The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18
POLITICAL SUMMARY.

A great aptiLecompton meeting was held
last week in Philadelphia. Colonel Forney
was chosen chairman. Secretary Stanton de-
Iivered an able speech upon Kansas affairs.
He alluded, in the following language, to the
remarks of the President, in his late message,
that he had received no official returns of the
January vote against the Lecompton Constitu-
ton
"The people of that Territory had provided
for Convention, but they had not clothed
them with power to put the Constitution they
agreed upon in operation without submitting it
to the people. But the Convention attempted
to assume the power; and, after the Legisla.
ture had been called together for the purpose
Of preventing it, and had authorized en- election
on the 4th of January, at which more than ten
thousand votes were cast against it, the Presi-
dent tells us that he has no official information
Of that vote. ] doubt not that the President
statement is correct; bat tell you that was
present on the 18th or 18th of January, when
Governor Denver, my successor, formally, in
the presence of the Speaker of the House and
the President of the Council, opened the votes,
and counted ten thousand of them, and it was
then we'll understood that q considerable num-
Der of precincts had not yet sent in returns.
Since that time, have seen by the newspapers
that the vote had reached twelve thousand.
The whole vote of the election of the 2lst of
December, held by the authority of the Conven-
ton, both for aud against the Slavery clause in
the Constitution, was 6,700, and at least one
half Of that was utterly fraudulent, as is known
and will be acknowledged by every fair, intelli-
gent, and candid man in the Territory aud on
the borders of Missouri, whilst it is evident
that on the 4th of January there we're from
ten to twelve thousand votes cast against the
Constitution.
Il have heard no charge of fraud against the
party who polied this large vote against the
Constitution Even if these gentlemen had
been as ready to commit fraud as the other
party, there was no necessity for it, and GER
tsinly they showed disposition not to do it,
because they threw around the law every posi-
bic guard which was necessary to secure hon.
esty.
The real vote of the whole Pro-Slavery
party could not be more than 5000 or $500
that of the Free State men was from IL, 900 to
$4,000
The Territorial Legislature of Kansas has
passed bill to provide for a new Constitution.
George Bancroft, W. F. Havemeyer, George
B. Butler, and other distinguished Democrats
of the city of New York, having issued a call for
a public meeting, to protest against the LIE
compton policy of the President, several
thousand people assembled at the time appoint
ed but found the door of the hall closed
against them. Subsequently, Mr.. Bancroft
came out in strong letter in opposition to the
Lecompton policy, for which, we regret, We
have no room.
The Americans of Connecticut have called
aState Convention, to be held on the oath inst.
Of those opposed I" to the narrow and proscrip
tive policy of the late Republican Convention
and who are in favor of reorganization of thu
American party of Connecticut, and the nom
ination of an American ticket for State officers;
and I" for the purpose of adopting plattcrn
OF principles, nominating State ticket, ant
taking such action as may be necessary for
thorough organization throughout the Stats.
Some of the men concerned in this move.
ment, We are sorry to learn, were once sterling
Anti-Slavery men.
KAysAs-A correspondent of the Kansa
DAILY Ledger, writing from Lawrence, unde
u0ee vi eDrnary 20, says:
To-day the members of the investigating
committee went before Probate Judge Miller
OF this county. and swore out a search-warran
to search the Surveyor Generals Office and ad
Joining building, to find the election returns c
the 2lst December and 4th January, as the
wanted them befce the committee. A wal
rant was issued, and Sheriff Samuel Walker, G
this county, went up this afternoon, and, unde
W00d rNla a he ryrouud nandla- ho
Was found and brought here; and tonight, j
presence of Governor Denver, c. w. Babcocl
President of the Council, and G. W. Deitzle
speaker Of the House, the members OF th
committee, and great crowd, in open cour
The box was opened, and 10, and behold all I
the returns of both of said elections, includin
the much-taked-of Delaware Crossing returns
footing up only three hundred and forty.nir
votes, were found