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 concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 155th anniversary of the House of Rep-
resentatives’ 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 Representa-
tives resulted in the most infamous floor brawl in the 
House’s history; 
Whereas the House of Representatives rejected the Lecomp-
ton 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 through-
out 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 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) recognizes the rejection of the Lecompton 
Constitution of the Territory of Kansas by the 
House of Representatives as a critical action in ad-
mitting Kansas as a free State into the Union of the 
United States; 
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•HCON 79 IH 
(2) celebrates the American belief of freedom as 
an inherent right of individuals everywhere; 
(3) acknowledges the drafting and ensuing de-
bate of the Lecompton Constitution of Territory of 
Kansas as a significant catalyst of the debate that 
would lead to the Civil War and the ultimate aboli-
tion of slavery; 
(4) congratulates the city of Lecompton, Kan-
sas, for maintaining its historical heritage as a sig-
nificant location in American history; and 
(5) extends warm wishes to the residents of 
Lecompton, Kansas, as they continue to celebrate 
their city’s ongoing importance in American history 
as the place ‘‘Where Slavery Began To Die’’. 
Æ 
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