IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 79 

Recognizing the 155th anniversary of the House of Representatives’ rejection 

of the Lecompton Constitution of the Territory of Kansas. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 29, 2014 

Ms. JENKINS (for herself and Mr. POMPEO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period 

to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 

concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 155th anniversary of the House of Representatives’ rejection of the Lecompton Constitution of 

the Territory of Kansas. 

Whereas, on February 8, 1858, the Lecompton Constitution 

of the Territory of Kansas was rejected by the House of 

Representatives; 

Whereas the Lecompton Constitution was submitted to the 

House of Representatives for the admission of State of 

Kansas to Union as a pro-slavery State; 

Whereas the Lecompton Constitution was a frequent topic in 

the Lincoln-Douglas Presidential debates of 1858; 


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•HCON 79 IH 

Whereas the House of Representatives debate of the 

Lecompton Constitution caused political schisms in the 

entirety of the House; 

Whereas, on February 6, 1858, the debate of the Lecompton 

Constitution in the United States House of Representatives resulted in the most infamous floor brawl in the 

House’s history; 

Whereas the House of Representatives rejected the Lecompton Constitution and admitted the State of Kansas to the 

Union as a free State; 

Whereas the schisms caused by the debate over slavery were 

one of the crucial factors leading to the Civil War; 

Whereas the Civil War is one of the most significant periods 

of time in the history of these United States; 

Whereas the Civil War led to the abolition of slavery throughout the United States as a result of the Emancipation 

Proclamation; and 

Whereas the United States recognizes the inherent right of 

individual freedom of every individual: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) recognizes the rejection of the Lecompton 

4 Constitution of the Territory of Kansas by the 

5 House of Representatives as a critical action in ad6 mitting Kansas as a free State into the Union of the 

7 United States; 


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•HCON 79 IH 

1 (2) celebrates the American belief of freedom as 

2 an inherent right of individuals everywhere; 

3 (3) acknowledges the drafting and ensuing de4 bate of the Lecompton Constitution of Territory of 

5 Kansas as a significant catalyst of the debate that 

6 would lead to the Civil War and the ultimate aboli7 tion of slavery; 

8 (4) congratulates the city of Lecompton, Kan9 sas, for maintaining its historical heritage as a sig10 nificant location in American history; and 

11 (5) extends warm wishes to the residents of 

12 Lecompton, Kansas, as they continue to celebrate 

13 their city’s ongoing importance in American history 

14 as the place ‘‘Where Slavery Began To Die’’. 

Æ 


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