Year: 1859

upon it to- day as completely as I did on
the day / entered Kansas, or when I
addressed the people in Philadelphia and
New York. Mr.. Heath will seek in vain
to find one word in any of those address
es. of which he speaks so highly, contra
dieting this position. If it be true, as
Mr.. Heath is pleased to say, that my
"words and actions then thrilled the ma
tioE as the words and actions of no more
politician, actuated by considerations of |
expediency have power to thrill it," it
was not because then assumed any prin-
ciple different from that / maintain now.
Let Mr.. Heath examine those speeches |
carefully, and he will find have been at
all times frank in the expression even of
unpopular opinions, and consistent in |
maintaining them throughout the whole !
controversy. 1 do not insist upon hold
ing Mr.. Heath to his enthusiastic appro-
baton of my "words and actions"
ask only that he shall understand them
correctly and quote them fairly. can
well afford to lose something of his pro-
fessed admiration of my former course, in
order to secure just and truthful appre-
citation of my present conduct and mo-
tives. Mr. Heath will pardon me for here
stating, that in the speeches to which he
refers so flatteringly, no sentiment I ut
tered was more vociferously applauded
by northern audiences, than that in which
l proclaimed that if the southern party
of tho Territoy had been honestly in the
majority, would have sacrificed myself
for their rights, as freely as l did those of
the opposite party. 1 am sure l was not
misunderstood by the people whom ! ad-
dressed, as seem to have been by my
friend, Mr.. Heath. Ny sole purpose up
on all occasions was to vindicate the right
of the people of Kansas to govern them
selves, and to form and fashion their own
institutions. For the maintenance of this
.


sacred principle, I opposed the Admins
tration, which had per6diously abandoned
and betrayed it, and thus cut myself off
from the party organization to which, du-
ring my whole life, I had been sincerely
attached. In this change of party rela-
ticns, however, 1 did not change my PRIN-
cIpLEs. did only what I thought was
necessary to preserve them.


Although Mr.. Heath charges me with
no such motives" it is evident that he
classes me "with those who cannot make
up their minds, as yet, which is to be the
stronger party of the Territory" 1t is


plain that he himself has no difficulty on


that score, for he assures me that it will


be "safer" to go over than to return, en-


forcing the delicate suggestion by the ex-


ample of others in similar situation, of


whom, he says, ''the noblest of them all


have been sacrificed" l fully compre-


hend the warning; yet 1 am ready for


the sacrifice. l prefer the loss of place,


power, everything !! rather tfah to suppress


my conscientious convictions.


I do not wish to be misunderstood


While can never consent to make war


upon the institutions Of other States, or


in any way to interfere with their coLsti-


tutional rights, am not, and never have


been one of those who consider African


Slavey as destined to be permanent in


any part of our country, or likely to be


extended TO any of the Territories. Nor


do l agree with those who esteem the


Southern system as the only desirable


form of social organization. l hold, how


ever, that this is question which each


State must settle for itself without inter-


ference from abroad, and that the Gener-
al Government has no power over the


subject. 1t would be disipgenuous for


me to withhold the opinion, also, that in


those communities in which the negro


forms large proportion of the population,


subordinate condition on his part is un-


avoidable. 1 do not believe that it is eli


ther practicable or desirable to establish


equality of political and social rights be-


tween the white man and the black.
would not concur in any measure for the
persecution of free negroes. have here
tofcre always advocated their emigration


TO some suitable region, in which they


could pursue their own interests, in their


own way, according to their capacity for
{ improvement.


, If these views do not find favor with
the people of the Territory, it will be
my misfortune; but that will not be so


great as would be the humiliation of an
iipsinccre profession Of more acceptable
opinions, or silent acquiesceDce in party
purposes which in my conscience ! should
condemn. Ii the Free State party will
now adhere to the platform of 1856, with
an eye single to the regulation of our
own affairs, leaving the people of other
: sections to pursue their interests unmo-
Tested, I can very conscientiously coop
crate with them, and l believe the con-
tinuance of that organization at the pres
ent time, will best promote the peace and
prosperity of the Territory, and secure its
speedy admission into the Union as a
sovereign State. I do not see how these
high objects can be equally advanced by
any other mode Of action, especially by
the fomenting of mere party divisions
upon questions not applicable to our con-
dition. Very respectfully yours,


FRED. P. STANTON.