New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-04
THE CONVENTION.
From Our Special CoresJoDaest
LAWRENCE. X. T., Dec. "a,


LAWRENCE, X. T., Dec. ~, 1857.
According 10 the call of the Chairman Of the
Territorial Executive Committee, the Delegate
Convention has again assembled in Lawrence IL
is composed of the delegates, and the officers
are the same. The design Of the call was, that the
Convention might take into consideration the ques-
ton of participating in the bogus election of Jan
uary T. 30 AZ to elect State officers under the Le-
compton Constitution. Those who advocated this
measure did so purely on the ground that Congress
might be base enough To admit Kansas uuder that
instrument and that the men thus elected could III
such a contingency, throttle it to death. On this
subject there is an intense feeling among the
people. AZ general rule they are hostile to such
d policy and not the least thing TO determine ls
whether influence sufficient can be- welded TO induce
the people to participate IN any such election from
any confederation whatever. No one proposes that
the people should organize under it.
Should the Convention determine 10 60 into the
election it WILL after doing 40, proceed 10 make
nominations. In urging the plan, some contend
that the officers thus elected shall be the same
under the Topeka Constitution, 80 IA to have no
confusion and avoid, If possible, any thing like the
danger that these men would hold on to such Offices
after they had got them, if improper pressure was
anxious to have their names connected with the
offices, even if il should be mere nomination. IL is
proper 10 add that an independent ticket has been
made in secret caucus of few persons, with ex-
Secretary Stanton for Governor, and "A string of
Hunkers and anti-TOpcka Constitution men rs the
other nominees.
In the Convention Committee was appointed to
draft resolutions. The result was the presentation
of three reports yesterday afternoon. L. Dwight
Thatcher, esq, of THE Laurence Repabtican, Chair
man of the Committee presented majority report.
1t opposed the voting policy, and reiterated the
same position as taken at the past Convention on
the ID 4 minority report was prcscntedb by Cham
pion Vaughan esd, OF Inc Ledoenno'1 Times
signed BY two members of the Committee. Ii took
position in favor Of voting at the election for state
officers that the instrument should be wrested from
the hands of the PrO-Savery men III case OF neces-
sty; it also reiterated devotion 10 the Topeka Con-
stitutlOn. A second minority report was made by
James Redpath, esq, OF The CTuSddT ct Freedom.
This report proposed that the Free-State men par
tcipate in the elections that the parties nominated
be pledged TO destroy the government under said
Constitution in case Congress should admit Kansas
under it, that the Convention still urged on the
Territorial Legislature, should it in Janu-
ary. that it submit the Topeka Constitution under
forms of Territorial aw TO the people, and reatiirm
ing all the positions taken III Convention on Dec. =.
The discussion on the various points involved has
|
utmost keenncss. SO far, it would be difficult to
say what will BE- the result. AT first the impression
was that the voting policy would be- adopted, as
most Of the prominent Free-State men were IN
favor of it. At present the matter looks more
doubtful.
On reading the majority report Mr.. Thatcher
made most eloquent speech IN ITS favor. lie
deprecated the policy of voting III January. He
pleaded against this tempOrzing, expedency policy,
and urged devotion to principle. He said here
was no time to prepare for the election; that the
election WAS TO be- held under Calhoun; that the
appOrtionment and everything else was swlndle;
that the chances of defeat vastly prepOnderat
ing, and that even if succeeded We would only
further perpex the Kansas question.
Gov Robinson replied. lie urged the necessity
of going into the election; that we could carry It
in spite of all the frauds that there great dan.
ger that Congress would receive the LecOmpton
Contribution; that policy called for such step;
that the enthusiastic devotion to principle was not
expedient and that We must do the best We could
under all circumstances
&. Vaughan, esq, defended his minority report.
He was in favor of voting. He thought there was
time enough to do So. Ten days was not enough,
but il might be made sufficient.
Mr.. Redpath defended his second minority re-
port. He sald that participation in the election
was necessary, as the Territorial Legislature had
failed 10 do its duty. He reflected in the most
and caustc terms on the action or indotton OF
the Legislature. lie said the people had elected
them for special purpose, and they hsd not fulfill
ed 1t; that Convention representing the people
far fully than they did, had instructed them to
d. certain thing, and they had not done il. They
were elected to destroy the Territorial Government,
and they wanted to hold on to it. The people had
gone into the October election 10 get possession Of
the Leeompton gun that was playing upon them,
and this Legislature had plugged up the tolIch.hole
with pledges 10 Secretary Stanton, and made
squirt of it 10 throw cold water their friends 1t
was now necessary to do something else. He
thought that none but the most reliable men should
be- nominated and he urged that We 90 into the
election, and he nominated Capt John Brown for
Governor, and Capt Crachlin OF the Stubs" a.
Lieut.. Governor.
Mr. Hanna of Lykens County defended the voting
policy. He said We could have no other alternative
than revolution i'll case the Constitution Was ac-
cepted by Congress.
DIR. Root of W,andot opposed the voting policy
He thought it was mrxpedient, unnecessary and
wrong; that il would only embarrass the action of
| the Free State party He had been told that the
leaders were on side Of the question, and the
boys" on the other. He was one of the boys.
Judge Wakefield spoke in favor of the voting
| policy. lie thought that no means should be neg
| lected.
VIM. Hutchinson, esq, spoke against the voting
| pohcy. Ills speech was an elaborate indication OF
the necessity OF sdherng to the old position on
\ principle.
Mr.. Lines of Waubonss opposed the voting
| policy. He compared the position of affairs in
Kansas 10 the times Of 70 and said that such men
| as jefferson, Adams and Hancock did not stop Ia
| trucking expedeucy, but squarely met the issue
During the evening considerable enthusiasm and
excitement was created by the arrival of one or
| two parties from the seat Of war. Mr. w. A.
| Philips was called out, aud gave an account OF IN,
condition of affairs below. f.. b. Whitman, esq.
also called on, and also spoke OF war matters
Al MIDNIGHT the COnyenton adionrnnd without