The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-02-25
Great Anti-Lecompton Meeting in Phiia-
dsiphis.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8, 1858,


A large antLIecompton meeting was
held here this evening. Mr.. Daniel Webs
TER called the meeting TO order and nomi-
mated John W. Forney, Esq, for Chair.
man
The following preamble and resolutions
were then read
WuKREAs, The Kansas Nebraska act and the
Cincinnati platform both embody the just prn
| ciples Of popular sovereignty upon which our
government and all our institutions are based,
and recite In patent language the unmistakab!e
meaning of their text that TO the people Of
every organized State and Territory belongs, OF
right, the prerogative Of regulating Tor them
selves their own domestic and local aifAiis
within the limits Of the Constitution we, the
| Democracy Of Philadelphia, in town meeting
assembled, do hereby announce that We will
sternly adhere to the great principles enun
ciated by those truthful guides for the progress
of our party, believing that the safety Of our
republic and the happiness of our people de-
pend entirely upon an honest adhesion to the
clear import Of the Cincinnati platform and the
Kansas Nebraska act therefore be it
Resolved, That as the Democratic party Of
Pennsylvania in the late Presidential contest,
plghted its faith to the people OF the State and
country, that the citizens OF Kansas and all the
other Territories OF the Union should decide for
themselves the character Of their domestic in.
stitutions- whether Of slavery or the higher
social relations-and as this sacred pledge had
the willing sanction and ardent appreciation Of
Mr.. Buchanan, and was repeatedly reiterated
in our city and State by Secretaries Cobb and
Floyd, Postmaster General Brown and others,
during that memorable campaign, IL would be
both unmanly and disgraceful IN Us as Demo
Gratis TO violate promise 80 sacredly given on
the indefensible ground Of expediency alone,
that being the only reason yet adduced by the
of n n Al
fy such violation.
Resolved, That We declare it to be our un.
shaken determination to resist every attempt
to force upon the people Of Territory any
constitution which has not had their express
approval, conscious ~ we are that resistance
TO aggression is the only means by which unpar
allelled wrongs can be redressed. The people
Of thirty. one States and two Territories OF tbs
Union (Oregon and Minnesota) have had their
paramount law submitted TO them, in all its
parts, for approval or rejection, 90 that custom
even in the absence Of the kansas-Nebraska
act and the Cincinnati platform, points with
unerring finger to the injustice of ratnyng the
Lecompton Constitution. II custom cannot sc.
cure acquiescence, or antiquity small degree
Of respect, poorer will surely fail TO secure ODE.
dience to error.
R,soiped, That as State rights Democrats,
Jealous Of any infracton OF this wholesome doc.
trine, we shall oppose every attempt to inter-
fere with the sovereignty Of the State, either
North or South, or with the people of the Terri
tories seeking admission into this Union-the
sole guide Of the latter being found in the ex.
press terms OF the Kansas. n ebraska act--and
the action Of the former resident in the inherent
right to make, alter or abolish their constitu.
tons in the way prescribed by the citizens Of
the individual States
Rtsoirtd, That the Democracy here Assem-.
bled have the most perfect confidence in the
integrity. patriotism and craftsmanship OF Gov.
Packer, and hail with enthusiastic admiration
the dec laratiOn enunciated in his inaugural ad.
dress, that ito the pc ople Of Pennsylvania the
admission Of new state into the Unon--into
that confederacy OF which she is a member
must be at all times subject Of high interest.
And believe Iexpress their sentiments, as well
~ my own, in declaring that all the qualified
electors of Territory should have full and
fair opportunity 70 participate in selecting del
egates to form u constitution preparatory to
admission IA u State, and IL desired by them,
they should also be allowed an unqualified
right TO vote upon such constitution after it Is
framed" This il the true doctrine Of popular
sovereignty, as II was unanimously understood
aud expressed At Cincinnati, by the Southern
and Northern delegates 10 the convention, who
framed the platform and nominated James Blu
ehanan for the Presidency.
Reseiped, That we cling with undated zeal
to the confidence we have long reposed in
James Buchanan, President Of the United
States; that we supported him with enthusi.
asm In 1856, upon the great principles enunei,
atcd at Cincinnati; and that We approve and
supnort of his policy. thus far developed. ex.
cepiing that in reference 10 Kansas, from which
wa do respectfully hui lxedly dissent.
Rssoipsd. That truth is the real object Of the
masses, the ayowed object ofall: but truth can
neither be long divided against herself. no,
made destructive OF herself She solicits in.
ouiry aud court, inyestigation-ber desire DO.
ing 10 seek true premises, that fair conclusions
NAV be drawn ,hereffom. Now, therefore, rs
the truth in reference TO the I.ecompton Con
yeptjop ha. reached the mind OF the American
peopIe. and cannot be obsoured, we express
the earnest hope that Congress and the Presi.
dent will unite in sending back the vitiated con
stitutjoa 10 the bona I'D, eii,xsns OF Kansas. for
their rejection or ratification.
R,.oirsd That we recognize the right Of the
people Of all the Territories, including Kansas
And Nebraska, acting through the legally aud
fairly expressed will Of a majority OF actual
residents. and whenever the number Of inhabi.
tants iustiiies it, to form a constitution with or