Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-08-25
A TELLING SPEECH!
Hon. +. p. Stanton, ot Kansas, at St. Louis
DOUGLAS COMPLiCliY IN THE KANSAS
OUTRAGES.
Freedom Ignored by Democracy.

Mr.. STANTON commenced his speech by an
eloquent allusion to the courage and patriotism
of Mr. BLAIR, and proceeded to say
1t is known to most of you, that ten for years
| was a member of Congress from the State Of
Tennessee. During that time and as before
had been a Democrat From the nrst numvut
when ! could begin to distinguish between
Whiggery and Democracy was a Democrat. |
had retired from public life, and was quietly
pursuing the affairs of private life, having no
disposition to seek or accept Office, when | was
asked to 60 to Kansas as Secretary to Governor
Walker. The President and the Cabinet in
sisted on my going. 1t was true that | had as
sisted to elevate Mr.. Buchanan to the place he
now holds, and which he dissraces. | am al
most ashamed to acknowledge it, yet | ought
not to be, for | supported him as an honest and
sincere upholder of the rights of the people of
every section.
When Gov Walker was called upon to go to
Kansas, he insisted that | should go with him.
| was unwilling to go. | declined; but the
President and his Cabinet urged il, and | con-
sented. They told me that the Kansas affairs
were of the highest Importance, and induced
me to sacrifice my ersonal interests to go. We
went Gov. Walker and myself resolved to
stand by the rights Of the people Before !
went there knew, and all knew, that the Free
State men We're largely in the majority There
were in Washington constantly leaders of the
pro-slavery people, who universally admitted
that the Free State men were in majority in
Kansas. But the singular fact was revealed
when we arrived there that the minority was
ruling the majority, and imposing upon them
measures that were hateful and obnoxious to all
their sentiments. The great mass of the people
derded the territorial Government, laughed at
it. and would not have anything to do with it.
Gov Walker and myself resolved TO try to per-
suade the majority to get things in their own
hands By voting. Coy. Walker pledged his
honor that they should be treated fairly, and
have full opportunity to exhibit their strength,
if in a majority; and we endeavored by speech
es and all means in our power, to get them to
take the position of the Governor They said
it was idle that border ruifans had control of
everything. Every magistrate, every constable,
and every sheriff was appointed simply to de-
fraud Free State men. 1t didn't seem possible.
| could not believe Americans, and especially
those hailing from the land of chivalry, could
! be n party TO such outrages as these. Renewed
pledges were given, and honor was staked that
fair play should be shown.
Unfortunately, us | think, many of the Free
State men refused to vote at the election for
delegates to the Lecompton Convention. They
knew better than l did that it was cut and
| urlctl dllulI lHdl IL was puCheu from the Oc-
| ginning; a pre-ordaned affair in everything.
| The Iecompton Convention was elected by the
! Pro Slavery party or miserable faction of it.
| At a subsequent election we induced the people
to vote for the Legislature which met in Janua-
nv, 1857, and then were the monster frauds per-
petrated. Prior to our going into the Terrific
! ry, elections had been carried by men living on
the border of MissoGri-men representing the
slavehoding Glass; but not of the honorable
class of Shareholders, and not, by their example
injecting the slavehodng Democracy of Mis-
souri,, but reckless, lawless desperadoes wen
with arms in their hands, and drove Free State
men from the polls took the ballot boxes anc
stuffed them as they wished, and conducted
things with a high hand. We thought TO man
sge differently, and promised protection. Here
disunionist. r. Barnwell Rhett, lately pub
lished in the st. Louis Republican, which, with
strange perverson, says that Walker ant
Stanton, at the head of the army, went to Kan
sas to drive out Pro-Slavery men, and excepting
for u.s. Kansas would now be Slave State
Nothing is more false-nothing could be more
in conflict with the facts. Gov. Walker onl,
used the army twice while he was in Kansas
the first time was to protect the members o.
that Lecompton Convention from the just in
dignaton of the people of that territory, eS
copting for Shermans boiling, which was sen
for their protection. Every member of tina
Convention has been driven from the Territory
The second time when he sent troops to sup
press a city government about to be set up il
Lawrence, which Gov. Walker thought was re