Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1866-06-20

y, thuS duOpleu, Is clearly eA-
pressed in the following unanimous
resolution of its Legislature:
"WHEREAs, We believe that on the
success of our party depends the per-
petuity Of the Union; therefore,
'Be it Resolved, By the House of
Representatives, the Council concur
ring therein, that it is the duty of the
proslavery party, the Union loving
men of Kansas Territory, to know but
one issue, slavery,* and that any party
making or attempting to make any
other, is, and should be held, as an
ally of abolition and disunion."
In carrying out this doctrine, ali the
Free State Democrats were excluded
from membership with the National
Democratic Party" not one of them
being received into fellowship or al
lowed to,tal<e part in its proceedings.
This platform was indorsed by the
Democrats at Washington at that time,
and was subsequently adopted and car
ried out by the President TO the full
measure Of perfection. So far as he
had the power he ostracised all Free
State Democrats, no matter how long
or how faithfully they had served the
party.
The National Democratic Party
being thus organized, the next move
ment was to commit Governor Geary
to its policy. Accordingly, the Chair
man Of the Central Committee called
upon the Governor, with the assurance
that if be would connect himself with
the party he should be one Of the two
United States Senators soon to be cho-
sen. The Chairman urged the matter
with such determined pertinacity that
Governor Geary ordered him out of
his office, and declared that if he should
dare again approach him with so vile
an offer he would toss him through the
window
Soon after these proceedings q Con-
stltuti0a, known as the LecOmptOn
Constitution" we received in Kansas
by the National Democratic Party"
direct from Washington, where it had
been carefully prepared; and agreea-
bly, to the directions accompanying it,
an attempt was made to have it adopt
ed by an improvised convention and
returned to Washington in the short
est possible time, regardless Of the
known wishes of the people, An act
of the Legislature to this effect was
Immediately passed, which was vetoed
by Governor Geary, for several rea-
sons, the most prominent Of which
were, that no provision was made for
submitting the Constitution to the peo-
pie for ratification, and that he was
satisfied that n large majority Of the
actual residents of the territory were
decidedly and strongly opposed to the
institution of slavery, which the Con-
stitution was intended to force upon
them.
This having occurred after the elcc-
ton Of Buchanan: but before his inaug-
uratiOn, Governor Geary addressed
him letters, stating the true condition
of affairs; but received no reply. He
did, however, receive positive evidence
from other sources, that the newly
elected President had abandoned the
true Democratic principles and adopt
ed the platform of the % National Sa-
very Democracy Hence, Governor
Geary resolved at once not to hold an
Office under his administration, and on
the day he was installed in the Presi-
dental chair, wrote and forwarded his
resignation as Governor of Kansas
On the 10th Of March, 1857, he left the
territory, and again returned to the
quietude Of private life. Had Cover
nor Geary been sustained in his hon
est and manly course, in Kansas, by the
administration at Washington, there
is reason to believe the destructive war
through which we We Just passed,
and was then foresIz widowed, and
even threatened, Nigh never have oc,
Cured, and the hunIrc is of thousands
of brave soldiers who now sleep the
sleep of death, would be living to bless
with their presence the homes made
SO sadly desolate.
Although Governor Geary thus re-
fused all connection or fellowship with
the National Democratic Party" be
persisted in adhering to the doctrine
! he advocated in California siXteer
years ago, and still more recently il
! Kansas, that the institution of slavery
| should not be forced upon an unwil
ling people, and never hesitated to ex
press his disapprobation Of the insti
tuition in all its forms, sentiments
which have since formed the basis o
the Union Republican platform
Hence, after his return from Kansas
! he associated himself with the party
! that sustained Stephen A. Douglas
which was greatly instrumental il
! breaking up the pro-slavery faction
and effecting the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency, a result
which he foresaw and was desirous o
having accomplished.
No sooner was the result of tina
election known, than plans were bein!