The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-05

When the foregoing were approved, kr DIX, wno was
received with three cheers addressed the meeting - fol-
bws:-
Eu50w cmHys-I return you my sincere thanks for
shs honor you done BY askng 10 preside at
his meeting and avail myself OF the opportunity Of ad
dressing few remarks TO you in regard 70 ie object We
assembled IN pursuance Of cali signed by more than
hree thousand persons-many OF tnem most eminent
merchants and business merto sustain the President OF
e United States in tho position he has taken reference
state (Cheers) Though we are gathered together IN
The great hall Of the democracy Of the city see around
me distinguished men Of all parties, corning among US
not for any personal sectional object bu. 10 express
opinions. u Ia tho right, and think the duty, Of
We DO not come here 70 nnd fault with any who take
OF the subject differing from our own. We are not
here 70 prescribe, 70 denounce, or TO impute un
worthy motives 70 those who disagree with Us.
Our purpose SIMPLY TO proclaim our opinions
openly and frankly, and 10 state ~ith cslmness,
and without vtuperston Of any sort, tho reasons for
ihem Let me ayow at the outset, that have, like
many Others, had my difficulties With ths question:
bat my first impression was IN favor OF renandng tho
whole subject ,he people Of Kansas % be disposed OF by
hem, with fu popular vote preliminary 10 her sd
INTO the Union have come, full consideration
. different coDcuson-that Kansas had better be ad
med now; and that whatever the people may think t
do In regard 70 their political organization be done after
vArds1done a. sovereign state and not s Territory
feoerA arms (Applause.l ! believe Il best 70 de.ach
lhe federal power from Kansas possible not
cause has been msused, but because the people Of
ss-f they will do what every community ought
co. ake management their concerns into their
~
on stse dsensors greatly 70 Their oxn advantage and
he relief Of their fellow citizens 10 other states IRE
pe~ed applAusel believe say nothing which any fair
man will dispute when assert that the majority OF the
peoplc Of Kansas, rstead Of getting mp the Topeka
organization, had cordially supported, was their
duty, the government instituted by Congress, and
taken part In all the proceedings under H. they would
At thu moment, in all probability, be living under
oopstituop framed in accordance with their own wishes
To rir REFUSAL different times 20 the polls
ths result Of Indifference. II was premedaied and
deliberate II persisted In against the advice and
state Journals in the Atlantic states This refusal the
pat Of the great body Of the people 70 participate
Affecting sseT ,s Sshss snsen vas
sble. In the republic Of Athens would have been cr
uas for citizen in times Of popular commotiou
permitted stand aloof and cast others the respons
bly Of setting existing contentious without his aid The
principle founded In and justice The
OF the elective franchise much iuty as Ia right
especially when vital questions are -sue and those
who neglect repudate are untrue 70 the political in
stuiions which their business TO Uphold and defend
The election of the lh OF January shows that the free
Ssts In an overwhelming majority. shows
that they could have shapet their form OF government
according their wishes they had not permitted
The minority 70 control is no excuse that they acted
under the worst possible sdvce and ! submit W you,
felow citizens, whsther they viii pay more nan .
rsrsher term) by living under form Of government not
of their choice, Until they amend by the
psteous FOR the arbrsment OF difference Of opinion on
questions That the constitution Of Kansas framed by the
mpson Invention will be amended no one doubts
true u contains provision that shall be unsered
until 1864 but regsrd all such attempted limitations OF
sovereign power "a entirely nugatory Il Ia the right Of
evry people 70 amend OF abolish at will the form n
government under which they I've No power on earth
Gao prevent them from exercising the rieh, whenever
they please lies at the foundation OF all popular sove
reigniy Constitutions are in the nature Of compacs be-
tween the parties The parties the people and they
AZ free 70 change her compacts by agreement az
by mutual consent Il s absurd 70 assume that oopmu
atty can bind itself TO I've for eight years or oentnrv
IN NAV do may do the other) under anv fo,n ~
Government without the power Of altering in anv mar
ucular OF those, fifteen years arc ,sho
coptended that could amend our state nnn
suiu,Ion whenever she people. by their 40
lesates, should meet in convention for the pur.
pose. There was political interest in the
fase which denied the proposition, and which had nfu
s1ce enough with the Legislature 10 defeat any amend
meat 10 the mode prescribed. We prevailed 10 this con