The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-09-30

pie Of a Territory to vote upon their Con.
stitution if they desired it. Lifelong
friends we're treated as opponents, aud
10 old aud bitter personal and political
foes was given unlimited confidence upon
this issue. Secretary Stanton, then act
ing Governor, convened the Legislative
Assembly OF Kansas in extra session, that
the people of the Territory might be
heard. This be did at the loud appeal Of
the people. They desired that their voice
of opposition should be heard, and for do
ing this act the President removed Mr.
Stanton. He had gone to the Territory
at considerable sacrifice, and at the earn.
est and express desire of the President
The Legislature assembled, and they call.
ed for direct vote of the people on the
Constitution. They PASSED resolutions
by u unanimous cote! sole mnly protesting
against the adoption by Congress of the
Lecompton Constitution. They declared
no Government could ever be organized
under it. A vote was taken, and by moro
than ten thousand majority the people de-
clared their hostility to that Constitution
Yet, the work went on of forcing it through
Congress. A few gallent and justice.lov-
Jog spirits of the Deu ocratic party stood
out manfully and decidedly in opposition
to the outrage that was attempted to be
put upon protesting people. There was
the "Gisnt of the West" He proclaim
ed that that was not the popular sover-
eighty which he meant in the Kansas bill,
and for which he had coDtended before
the country. AppOuse,] There, too,
was Broderick, of California. He raised
bis voice in indignant denuEciation OF the
wrong. [Renewed applause.] These,
and the accomplished Senator from
Michigan, stood together with tie Re-
publicans and Critteuden and Bell in un-
wavering opposition. [Great applause
In the PennsJ lrauia delegation in the
House, six Democratic members took
ground against the Lecompton Constitu-
ton; but, one by one, they fell of until
only three were left--and fellow citizens,
| am proud TO say to you that Of that
number was John Hickman, your own
Representative. Long continued cheer
ing. Throughout that struggle, when
others were doubted, when it was darkly
insinuated that this man would 60 and
that man would so, no man ever said that
John Hickman would ever be brought to
change front. His position the country
new and poro do,ito1 bo1 IL - .. ,,.,l1
be held With steady energy to the end.
And so it was held. [Applause.l He
has stood BY you unfinchiugly. Power and
patronage could not seduce him frou the
right. As he has stood BY you, you must
stand by him. you want mau to stand
true to principle and bis pledges, despite
the efforts made by officials to dishonor
him and crush him down, and such a man
is John Hickman. Applause For
myself, give me the man who viii! weigh
we'll bis duty, and then 60 to its discharge
fearlessly. 1t may be attempted to read
such man out of the party. He
may be called traitor, but hard names
do not avail anything. There is bis rec
ord. Itspeaks unauswerably. To what
was he recreant! Did he not declare to
the people. previous to his election in $50
that he was in favor of the people OF
Kansas forming for themselves their do
mestic institutions in their own wayl-I
Has be not by voice and vote, fulfilled
that pledge! Has he not, in every sense,
been faithful and able Representative!
Who is there that has been more faithful
and more able! You ought to be proud
that you live in district represented by
so good man. Applause. In N makiug
change you should take care you do not
make change for the worse-you can
not change for the better. We are 60
ing to re-eIect Hickman! He is our man
FeiIow-citizens: This contest went on.
Governor Wise, of Virginia, sent up his
voice from the capital, at Richmond, in
tones of thrilling eloquence, against the
outrage attempted upon the people Of
kan>as. Though Southern man, and
welded to Southern institutions, he had
he honesty to declare that if he were in
Congress be would vote against Lecomp-
on. 1t was monstrous, he said, because
t was an attempt to force upon the pco.
pie measure, against which they loudly
protested
Another man. upon whom the vilest a.
,use has been heaped by the miuions of
power, and who had as m uch or more to
10 With the election of Mr.. Bucb anan
han any living man, from the first indi-
'atiou that an effort was about to be
N ade to pervert sDd destroy the popular
will in Kansas, fearlessly, ably, and per.
,lStently gave his voice and bis pen to the
ienunciation Of the contemplated outrage
Ind its perpetrators refer, gentlemen,
o my friend John W. Forney, land | ain
proud to eall him SUCH the gallant editor
IT Ihe FreSS. Long. continued applause.
The bill passed the Senate and went to
he House. BY majority of one it was
eferred to select committee to make
Investigation whether the Lecompton
Constitution did express the will of the
'eople of Kansas. La defiance of parlia.
Dentrry practice, and contrary to the die
atcs of fair dealing, the speaker appoipt.