The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-04-02
VOL. XII.
SPEECH OF GOV. ROBINSON AT THE TOPEKA
CONVENTION.
IRepor,cd for the National Era.l


me no little pleasure to have this opportpni,g
of satisfying my friends and the people AZ ~
the motives which have actuated my politict
course l am confident that shall ALWAYS h
able to give my reasons for the course nnr.
sue.
After nv return from the East, where hal
gone after my liberation, for the purpose of in.
curing into our chances and position abroad
| was greatly exercised with regard to tba
course we should take here in Kansas. Son,
in the States thought that all would be los,
having no remaining hope in the succeedip,
Administration of Mr.. Buchanan. Others said
that the Fremont party would come to Kansas
or send such an emigration as would insure our
ultimate success against all the efforts of our
enemies l was satisfied myself that larg,
emigration would come in in the fall aud early
in the spring, from the free States.
looked about here on my return. carefully
examined into the condition of things rela,if,
to our welfare, saw Governor Geary aud rany
others, among whom were some of our pr,n.;
pal and earnest men, and learned their vess
as we'll as l could, upon the policy to be pug.
sued. Governor Gesry made many great prom
ises. He talked well, he talked long, and fast.
and he still talks much.
/ asked him if he thought there was any way
in which the Topeka Constitution could pet
into the Union? He seemed to think it might,
By re.submission to the people, or, at furtheSt,
in addition to this, new election of State ofIi-
GERS. He thought Buchanan would be glad to
get out of the diff eulty in that way, rather than
risk the peace of his Administration by ALLOW
ing the question to go unsettled.
Now, if we could succeed in such n way, was
willing to profit by it. AT any rate, should not
refuse to accept such a proposition on behalf
of the Government. / desired to bring all nv
powers to the aid Of our cause and our Cons.I
tuition, and their success, in some way. l. a
well known that all manner of charges had
been heaped upon me by our enemies, such As
those of being an AboGtionist, a Disunionist.
and many others, which caused me to be Loo.
ed upon with great deal of hatred By The
Democratic party. In fact may say that
was probably more unpopular with tina party
than any other man in the country. On this
account, 1 thought there would be less of bar
rier in the way of this, if were not at the heal
of the State Government. This was the crea
reason for offering to resign the office then
held.
But this was an additional cause for taking
that step. / believed that my efforts would
be looked upon as more disinterested. when Ia.
boring in the capacity of private citizen. Il
could not then be said that | was laboring 10
make an empty office profitable one by the
sanction which | then sought of the Govern.
ment. When first saw the proceedings of the
meeting here during the preceding session ci
the Legislature, it seemed to me that no one
knew anything Of these reasons, or my motives
Further, | was not aware that there was any
Kansas man at Washington to represent TO
Congress or the Administration the right and
works of our people, as it was generally I'M
derstood that neither Lane nor Reeder could
| 60 there without danger of arrest by the Mar.
| shall, under process for treason.
AS long as four weeks previous to writing
my letter of resignation, had a conversation
with Lieutenant Governor Roberts, who prom.
ised to be here without fail on the meeting Of
the Legislature, and that he would act as Gov.
ernor in my absence; for | told him that
should go East, on business of Importance 10
the cause, which have already explained.
And although did not inform him that | would
certainly resign, yet i gave him to understand
that thought of DONG so. He well knew that
L would be absent, at all events. Many others
were aware of the same facts. Before leaving.
L wrote him note asking him to lay my res
ignation before The Legislature
| AT Washington / found the Senate impracti.
cable. Il merely wished the Territorial .pgis.
lature to repeal few Of the more odious Of
the enactments, and compel us to submit to tho
| eign invaders, without our consent, | fopri
that all was a matter of party pride that they
were determined 10 regard our affairs "a thouob
everything had been regular. Our friend, m
the House promised to do all in their poy-r :,
procure the entire repeal of all the laws. They
SAID the House would pass bill declaring
them all null and void, and ordering a new
election for Territorial Legislature undar A
law OF It's own. They thought the Senate
would strike out the repeal, but finally PASS the
election law. The House would then nass il
as it came from the Senate. In this / suppos,
we have been disappointed. | will admit. if
you choose, that have accomplished nothing.
But | earnestly tried to accomplish sometime.
and L have failed not because of An unWiil
ingness on my part. believed that my course
was the best one that could be taken.
L have not, and will show you 80 before leay-
ing, abandoned our organization. On the con
trary, believe 1t Is our only hope When we
framed that Constitution, something of the kind
was necessary to keep together our party. and
as basis for the securing of our rights. But
we have never yet perfected that organization.
as we should have done. A Government had
been established among US by people foreign
TO our soil and it was essential for us to estah.
lish some means of self protection from The
tyranny which was hanging over MS These
things are so yet. There is no hope from the
territorial Legislature. They have taken, aud
still retain, everything in their own hands, and
nave consequently increased in power. You
VIII hnd that they have not taken all their
trouble for nothing. And as the same reasons
which induced US to take our position in In.
beginning remain, as the same circumstances
still exist, why should we not maintain our
position?
Now, the Pro Slavery party is about getting
up a Constitution also They will not hesitate
to perfect an organization under it. Their par
pose IS undoubtedly TO set State Government
in motion as soon as possible, with Strinqfellow
and Atchison as Governor, and continue it,
either In or out OF the Union. If ours is allowed
to die, all will then be lost. The House of Rep.
resentatives have once passed bill admitting
1t. We are half way ont of the woods now But
II we neglect to re elect State Legislature
next August, our Constitution will eventually
die, for all the offices under it will become VA
cant, and there will be no means of again fill
ing them. Then, what is there to prevent the
admission OF the other? In such case, tina:
would have no competition. And thoagh we
do not participate in the formation of theirs, We
yet can have no means of showing this, and of
proving 1t to be mere party movement, except
by voting under and for our own. This will
show our strength.
The Legislature should meet again in June,
and enact our election law for the August cleo
ton. 1t should also organize the State into
counties and townships, establish courts and
provide for the election Of all the officers neces
sary to perfect the Government, and have it ready
to go into operation at any moment Audit should
be seen that We should have it in operation lit
tie in advance of our enemies. In few months,
we could thus have the whole State or at least
all lying south of the Kansas river, thoroughly
organized, unless, perhaps, it would be a little
oornar hole down here ga led