Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-03-18
aslisfellaug.
GEORGE BANCROFT
On the LecOmpton Constitution.

Hon. Geo ge Bancroft, who was TO have
presided at the contemplated Anti-Le-
compton meeting in New York on Friday
evening last, publishes in the Tribune, the
following remarks which he had prepared
for the occasion:
FELLOW CrrHENs:-The proper solu-
ton of the question before the country,
which, in some of its aspects, is the most
momentous that has been present since the
the adoption of the Federal Constitution is
selfevident; but that solution has been SO
thwarted that it is made necessary to revert
TO first principles and to take counsel Of the
People, who are the source of the wisdom
and of power. We are assembled tonight,
not in hostility to the Administration. We
venerate the President for bis age and past
services, and desire to remove out of his
path the great obstacle to his present USE
fulness. Still less are we at variance with
the South. We have never feared to sus-
tain the South on any question in which
the South was in the right, and we are
justified in asking its cooperation to pre-
vent great national wrong which, if con-
sumated, will injure its friends. Far from
opposing Democracy, we come here to-
night to uphold it, by freshening in our
minds the love of Justice and Freedom,
without which Democracy is delusion.
We are assembled to protest against
forcing the Leeompton Constitution upon
the people of Kansas against their will
Bear with me, fellow citizens, if, in the
fewest possible words, / speak to the facts
in the case, to the right, and to the means
of redress.
As to the facts of the case, the Lecomp-
ton Constitution was authorized in advance
by no one branch of the General Govern
ment. The Senate of the United States
passed bill for Convention in Kansas,
having in view a very different mode of
procedure. The House, by decided vote,
declared itself willing to accept the real
and true opinion of the majority of the
people of Kansas, however il might be ex-
pressed.
The President, through his agent, the
Governor of the Territory, vetoed the bill
for the Convention. The Senate, the
House, the President of the United States,
are all innocent of the Lecompton ConveI-
tion. The people of the Territory never
elected that Convention, and never had an
opportunity to do so. The lists of voters
were made out by partizan officers, who
acted under no penalties for neglect of du-
". Fifteen counties, by no fault of their
owe, had no possible opportunity TO vote
a. all. The Convention, therefore, never
naa even pretext for binding the people.
Before the Convention did its work a new
election of Kansas Legislature took place
and, thanks 10 Walker and Stanton. false
fraudulent and forged returns were rejected
and Legislature was formed of unoues-
tionable legality. TheC eConvention, know.
ing the true will Of the people, in defiance
of that will, refused 10 refer the Constitu-
tion to the people, sequestered their ina
henable rights, and made themselves mas
tiers. The acknowledged that such refer.
ence should have been made at least On the
Slavery clause, and then tLey framed a
schedule which made no true reference
even OF that clause, but disfranchised all
except those who would acknowledge their
usurpstion and were willing to take test
oaths to support it. The Convention fur.
ther assumed most extraordinary power.
and soughtiu IN sdvance 10 nuIlify and render
void the acts fths newly elected Legisla-