Kansas Legislature
took place and thanks to aker and stanton, falSe
fraudulent and forged returns rejected, and
Legislature formed OF unquestioned legality The
Convention knowing the true will of the people 10 de-
fance of that WILL refused 10 refer the Constitution 10
the people sexlestsred their nalienabe rights, aud
made themselves masters. They acknowledged TIA
such reference should have beenmade at least on the
Slavery clause, and then they framed schedule
which made no true reference even OF that clause
but DISTINGUISHED except hose who would acknOw
edge their usurpaon, and were willing to take ties
Oaths to support it, The Convention further assumed
most extraordinary powers, and sought IN advance to
nulfy and render void the acts of the newly elected
Legislature They did what they could to show ap.
probation of the fraudulent vote which W iker and
Stanton with the approval 1t Is to be hoped OF the
President, had rejected. Moreover, It ordered an
election OF state OflCefs
sti:ution, without requiring oath OF the election
officers axiny penalty on fraudulent voting OF
forged returns and they, moreover directed returns
to be made not to the Governor or the legal Legsla
ure but TO alone the President OF their Con-
vention; man holding most lucrative office AMI a
large patronage under the General Government;
clothed with power to judge at his discretion OF all
returns of Legislature before which he might be-
come candidate for office bound by no oath to hdel-
y and exposed to no legal penalty for the abuse OF
his trust. We hold then that the Convention has No
claim to the sovereignty in Kansas but by usurpaon;
that had in nowise the sanction of Congress- nor of
the President of the people OF Kansas, and was
but cunning device to deiraud that people OF Its
sovereignty.
The cardinal point which the great question turns
is this: Is the LecompOn Constitution the choice and
will of the people of Kansas l say it is not and
shall prove it. The first witness is the Convention 1t.
self they urged TO refer the matter TO the peo-
ple the President in his high office pledged himself
over and over, and again, to the appreciation OF
that course and by the authority and with the knowl-
edge of the President the Governor and officers ofthe
Presidents appointment quietedthe dlscontenfs VI the
people of Kansas by advocating the nece .sy OF such
submission before the Constitution could CLAIM any
validity. And yet the Convention refused to submit
its doings TO the peoples thus conessng its Conscious
ness that its work would be rejected
The second witness is the newspaper press OF kan-
that press il against the Constitution by maj Nlty
of seven or eight TO one.
Next; Kansas, by act of Congress, has right too
delegate in Congress charged with the duty TO speak
for lis people. They have now delegate who Is I'M
doubedly the choice of the people and is the first
Kansas delegate chosen by the people lie is my
third witness.
Next ask the line of Governors appointed by Pres
idents themselves; Gesry; Walker, formerly Senator
from Mississippi, and recently proposed for place IN
the present Presidents Cabinet and highly COM
mended by the President himself; Stanton, 50 lately
Member Of Congress from Tennessee, all agree. And
would not fear TO ask Denver, the present incum-
bent; he will certify that fraction of the party
against the Lecompton Constitution is more numerous