The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-12-17
Topeka AND LECOMPTON

The last intelligence from Kansas develops clear
ly the purposes of the Topeka leaders in permitting
their followers to vote for members Of the Legislature
and in not permitting them to vote for delegates to
the constitutional convention They had resolved
to recognise the legality and validity Of the
Legislative body which passed the act calling the
convention they refused to vote for dele
gates but supposing that the constitution would be
submitted they reserved their votes to be cast in
rejecting the constitution no matter what might be
its provisions. Their minds irere made up to hare no
constitution but that made at Topeka. To carry out this
object, they determined to vote for members of the
Legislature intending if they secured the majority in
that body to convert into Topeka Legislature and
by its action to adopt the Topeka constitution These
facts being well understood by the convention, it
was determined that the best mode of securing a
speedy settlement of the controversy was to submit
the slavery question: and then to present the const
tuition to Congress for admission without further de-
The late proceedings of the Topeka men fully sus
tain these statements and confirm in the opinion
that the convention acted with great wisdom in
adopting their line of policy. We call special atten
ton to the following proceedings of the convention
lately held at Lawrence in Kansas I: .r-..a
Resolved That we utterly repudate the constitution
framed at Lecompton that it is an instrument hostile to
the popular will and appealing to the God OF justice
and humanity for the rectitude of intentions. we do
soemnly enter into league and covenant with each
other that shall n under any circumstances, per-
init the said constitution framed and not SUBMITTED,
to be the organic law for the State of Kansas but do
pledge our lives, fortunes and sacred honors in
ceaseless hostility to the same. "'.3. t....t
Resolved That we denounce the so-ealled election OF
December I'll az swinde and the election of January
1858 as crime and msdemeanor against the peace OF
this Territory and the will of the majority. Yg4 80
Reocd That the legislature elected in this Territory
on the th day of October 1851 is the only Legitimate
law making body that has ever been elected for the
Territory of Kansas and that its functions shall not he
suspended by any constitution or State government until
fair and impartial vote shall be had on the same
Resolved That this delegate convention do hereby re-
endorse the constitution known the Topeka oonsu
ton and do declare it represent the wishes of the
ioy of the people of Kansas to-day and that when it
shall have again received the popular sanction under au
thoty of the only legitimate territorial legislature ever
convened in Kansas Territory recognised by the author
ty of the United States, shall maintain it against
all opposition. 4
Resosod That looking chiefly to the above end,
specfully memorabilia the territorial legislature about to
convene in an extra session the It'll inst to frame
fair and impartial election law, and that they under It,
do submit the two constitutions the peoples constu
ton framed at Topeka and the constitution framed at
+,
and that the said legislature provide that the constitution
which shall receive majority of all the legal votes
shall become the fundamental law for the State of
Kansas.
II is here seen that the Kansas Legislature, which
has been fully recognised as legitimate by the Elk
ecutive and by Congress-, by Gov, Walker and by
Mr. Stanton, and, indeed by the whole democratic
party is denounced and repudiated IL is also seen
that the constitutional convention which chosen
in pursuance of an act of this Legislature and recog
Missed as legitimate by all democrats, is, in like man
ner denounced and repudated 1t is further seen
that the purpose is openly avowed that Kansas shall
neper be State tc, any other constitution than that made
at Topeka which constitution it will be remembered,
was rejected as illegal and inadmissble by the Ex-
ecutiye and Congress as well as by Gov. Walker, Mr.
Stanton and the whole democratic party. 81
It now appears that the newly-elected members Of
the Kansas legislature have been 7opekaized by the
proclamation of Acting Governor Stanton, and
that it is to readopt the Topeka constitution, and
place il in competition with the Lecompton con
yention. we should think IL difficult to draw a
real distinction between the Illegal proceedings
which resulted in the formation of the Topeka
constitution and those resorted to by Mr. STAN
ton through the premature calling together of the
new Legislature Mr. Stanton had no authority to
issue such proclamation the initiatory step there
fore, was illegal and void. The members of the le
gislaure have no rights members until the lst of
January, 1853 Their assembling, therefore, is ille
gal. and all their proceedings usurpatons, and
hence nun and void. What, then, if they do adopt