Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-02-25
Anti-Lecompton Demonstration in New
York. !
Five Thousand Douglas Democrats Pre-
sent.
From the n. Y Tribune Feb. 18Th lss

The chinese Assembly Rooms were
crowded last evening by large and intelli-
gent gathering Of citi: ,ns, without respect
to party, assembled to hear the history of
the latest wrongs against Kansas told by
one of its chief Territorial officers, appoint
ell to his post 10y the present Administra
ton. The hall was crowded soon after
o'clock, and many left without being able
to gain admittance, though the notice of
the meeting had been limited, and the
weather was exceedingly cold. At l2
O'Clock MIR. McMastcrs, editor of The Free
mans Journal, called the meeting to order,
and nominated the Hon. George Bancroft
to preside. The nomination was received
with loud cheers
MIR. Bancroft said: The first thing that
claims our attention is the perfection of the
organization of the meeting. / beg lea,e,
therefore. to read to you the names of those
gentlemen, among whom are Democrats of
the oldest standing. the longest service,
and of the utmost constancy and fidelity
to the true principles Of Democracy and
freedom. The Germans of the city, too,
were burning with Indignation at the
thought that the system by which the lib
critics of Germany had been suppressed,
should be brought into effect in these free
United States.
Mr.. Bancroft then read the list of Vice
Presidents and Secretaries, the announce
ment Of which was received with loud APP
plause.
Among the list we observe the names
of ex-Mayor, w. f. Havemeyer, Jas. A.
McMastcrs, editor Frceman's Journal; Z.
@. Massaros, Editor of Courier DIES Etas
Unis; o. Ottenderfer, editor Stoats Zea-
ing; Geo B. Butler, ex-editor Journal Of
Commerce: Edward G.. West, and other
prominent influential Democrats.
Hon. Geo. Bancroft first addressed the
vast audience which numbered full 5000
men. He began by saying, that the prin-
ciplc of forcing the Lccompton Constitu-
ton on an unwilling people, is diametri-
cally at war with the fundamental princi-
Piles of Democracy. The same principles
also that lie at the bottom Of this attempt
to defraud the people of Kansas of their
rights are dangerous, If not fatal for lib
crty and property, and in their tendencies
lead straight towards disorder and despot-
ism. Applause The delay which has
attended our assembling has enabled me to
ascertain that the voice of the Conscrva-
tive body of the men of property, of
standing and Of wealth in this city. is and
must be by the necessity Of the case oppo
scd TO system so revolutionary and dis
orderly in its character The Democracy
cannot but stand firm on this point. a
thousand witnesses present themselves to
the bcsom Of every true hearted Democrat,
warning him to resist with all his power
the imposition Of a Constitution, on peo
pie that abhors that Constitution. at the
point of the bayonet. The foreign people
who become our emigrants, to whom we
hold out the hand of brotherhood and fel-
lowship. they remember what has trodden
liberty in Europe under foot, and known
it as a completely between the Central
Government and a miserable minority in
the several States We receive also for
our encouragement to night. various letters
from men worthy Of our highest esteem in
this assembly, and every where Throughout
the land, one from the illustrious Senator
from Illinois, Applause, Stephen A.
Douglas. Loud cheers. Unjust ask the
liberty Of reading it to you:
LETTER FROM THE noy. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.
WAsHSGToS, Feb IL, 1858.
GnSErEMEN:-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your kind invita-
ton to address the Democracy of New
York. on Friday night, in opposition to
the effort being made to force Kansas into
the Union with a Constitution which the
people of that Territory have repudiatad
and rejected at a fair and valid election by
more than ten thousand majority. The
time has now arrived when the Democracy
Of the whole country should hold meetings
in the cities, towns and counties, and pro-
claim, in tones that command respect,
their devotion to and determination to sus
tain and carry out in good faith the great
principles OF self government which lie at
the foundation of all free institutions, and
which proclaim their determined and un-
yielding hostility to the contamination Of
a scheme SO monstrous rs to force Consti
tuition at the point of the bayonet down the
threats of an unwilling people.
l regret that my public duties, as well as
illness in my family, demand my constant
attention here. and thus deprive me of the
honor which l should otherwise enjoy in
accepting your kind invitation.
have the honor to be, very truly,
a-s Your obedient servant,
arla 1 S. A. DOUGLASS
Fellow citizens, | have the honor night
to present to you my friend of many
years-the tried friend Of the late President
Polk, ofTennessee; have to present him
to you tonight, and ask you to listen to
his tale. and then form your opinion whcth-
er we ought or ought not TO protest against
the Lccompton Constitution. Loud and
prolonged cheering.
Mr.. Stanton was greeted with several en-
thusiastic rounds of applause
We have not space for the speech of
Mr.. Stanton. which was able and eloquent.
and strong from his stand point. lie re-
viewed the whole grounds of controversy
between the Lecompton and Douglas Dem
ocrats, and of his own official acts. inclu-
dino his ren,oyal for doing his Main hon