True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-30
The Kansa:: Movement.

For the last three or four years, it has
heen no easy matter to keep trace Of
Kansas affairs. One needed the thread
of ARIADNE to enable him to find his way
through the labyrinth. Several times, i
seemed as if Lhipgs we're coming TO cri-
sis. when Q new complication Of disor-
ders would suddenly dispel the illusion.
There was hull ip the excitement about
Kansas last summer, and it was common
ly said that settlement Of her affairs
would be affected without further trouble.
But now those affairs have become
more complicated than ever; the excite.
meDt in and out of the territory is increas.
ing in intensity; civil war is threatened i,
and what is somewhat new and strange,
the great Democratic party which gener-
ally moves forward in solid phalanx, is
distracted by new political question re-
lsting TO Kansas.
This question is simply whether lhe
Consti,ulion-the whole Constitution fra
med by the late Convention at Lecompton,
shall be submitted to The whole people for
adoption or rejection For an understand.
ing of The merits of this question, the rea'
der is referred TO that part of the Presi'
dents Message which treats Of Kansas,
and to the late speech Of Senator Dou-
glas. t
One Of the most prominent of the re-
cent events connected with the Kansas
imbroblio, is the assembling Of the Free
State Delegate Convention which met at
Lawrence on the End inst. The Free
State Governor, CHARLES RoBTNsoN, pre-
sided, and General JAMES H. LANE was
chairman of the committee Oh resolutions.
The Convention endorsed the Topeka
Constitution and proposed that the new
Territorial Legislature about to assemble
at the call Of Sec, STANTON, should sub.
init both the Topeka and the Lecomplon
Constitution, at an election forthwith to
be held. The Lawrence Convention al
50 decided three things;
LIST. That they utterly repudiate the
Lecompton Constitution, and will meyer
permit its operation. ..,
2nd. That the election to be held on
tie 2lst is a swindle.
Sd, That the Legislature elected on
the 5th of October is the only legal body.
The Convention is said to have been
,he largest ever assembled in Kansas
There can be no question but that the
Lecompton instrument called constitu.
tion is not acceptable to majority of the
people Of Kansas, whether free State or
pro:slavery. Some Of the objections TO it,
aside from those usually urged, are
lst. That it locates the Stale capital
at Lecompton, which can only be changed
by the concurrence of two-thirds of both
branches of the Legislature.
I'd. That the first Stale Legislature is
authorized to contract debt of 900, 900.
Sd That there is provision repeal
ing the bank chartered by the Territorial
Legislature, and chartering new one
with capital OF $3,OOO,OOO and four
branches, two south and two north Of lhe
Kaw river.
1t is said that if Congress should bring
Kansas into the the Union under The Le-
compton Constitution, and the President
should attempt 10 compel the people to
submit to Stale Government formed un-
der it, civil war in earnest would inevita.
bly, ensue. But we cannot think that
Congress will be insane enough to take
such step. Yet while they are hesita-
ting, making speeches and delaying 10 DO
justice to the people of the Territory. by
providing in an effectual manner that they
may form State Constitution and a State
Government in their own way, according
to the plain, obvious meaning of the
Kansas Nebraska Act, new causes Of dis
affection and enmity may be generated,
rendering what is now plain and simple
and easy Of achievement, difficult, if not
impossible.-COl. Fact.