Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-23
The I,ecomuton Constitution.


The Philadelphia Press has brought out some
facts from the records of Congress, which 1t viii
puzzle the Southern Democratic advocates Of
the Kansas Lecompton Convention to get over.
II appears that, in 1s4T, "Wisconsin, in Con-
yention regularly authorized by Congress, and
legally elected by the whole people of the Terri
tory voting and acquiescing in theelectioo, MADE
a State Constitution aud sent it to Congress, de-
msnding admission as State under 1t. lhe
Convention had omitted to submit their Consti-
tution to vote of the people; and Congress-
therefore. sent at back to the people of Wiscon-
sin, and required it to be submitted before she
could be admitted into the Union, and it was so
submitted and approved"
Again, in 1850, California, in a Convention
not authorized by Congress, but elected oy the
whole people of the Territory, made Oonsttu
ton. which was approved by vote OF the peo-
pie, and presented to Congress asking admission
as State under it, and she was admitted. up
on the passage of the bill admitting her as
State. protest was entered upon the journal OF
the Senate. Among the reasons assigned for OPP
posing the bill, the protest stated that 1t gave
the sanction of law and thus impaired validity,
TO an unauthorized action by portion OF the
inhabitants of California :" and that there was
not sufficient evidence of its 0the Constitution
Aarinq the assent Qfc majority Of the people t0r
uaou it ,cas signed The names of Senators
Mason and Hunter are appended to this paper.
As at present advised we agree with the Rich
mond Enquirer in thinking the position OF Mr.
Douglas impregnable. We refer to the SUBJECT
however, simply as matter OF news, withou'
intending to become the partizan of any faction
The controversy is exclusively Democratic al
fair. The government is in the hands OF that
party; they elected Buchanan with the promise
of giving us peace on this troublesome question
with them will DO the responsibility of disaster,
and to them will belong the credit of happy
termination of the difficulty. Wewish them full
success in bringing about the latter result, al
though we confess that, from present appear
ances and past experience of their management,
the prospect is not encouraging.
Mr.. Douglas assumes the position "thst the
regular mode of proceeding is by an enabling
act, but if Territorial Legislature proceeds to
call q convention with the consent OF Congress
that is irregular, but not so irregular that it ne
cessarly follows that oil its proceedings are VI
tiated. The Leoompton convention was not an
unlawful body and might send petition to Con-
Sress. but it was not O convention authorized to
establish a Government for itself. No constitu-
ton could be considered Republican which did
not embody the will of the people who are to be
governed by it and was not formed by their &c
ton"
In regard to the sentiments of the people OF
Kansas with respect to the Lecompton Constltu'
ton. there can be no doubt. The Republicans
are in arms against it, and the Democrats have
called Convention to memorabilia Congress to
pass an act enabling the people of the Territory
to organize State Government. The action Of
the Lecompton Convention, says the Baltimore
American, is condemned with degree ofunani-
nifty unparalleled in the political history of any
portion of the United States. The whole Demo
cratic party of Kansas was pledged by its candi-
dates, in October last, to favor the submission Of
the whole Constitution, and nearly the entire
party is in favor of adhering to that pledge. Oi
twenty papers in Kansas, but one advocates the
Lecompton Constitution. All the Democratic
papers with one exception,) which have been
denouncing the Topeka movement, are equally
hostile to the Calhoun contrivance As near ss
we can Judge ofpublic sentiment at this distance
at least nine-tenths of the people in Kansas are
bitterly opposed to the Constitution which the
Lecompton Convention has attempted to fasten
upon them against their will.