The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-02-27
Ar Aaa-Iseoupson Msetnsin. rlslaaslphia-spssel
PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 8.

Philadelphia, Feb. 3.
A large anti Lecompton meeting was
held here this evening. Mr.. Daniel Web
ster called the meeting to order and NOM
mated J. w. Forney, ESQ, for chairman.
Mr. Forney, on taking the chair, said
that when he first cams to the city Mr..
Buchanan's friends could be counted by
hundreds. He (Fosney) had hauled up
the flag of popular sovereignty in the
Press, with the knowledge and consent of
Mr. Buchanan. He then spoke of the
minioDs of power reading out the men
who really composed the Democratic par
| ty. He said We rais9 ouf voices not
to petition or to implore, but TO protest
against pressing Constitution upon pee-
pie rejected three times. We are to say
to our representatives that if they choose
to make this test upon the people, when
the election comes off the people may
choose to make test upon them.n In
his speech Mr.. Forney severally referred
to Messrs. Douglas, Walker. Stanton and
Wise, calling forth immense enthusiasm.
Dir. Stanton was then introduced to the
meeting and received with tremendous
cheers. He expressed his regret at the
non-arrival of Governor Walker, and said
he would give plain unvarnished state
ment of Kansas affairs during the last year.
He die not come here to complain of any
action of the Executive towards himself,
nor to make any defence of himself, ex-
cept SO far as was necessary When Gov
ernor Walker and himself accepted the
| positions of Governor and Secretary of
Kansas, they had "a distinct understanding
with the President, and the principle Of
self-government was distinctly under
stood. He then read the first letter of In
struetions from General Cass to Governor
Walker, ordering the latter to keep sacred
the right of the people. to manage their
own affairs in their own way, and decide
| for themselves their own destiny. When
he went to the Territory he thought
slavery was the only question of Difficult
ty, and when that was settled all was set.
tied. When he arrived there he found
out that he had made a great mistake !;
he found a difficulty much deeper in the
public mind-a difficulty affecting the
government itself, and the whole ma
chinery of the Territory; the people were
ready to break out into civil war. He
did not deny the statement in the Presi-
dents recent message, that Kansas was In
q rebellious state, but in order to do JUS
tice to the people it was his duty to in
quire the true reason of all the difficult
ties. 1t was his duty to go behind the
fact OF their rebellious state and ascertain
how far they were justiiable or excusable
for it. He did not intend to justify the
| people for resisting the Territorial govern
ment, or to apologize for any criminal
wrong on either side. 1t is but fair to
know the real state of affairs, and General
1 Lane and the finest citizens were among
those opposing the government, because
they were not allowed any participation
in the local election because the govern
ment was not theirs, but that of the peo-
pie of neighboring State. Gov. Walker
and himself endeayored to persuade the
citizens to submit for the present, and re-
dress their grievances at the ballot-box.
We were laughed at to the face when we
talked to them of the ba,lot-box, but we
pledged ourselves to the people in the
strongest language, that they should have
a fair chance at the next election, and
distinctly gave them to understand that
the Constitution should be submitted to
| the people. Not one of these promises
so made but what was Immediately COM
municsted to the President, and had new
er met his reproof or dissent; and if it
would be respectful TO the chief execu-
tive, me could prove that the President
had said to number of gentlemen that
he sanctioned the movements of Cover
nor Walker; but now, perhaps, for the
good of the people he had seen fit to
modify his position. (Laughter) When
these pledges had been given, much COM
plant was eyinced by the minority, for
they saw that their power was to be
wrested from their hands. After being
acquainted with all the facts, he would
have resigned, and thrown his commission
in the face of the authorities at Washing
ton, had he not determined not to allow
the outrages to be continued longer If he
could help it. (Applause.) He then ex-
planned the frauds connected with the
taking of the census. The most popu-
lous counties were on the border of the
Territory, whilst the interior was mostly
settled by emigrants from the northern
States, intermiDgled with few southern
ers. the majority of whom favor free
State. The incomplete census was the
fault of the officers, not of the people
When he had received returns from nine
teen counties, he anxiously awaited the
returns from the Others, but by the re-
quirements Of the law was compelled &C
proceed TO the apportionment. he was
mot aware at the time of the true state o
things. It has been said by his opponents
that he should not have made any appor-
tionment but the election was soon te
take place, and the circumstances seemed
TO demand immediate action. Had hs
known the true state of affairs he nevel
would have made the apportionment.--
He would have suffered the whole law te
fail, because events have shown that ths
law was made an engine for wrong and
oppression. He believed that even IF ths
registration had been partially fair, ths
people would have voted. He then al
luded to the small number of votes which
+ elected the delegates for the Constitu.
tional Convention, thirty vetes for eacl
delegate. Il did not occur to him tha
these sixty men would have dared to re-
: fuse to submit their iabors TO the consid
} sration of the people. and he did no
: dream that such action would have me
with the executive sanction. he thel
alluded to the minority bringing forth .
repealed law relative to taxes, and the re
: fusai TO have the majority assessed. aut
/ further traced the history of the Terrific
Il nv. He cculs5 not believe in the com