The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-17
WASHINGTON, d. C.
KANSAS.
SECRETARY r p. STANTON DECLARES FOR
THE REPUBLICANS.
LEcoNPTox, K. T., Oct. %, 1859.


goodly number of the Democracy were also in
attendance, and all of them unite in denoun-
cling the address. Mr.. Stanton commenced by
an allusion to the letter of invitation referred
10, and went on to say that he had no party re-
lations or other embarrassing connections which
would prevent him from speaking his opinions
frankly, and dealing impartially with men and
principles. In form and in fact, Kansas was
still dependent Territory but she was now
about to present her hand to claim admission
into the Union as a sovereign State. She had
not reached this stage of her history without
great difficulty, and after repeated unsuccess-
fol attempts In the same direction. Undoubt-
edly, the Wyandotte Constitution was the most
respectable in its origin and attending circum-
stances of all the Constitutions which had been
presented to Congress, as embodying the will
of the people of Kansas. 1t had been sane
toned by majority of over 5000, upon the
largest vote ever polled within the Territory.
If Kansas was entitled to enter the Union at
all, which none could doubt, every element of
right, essential TO success, was embodied in
her present application. The Democratic or
ganization in the Territory had denounced the
Constitution upon various grounds, and, even
after the overwhelming vote for its ratification,
still were unremitting in their denunciation,
and indicated strong disposition to oppose
our ADMISSION lnIO Inc mon. i ne leading
objection, urged with untiring pertinacty and
violence, was the utterly false and groundless
charge that, under II, negroes are clothed with
the right of suffrage. Mr.. Stanton here COM
pared the Kansas Nebraska act with the Wyan-
dotte Constitution, in this particular, and
showed that the qualifications Of voters under
the respective instruments were almost identi-
cal IN terms, and entirely so in legal effect and
operation. There was one difference, however.
The organic act-that Wanted Democratic
measure-conierred on the Territorial Legisla-
lure unlimited discretion over the subject
while on the other hand the Constitution gave
no such power to the State Legislature. The
right of suffrage was confined to white male
citizens of the United States, or those who
had declared their intention to become such
under the naturalization laws. The qualfca
tons could not be changed without an amend
ment Of the Constitution, and it was a gross
Misrepresentation on the part of the Democrats
10 claim otherwise. He had been reported to
have said, IN one of his speeches, that under
this Constitution, negro children would be
placed upon an equality with whites in the
public schools. This was an entire msappre-
hensiOn. The instrument was made for the
whites alone. He did say, however, that in
a free State it was not the interest Of the
community to keep any portion Of the people
in ignorance. There was nothing in the Con-
stitution to invite or encourage the immigra-
ton of free negroes and as TO the few who
should be IN the State, he would certainly be
in favor Of providing for their education Upon
these and similar baseless pretexts, it is appa-
rent that the Democrats of the Territory hope
10 prevent the admission Of the State into the
Union. He quoted from the LecOmpt0n Ma
HORdL Democrat administration organ) sew
eral articles in which the Constitution was de-
nounced as " a disgrace to Kansas" and one
which no Senator or Representative could vote
for without violoting his oath of Office
This was doubtless the drift of their policy to
defeat the application for admission. But ad
mission of Overshadowing importance, and
ne was compelled by sense of duty to resis'
the elevation Of those who are enemies of the
Constitution and of the State Government 1t
was almost an act Of brazen impudence for
them to ask TO be invested with power under
the State organization, and he could scarcely
believe them serious in their efforts to obtain it.
The Republicans Of the Territory had fairly
won the right to control the State Government
and he would assist them by his vote to accom-
pEsh that result. Their courage and fortitude
during the heightened struggle, their devotion
10 the cause Of popular rights in the Territories
50 shamelessly abandoned and BETRAYED by the
administration and the false Democrats who
sustained it, have fully entitled them to this
triumph. The speaker said he had once fondly
trusted that the Democrats of the Territory
would emerge from the depths Of political dis
grace in which they had been plunged, but he
could see no change for the better. All the in
dications of Lecomptonism were still plainly
visible IN their acts and, for all practical pur-
poses, they were the true and legitimate sue
cessors OF those who, in the early stages of our
history, acquired so unenviable a reputation
The ticket adopted Yesterday at Lawrence was
conclusive proof OF this. Gov Medary was at
ats head - 4 thorough going, outand-out Lee
eomptonite, doubtlessly appointed to the posi-
ton he now holds for the very reason that he
has increasingly supported Mr.. Buchanan's Ad-
mlnlstraton IN Its mOnstrous violation of right
and principle in Kansas. He had no word of
reproach to utter against Governor Medary as a
gentleman, but he could not support him as a
politician. he could not forget that eighteen
months since, when he was invited TO address
the people at Columbus, Ohio, where Governor
Medary had recently been appointed postmaster
in place of an Anti-Lecompton Democrat re-
moved, after he (the speaker) had told his
PLAIN, unvarnished story Of the wrongs done 70
the people OF Kansas, Gov. Medary was so ar
dent IN his devotion to his patron, that he was
inouced 10 call q second meeting, and address
II, IN reply to him, the speaker in vindicatiop
this Federal Office holder is a significant fact
1t removed all doubt as to the position of the
Democracy in Kansas. The people might as
Wei be called upon TO support James Buchanan
himself; Tor that would involve no greater de-
gree OF seitcOndemnation and abasement For
himself, he could not and would not support that
ticket on the contrary, he would oppose it with
all his power; and in order to give the greatest
possible force to his opposition. be woald vote
the Republican ticket from the highest name IN
the lowest. In order to be logically consistent
70 the principle adopted, he should also vote for
MI Parrot. lie defended this gentleman from
Ile charges made against him. and, while he
had nothing to say against Judge Johnston 90
an individual, he thought the people of the
Territory would do themselves and ibo;r go
great wrong by confdng any portion Of Their
political power TO any one Of the Democratic
candidates Mr.. Stanton then referred IN tho
general principles involved in the party diyis
IONS OF the day. He said that the terms 9Th
Ossawatomie platform relating TO the RIGHTS NJ
the people IN the Territories was much nearer
to his views than those of the Tecumseb Dem
ocratic) platform. he thought the Republican
ooctrlne mere announced was the true doctrine
some oil ms Leeompton friends had called him
" BACK Republican; others an Abolition
lst. IL his positions made him such. he ras
content 10 wear the name, odious as it might
be in the view Of these gentlemen. ~
As to the question ofextendinc SIoyor,. /, T.,
not believe that the Constitution of tbc Trn;taJ
States carried Slavery anywhere. That -,
ment was silent on that subject 1t autbor;zaa
Congress to prohibit the importation of slaves
and he believed that to be the most effec,noi
remedy for preventing Slavery extension. he
had always been opposed to the slave trade
upon political, economical, and moral grounds