The Kanzas news., 1857-11-21
rhe roneka constitutton.

i Il
We have sn abiding faith in the Topeka
Csnstitutienl The only position ever oc-
cupied b the Free State party IN which
they were formidable to their enemies was
| in support of that Constitution and their
right of self-gorernment under it. Any
thing that esnanates from the people, and IS
truly legitimate. is an offending" and eye
sore to the modern Democracy. The To-
peka Constitution and State Government are
as truly legitimate as Repubiicanism itself.
The people of the Territory had q right to
exercise their sovereign power in erecting
StatesGovernment, even if there had been
legitimate Territorial Government: and
much more had they this right when law
less invasion prevented Territorial Gov
ernment from being formed. In the State
Government SO formed the viii of the peo-
pie was ssfairly and fully expressed" and
| if the wheels of that Government had been
put in motion Immediately upon the adop-
ton of the Constitution the Missouri usur-
patton would have disappeared before this
legitimate government. 1t was not dome
there was hesitation and faltering-the Ad-
ministration took advantage of it to foment
discord and dissatisfaction in the Free State
ranks. 1t could not destroy the Topeka
Government itself, and it determined that
its own friends should accomplish the work.
Gov. Walker was sent to Kanzas for this
purpose, and succeeded but too well. He
entrapped the people into snare-prevailed
upon them to recognize the Bogus laws, by
participating in the election, which placed
them in false position. The legitimate re-
suit of this abandonment of position by the
Free State party is now before the people of
Kanzas, in the shape of Pro-slavery Con-
stitution. If the people had adhered to
their 'non-reeognition policy" and put
their own legitimate State Government in
to operation, the Border Rufians would new
er have dared to attempt the game of fore
ing Pro-slavery Constitution down their
throats. The best position which the Free
State men can take at this time to defeat the
Felon Constitution is to fall back upon the
Topeka Constitution and State Government,
in the formation Of which was exhibited the
only expression of the peoples power ever
obtained in Kanzas. In that position they
are invulnerable The Federal Government
and its Missouri allies combined cannot over
throw them. The Felon Constitution viii
be of no force and effect if confronted by
the Peoples Government. Such course
furnishes at once peaceful settlement of
our difficulties. 1t is the fault of the timid
and conservative that such a course was not
adopted long since, and the Missouri
and federal usurpation "wiped out" What
we want for kanzas is true and substan-
tial peace. It is folly to think of having
such peace until the right of the people to
self-government is settled. So long as the
usurpers are in power, our affairs will be
unsettled; and the only way to forever rid
ourselves of them and all outside interfer-
ence, is for the people to take hold of their
oaca Constitution and assert their right to
self-government under it. This cannot be
done with the Territorial Government. ItI
is not respected; it is an extra Constitution
al affair, and is "bogus,' % make the best of
it you can. The only remedy is in State
Government. 1t is folly to talk of a collis-
ion with the Federal authority. The Gov
ernment dare not use force to put down
government of the people. It may threat
en-; but if we adhere to our position persis-
tently We shall never be molested by it
Let us then stand fast by the Topeka Con-
stituton and State Government. 1t is our
only strength. 1t is bond of Union
Without it We are like rudderless and pi-
iotless bark on troubled sea.