Leavenworth Daily Times, March 5, 1860

For nearly eight years the country has been groaning beneath the terrible and crushing rule of Democracy. Both as a party, and in their individual leaders, they have been uniformly false, tyrannical and anti-Democratic in their administration of public affairs. The people have been unblushingly robbed of money and of rights. Slavery and slave institutions have been exalted and thrust upon an unwilling people—the profits of the few have been regarded rather than the just rights of the many, and corruption of the vilest and most venial character in high places, is proved and undenied, and the interests of the great West most brutually sacrificed. And, now another demand is to be made upon the people, that they elect another, so called Democratic Administration, and submit for another term of four years to similar or greater wrongs.

The people are tired of this. Sick and disgusted with this state of things, they will throw off the yoke. The name of Democracy, once so fair and holy, has become a stench in the nostrils of all honest men, and the party which disgraces it will be effectually disarmed of power.

The people are in earnest. Threats of disunion freely made by Southern fire-eaters, are as the idle wind which men regard not. The Union was to be dissolved when a Republican was elected Speaker, but when the time came, those who had cried the loudest, now bowed and cringed the lowest. So it will be again.

Kansas may not have a voice in the Convention. If so, it will be the work of the Democracy, who have refused her admission to the Union. But let this not deter us from the work. Let all good men and true, from this time and all the time, work with their might while the day lasts.