The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-02-22
Hon. George Bancroft's Speech.

and statesman, which was intended to
have been delivered at the great anti
Lecompton meeting at the Academy OF
Music, in New York. The meeting was
defeated by the refusal Of the proprietors
to grant the use Of the building. As the
opportunity of delivering 1t was lost, Mr..
Bancroft was so impressed with the i'm.
portance of the subject that he could not
remain silent, and sent his speech to the
Press. 1t is a concise and lucid state
ment of the facts Of the case, on which he
expresses his views with the clearness,
earnestness, and force Of all that flows
from his powerful pen. 1t must com
mand universal attention, and cannot
fail to have a powerful effect upon the
masses of the Democratic party North
and South. Mr.. Bancroft has been
consistent Democrat Though life, main
tanning the most approved fidelity to his
party. He was a member Of Mr.. Folks
Cabinet, and was appointed by him Min
lister to England, which station he filled
with the most distinguished ability
Having attained the highest object of his
ambition in political life, he has for the
last few years devoted his time to COM
pleting the literary monument he is
rearing to his fame in his admirable his
tory Of his country; and while search
ing the annals Of the past, and deducing
the profoundest lessons Of political wis
dom from them, he has been tracing
their influence through the course OF
events up to their Developments in the
present hour. He has been in the daily
habit Of contrasting passing events with
those gone by, and connecting them by
the chains ofcause and effect. No one
therefore is so competent to speak of the
dangerous consequences OF violating Q
fundamental principle Of political right
His judgement may be taken as the YER
dict of history-as the condemnation o
the wrongs now being suffered by Kan
sas, through coming generations. Fol
if this speech be not one Of the chapter
of his history Of the country, it will b.
received as the most eminent contemDo
rary authority, and the future historian
will draw from it his views Of the even
as the authentic record of the act. w
beg every Democrat to give it considerat
reading. Some Of the INSCRIPTIONS par
tisan papers have made a vain attemp
to break the force Of this Overwhelming
condemnation of their iniquitous designs
by basely insinuating that Mr.. Bancroft
was disappointed expectant of Execu
tive favors-a viler inuendo, for NOR
contemplate purpose could not have lee
uttered. Mr.. Bancroft has flied tn
highest stations in the gift of the Go,
eminent, and voluntarily retired fror
them, to pursue more durable fame j
a nobler field than politics affords. II
is now near seventy years old, past tn
age to desire or acquire political honor.
He is wealthy and beyond the tempts
tons of avarice from the most lucratiy
employments of Government. He
placed in position above the infuenc
Of any unworthy motives that coul
sway his judgment or tempt him
deviate from the highes sense ofrecti,ud
in the expression of his opinions. Their
is no man in the ranks Of the part
whose judgement will be received wit
! so profound respect.
He boldly tells the Lecomptonites tn;
5 they are the factionists-the desertel
from the principles OF their party. The
too are the sectionalists, with no clair
for the pretence of being national Demo
5 Gratis; and are without one inch of Den
: ocratie ground to stand upon. After tn
g authoritative verdict against them, tn
4 plea Of exclusive National Democrat
o set up by the Lecomptonites, will be S
fenced, we hope.
Q FELLOW CITIzENs:-The proper solution
the question before the country, which,
some OF its aspects, is the most momentor
Y | that has haap rraSanta1 AZ Tho alr,f;Np
i the Federal Constitution, is self-evident; b
. that solution has been so thwarted that it
q made necessary to revert to first principle
,f and to take counsel of the people, who u
the source of wisdom ond power. We a
: assembled Tonight, not in~hostility to q
a Administration. We venerate the Preside
tor his age and past services, and desi
= to remove out Of his path the great obstac
g to his present usefulness. Still less are we
variance with the South. We have new
feared to sustain the South on any questi,
: in which the South was in the right, and '
are justified in asking It's cooperation to pr
vent great national wrong which, if col
8 summated, will injure Its friends. Far fro
expressing Democracy, we come here t
night 20 uphold it, by freshening in o
It minds the love ofjustice and freedom, wit
out which Democracy is delusion.
We are assembled to protest against for
ing the Lecompton Constitution apon t
people of Kansas against their will. Be
l. with me, fellow citizens, if, in the fewest pc
lie sible words, Ispeak to the facts in the Gu:
ir to the right, and to the means of redress.
As to the facts of the case, the Lecompt
Constitution was authorized in advance
( no one branch of the General Government.
80 The Senate of the United States passed
,e for Convention in Kansas, having in vic
- q very different mode of procedure. T
70 Housa hy daciIa1 vora Ia..loraJ ;tsalf