Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-19

LIE NEW 1ORk ANTI DECoMPr0N MEET
ING. -New York, Feb. 1S.-The meeting of
the contemporaries, intended for last Fri
day evening, came off last night, at the
Chinese Assembly Room, which was much
crowded, and. considerable enthusiasm was
manifested Mr.. James a. McMasters, of the
Freeman's Journal, called the meeting to or
der. Hon. Georges Bancroft presided, and in
troduced Hon. F. P. Stanton, who spoke for
more than two hours, to the satisfaction OF his
audience. He expressed his perfect conviction
that If kanzas is admitted under the Leeomp-
ton Constitution, civil war, which would be
the knell of the Union, would surely follow,
The legislature elected under it will not be
permitted to act in the territory, except under
the protection of the United States troops.
A series of resolutions was adopted, declar-
ing that as the imposition of the Lecomp on
Constitution on the people Of Kanzas by Con-
gress, would be violation of the fundament-
al principles of all free governments, the true
method Of settling the difficulty is to refer 1t
back to the people of Kansas; recognizing the
wisdom and patriotism OF the policy pursued
by Governor Walker and Mr.. Stanton in Kan
sas; approving the courage, ability and con-
slstency of Senator Douglas congratulating
Thomas L. Harris of Ill and Hon. John B,
Haskins of New York, on the proprety aud
patriotism of their recent action on the Kan
sas question; recognising with cordial salts
faction the recent letters of Henry A. Wise to
the Democracy of New York and Philadel.
phia; and winding up with the request to the
Representatives in Congress of the city of
New York that they oppose the Lecompton
Constitution.
The Hon. George Bancroft said upon TAX
ing the chair: & The delay which has attend
ed our assembling has enabled me to ascertain
that the voice of the Conservative BODY of the
men of property, of standing and of wealth in
this city, is and must be by the necessity of
the case opposed to a system so revolutionary
and disorderly in its character. The Democ-
rncy cannot but stand firm in this point. A
thousand witnesses present themselves to the
bosom of every true hearted Democrat, warn
ing him to resist with all his power the impo-
sition OF Constitution, on people that abb
hors that Constitution, at the point of the
bayonet. The foreign people who have emil
grated hither to whom we hold out the hand
of brotherhood and fellowship, they remem-
Der what has trodden liberty in Europe under
foot, and know it is completely between the
Central Government and miserable rpinori
ty in the several States. We receive also for
our encouragement tonight various letters
from men worthy of our highest esteem in this
assembly, and every where throughout the
land; one from the illustrious Senator frora
Illinois, applause, Stephen A. Douglas
Loud cheers. l must ask the liberty of
reading it to you:
Letter from the Hon. Stephen A. DOUGLAS,
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1868.
GENTLEMEN:-l have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your kind invitation
to address the Democracy of New York, on
Friday night. in opposition to the effort being
made to force Kansas into the Union with q
Constitution which the people of that Terri
tory have repudiated and rejected at fair and
valid election by more than ten thousand ma
jority. The time has now arrived when the
Democracy of the whole country should hold
meetings in the cities, towns. and counties.
and proclaim, in tones that command respect.
their devotion to and determination to sustain
and carry out in good faith the great princi-
pies Of self government which lie at the foun-
dation of all free institutions. and which pro.
claim their determined and unyielding hostil-
ity to the contamination of scheme so mon
strous as to force a Constitution at the point
OF the bayonet down the throats of an unwill-
ing people.
regret that my public duties, as well as
illness in my family, demand my constant at.
tenuon here, and thus deprives me OF the
honor which should otherwise enjoy in ac-
cepting your kind invitation.
l have the honor to be, very truly, your
ooedient servant, s. A. DOUGLAS.
The speech of Hon. F. p. Stanton, was an
able and mastery review and expose of the
history Of the frauds in Kansas, and of the
torpitude of the administration, and must
have powerful influence upon the minds of
the masses of the Democratic party, if not
upon the leaders, wherever it Is read,