Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-04-08
NO. d.

G.. g. Bracket, j. H. Wakefield,
+. ID. Ladd, G.. A. Finley.
G. y. Babcock. ---t-
Hon. F. p. SrASros. Actiny Gorernor,
Ransos Territory
\ true copy. Attest: 5. c. Smith.
submit this frank and manly document
as proof beyond all contradiction that ia.
charge of the President, reiterated in the
report of the Senate's Territorial Commit
tee, is not in accordance with the facts as
they exist. All that. the leading free
State men asked or desired was perfect
registry and an honest election Though
the majority of the people, they claimed
only equal rights with their opponents
one man of each party to fill up the regis
try, and make the census complete. The
probate judges, the very officer and the
only one authorized by the law to correct
the census, to add to it the names of ths
citizens thus mutually assertained by
\ chosen representative of the two contsndinc
parties IN each precinct, and each party to
have one half of the election Judges
What could have been fairer, if an honest.
of Kansas was really desired? And even if
the requirement in the election Judges for
babe their equal division, and the addition
of one to each election board was consider
ed impracticable, the completion and filling
! up OF the registry, which was to be tho
test of the elective franchise, was perfectly
attainable, for the election was not to be
held for fifty days afterwards.
! 1t is well known in Kansas that Gov.
ernor Stanton was struck as he might well
have been, with the fairness and Justice Of
this proffer, and promised them reply in
writing. This, to use the language of the
President in arguing this very point, Twas
the propitious moment for settling all diff
eultieS in Kansas" But when Governor
Stanton returned to Lecompton, and con-
suited with the men there who had taken
such pains thus far to stife the honest ex-
preston of the popular will so as to per-
petuate their ill-gotton power. they insist
ed on Its refusal; and five days afterwards
ne replied in an argumentive letter, dcclin-
ing to interpose his authority, without
which the plan had no prospect of accom-
pllShment. And amonth later, the appor-
tionment was made; that apportionment
which Governor Stanton has So frankly
declared he would have utterly refused TO
proclaim, if he had then known what he
has since learned, the base plo: of the en-
glneers of this gigantic fraud. l do not
allude to this refusal to arraign the con-
duct OF Governor Stanton, much as it is 10
be regretted, but to show that it was the
furthest thing impossibly from the wish
OF the enslavers of Kansas, who were
then his only counsellers, to allow even
single fair opportunity of voting to be Civ
en-, in the whole procession of events.
which eliminated in the Lecompton con-
stitution. And in full view of this fact.
Is 1T not extraordinary. to say. the least.
that committee in the other end of the
Capitol. who knew of this correspondence,
as they Quoted copiously from Govenor
stanton's reply to this profier. should use
the following language afterwards in their
report: t1 Tifss1
'"rhe people having. BY direct vote.
orderedthe calling of convention to form
a constitution, the abolition agitators and
dlsturbers refused to rote at the election of
of said convention, and then.
affer an obstinate refusal, raised an outcr7
thai the convention was sunjustly cousti-c
tutel inasmuch as they were not reprcs-
ented thereln.-.Senote Report, p. ii.
And this same idea is even more often
sively repeated in subsequent part Of the
report; - II sit- 80 cirlno.s- os45.
so again, when the members of the
convention were elected, the Abolaionisfs
shrunk from the contest. SO, also, when
the question came upswhether there should
or should not be a clause retained in the
allowing slavery to be estab-
lished in Kansas, they again shrunk from
Tie contest, conscious of their weakness. or
from sinister political de-ign.''- = .Seaafes
Report, p. l6. ~ -s-s-sc, .t-.+ ...t,.
The election was held; but during its
pendency, Democratic meetings resolved
and reresoIvrd and promised over and over
again that the constitution when formed
shoubl be submitted for ratification or re-.
lection to full vote of the people. Nu-
merous candidates for delegate including
the man who walks the streets of this city,
with the entire and .despotic power in his,
own. hands, OF deciding who shall be the.
Governor, State officers, and Legislature
Of the new State of Kansas, solcmnly
pledged themselves to the same action, and
declared that the rumored intention to
withhold the constitution from the popular
verdict was all a'Republican lie. Gov
,rnor Walker and Governor Stanton trav-
'rse,l the Territory, reitersting the pledge
hat the people should have the opportuni-
y of deciding for or against the organic
aw, under which they were to live. before
tshouid be submitted to Congress. And
he following extract from the Instructions
If the administration to Governor Walker
vas presented to the people of Kansas as -.
Toucher more solemn and sacred than any
'ther which could possibly be given: ~
"When such constitution shall be sub
nitted to the people of the Territory. they
mist be protected in the exercise Of their
'ighf of rosing FOR OR AGAINST TIA, iasfr&-
'seat, and the Jar oppression q tie popular
cW must not be interrupted by fraud or
'iolcnce" ~ ac9 scs6f -
look in vain in the Presidents Le-
COMPTON message for this most important
'oint in the history which he has written
or our instruction of tho ~ons<st,,<:o~