Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-02-25
True VS.. False Democracy.

| historian, and without an equal in that branch
of literary research, has always been Demo-
crat and is now but in common with great
portion of the small remnant of the Northern
Democracy who supported Buchanan, now feels
called upon to protest against his Administra-
ton. Such mans opinion of events is of
more Importance from his vast and intimate ac-
quaintance with our whole system Of govern
ment, and more significant since they are OPP
posed to party preposscssions he has 50 long en-
teftaned.
Mr. Bancroft has lately furnished an address
prepared for the Anti-Leeompton Demonstration
at New York 1t is important from being the
testimony of an honest, learned and able man,
and taken in connection with the fact of the ar
raigning of such men as Bancroft, Douglas,
Gov. Walker, Secretary Stanton, and host of
the greatest men the party possessed, against
the fayorite objects of the Administration, is
full of suggestion as to the future of politics in
this country. 1t shows great opening for o
giant Anti-Lecompton Anti-Slavery Demonstra-
ton for 1860, which shall be successful.
We have room for emily the material points of
Mr. Bancroft's address. They are as follows:
Mr.. Bancroft commenced by churacterizing
the question before the country as tho most mo-
mentous, in some of its aspects, shat has been
presented since the adoption of the Federal
Constitution, and that its solution has been so
thwarted that it was necessary To- revert to first
principles, and Toxic counsel of the people.
The Lecompton Constitution walls authorized
in advance by one branch of the General Gov
eminent. The Senate of the United States pass
ed bill for Convention in Kansas, having in
view very different mode of procedure. The
House, by decided vote, declared itself willing
to accept the real and true opinion of the ma
jority of Kansas, howeyerit might be expressed.
The President, through his agent, the Governor
of the Territory, vetoed the bill for the Conven-
ton. The Senate, the House, the President of
the United States, are all innocent of the lie
compton Convention. The people of tho Terri
tory never elected that Convention, and never
had an opportunity to dose. The1ists of voters
were made out by partisan ofiears, who acted
under no penalties for neglect of dnty Fifteen
countless by no fault of their own. had no DOS
siblc opportunity to vote at all. The Conven-
ton, therefore, never had even the pretext for
binding the people. Before the Convention did
its work new election of Kansas Legislature
took place, and, thanks to Walker and STAN
ton, false, fraudulent, and forged returns were
rejected, and Legislature was Termed of un-
questioned legality. The Conyentdon knowing.
the true will of the people, in defiance of that
will, refused to refer the Consultation to the
people, sequestered their inalienahie rights, and
made themselves masters. They acknowledged
that such reference should have been lnade at
least on the Slavery clause, and thea they franz
ed schedule which made no true reference even
OF that clause, but disfranchised ala except those
who would acknowledge their usurpation, and
were willing to take test oaths to support it.
The Convention further assumed most extra
ordinary powers, and sought in advance TO null
lily and render void the acts of the newly elect
ed Legislature. They did what they could tn
show appreciation of the fraudulent vote which
Walker and Stanton, with the approval, it is
hoped, of the President, and rejected. More
over it ordered an election of State officers, I'M
der their nnratlfied Constitution, without re-
quiring oath of the election officers, or afIix-
ing penalty on fraudulent voting OF forged re-
turns; and they, moreover, directed returns to
be made, not to the Governor or the legal Leg
islature, but to one man alone, the President of
the Convention man holding most lucra-
tive office and large patronage under the Gen
eral Government; clothed with power to judge
at his discretion of all returns Of Legislature
Office; bound by no cath to fidelity, and expos
ed to no legal penalty for the abused his trust.
We hold, then, that the Convention has NO
claim to the sovereignty in Kansas but by rsur-
patton that it had in no wise the sanction of
Congress, nor of the President, nor of the peo-
pie of Kansas, and was but cumming device to
defraud the people of its sovereignty.
The cardinal point on which the great ques-
tion is this Is the Lccompton Constitution the
choice and will of the people of KANSAS? | say
it is not and shall prove it. The first witness
is the Convention itself; they were urged t. re-
fer the matter to the people, the President, in
his high office, pledged himself over and over,
and over again, to the appreciation of that
course; and by the authority, and with the
knowledge of the President, the Governor and
officers of the Presidents appointment, quoted
the discontents Of the people of Kansas by ad
vocating the necessity of such submi sion before
the Constitution could claim any validity And
yet the Convention refused to submit its doings
to the people; thus confessing its consciousness
that its work would be rejected.
The second witness is the newspaper press of
Kansas that press is against the Constitution
by majority Of seven or eight to one.
Next Kansas, by act of Congress, has right
to delegate in Congress, charged with the duty
to speak for its people. They have now dele
gate who is undoubtedly the choice of the peo--
Pile, and is the first Kansas delegate ever chosen
by the people. lie is my third witness.
Next, ask the line of Governors appointed by
Presidents themselves Geary, Walker, formerly
Senator from Mississippi, and recently proposed
for place in the present Presidents Cabinet.
and highly commended by the President him,
self; Stanton, so lately member of Congress
from Tennessee, all agree. And / would not
fear to ask Denver, the present ineumbent he
will certify that even fraction Of the party
against the Lecompton Constitution is more nu--
merous than the whole of its friends.
Fifth-The people of Kansas now happily.
thanks to Walker and Stanton, have a Legsla-.
tnre indisputably representing that people and
SO soon as they could lift up their voice, they
protested against the Lecompton Constitution.
Sixth-'rhose State Officers who received the
largest number of votes at the election on the
4th Of January, last have likewise sent their
protest to Congress
Seventh-Thc voice of the people of Kansas
itself should be heard On the 4th of January
they repaired to the polls under no ordinary cir
cumstances of solemnity. The President had
sanctioned the proceedings by his special protec-
ton; the Legislature and Denver took care that
the vote should be an honest one, and by that
vote it appears that an overwhelming ma ority
of the people of Kansas reject the Constitution
of Lecompton.
So then we have seven sets of witnesses
against Lecompton the circumstantial evidence
of the Lecompton Convention; the Kansas
Press; the Kansas Delegate in Congress the
series of Kansas Governors--four Ina one year;
the Kansas Legislature the Kansas People
all, all declare that the People of Kansas re-
ject the Leconpton Constitution.
, If / could hope that the words Of one so hum