Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-12
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
ON THE
Lecompton Constitution.

| have received from J. Calhoun, Esq,
President of the late Constitutional Con-
vention of Kansas, a copy, duly certified
by himself of the Constitution framed by
that body, with the expression of the hope
that | would submit the same to the con-
sideration of Congress, "with the view of
the admission of Kansas into the Union
as an independent State" In compliance
with this request, herewith transmit to
Congress for their action the Constitution
of Kansas, with the ordinance respecting
the public lands, as we'll as the letter of
Mr.. Calhoun, dated al Lecompton, on
the l4th ult., by which they were accom-
panied. Having received but single
copy of the Constitution and ordinance, l
send this to the Senate.
A great delusion seems to pervade the
public mind in relation to the condition of
parties in Kansas. This arises from the
difficulty of inducing the American peo-
pie to realize the fact that any portion of
them should not be in state of rebellion
against the Government under which
they live. When we speak of the affairs
OF Kansas, we are apt to refer merely to
the existence of two violent political par
ties in that Territory, divided on the ques-
ton of Slavery, just as We speak of such
parties in the States. This presents no
adequate idea of the true state of the case.
The dividing line there is not between
two political parties, both acknowledging
the lawful existence of the Government.
but between those who are loyal to this
Government and those who have endea-
vored to destroy its existence by force and
by usurpation-between those who sus-
tain, and those who have done all in their
power to overthrow, the Territorial Gov
eminent established by Congress. This
Government they would long since have
subverted had it not been protected from
their assaults by the troops of the United
States. Such has been the condition of
affairs since my Inauguration. Ever
since that period a large portion of the
people of Kansas have been in a state of
rebellion against the Government, with
military leader at their head of most
turbulent and dangerous character
They have never acknowledged, but have
constantly renowned and defed the Gov
eminent to which they owe allegiance,
and have been all the time in state Of
resistance against its authority. They
have all the time been endeavorinp 70
subvert it and to establish a revolutionary
Government, under the so-called Topeka
Constitution, in its stead. Even at this
very moment the Topeka Legislature are
in session. Whoever has read the cor.
reSpondence of Gov. Walker with the
State Department,recentl communicated
to the Senate, will be convinced that this
picture is not overdrawn. He ALWAYS
protested against the withdrawal of any
portion of the military force of the United
States from the Territory, deeming its
presence necessary for the preservation
OF the regular Gov eminent and the exc
cution of the laws. In his very first dis
patch to the Secretary of State, dated
June 2, 1857, he says: "The most alarm.
ing movements, however, proceeds from
the assembling, on the 9th Of June, Of
"the so-called Topeka Legislature, with
" view to the enactment of an entire
code of laws. OF course it will be my
endeavor to prevent such result, as i
would lead TO inevitable and disastrou,
collision, and in fact renew the civil wal
in Kansas This was with difficult,
prevented by the efforts of Governor
Walker; but soon thereafter, on the l 4tt
of July, we find him requesting Genera
Harvey to furnish him a regiment O
dragons to proceed to the City of Law.
renee, and this for the reason that he ba(
received authentic intelligence, verified
by his own actual observation, that dan
gerous rebellion had occurred, involving
an open defiance of the laws and the es
Establishment of an insurgent government
IN that city. In the Governors dispatch
OF July 10, he informs the Secretary O
State that "this movement at Lawrenc,
"was the beginning of plan, originating
IN that city, to organize instruction
throughout the Territory, and especial,
" IN all towns, cities and counties wher,
the Republican party have majority
Lawrence is the hotbed Of all the Abo