The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-19
THE KANSAS DOCUMENTS.

House Of Representatives. No subject was taken up
during the day for discussion.
THE KANSAS DOCUMENTS.
The correspondence and documents on the subject
of Kansas which were sent by the President to the
Senate on the I'D ult have now been printed and
laid before Congress We hope they will be care
fully read and considered not only by Congress- but
by the people, because they reveal state Of things
in that Territory which il is essential to understand
in order to appreciate fully the policy of the demo-
cratic party in reference TO the prompt admission of
Kansas into the Union as sovereign State. The
Topeka rebellion, as it was during the last Congress-
rs well recoiected but it is not well known or
at all events it does not appear to be adequately real
ized that this rebellion still continues and that the
chief opposition in Kansas to the Lecompton conven
ton and the Lecompton constitution proceeds from
those who have been, and now, in state of in
surrection against the government, and who render
necessary in the Territory the constant presence of
a military force in order to preserve the peace.
While the order-lovng residents there have been
content to abide by the forms of law, and to
seek redress of grievances through the ballot
box, the Topeka profess allegiance to an
soutely to participate in any election authorized by
the recognised authorities of Kansas. Presuming,
then, upon their own misconduct, they undertake to
claim, with an impudence almost marvellous that
their logged and rebeious inacton must be allowed
TO nullify the lawful action Of their patriotic fellow
citizens They cry out for popular sovereignty with
arms in their hands, and rebellion in their conduct
They clamor at the doings of delegates at whose
election they refused to vote, and they find fault
with the Lecompton constitution because they claim
already to have constitution of their own and seek
to persist in the movement which was started at To-
peka We shall take occasion to demonstrate this by
extracts from the published correspondence Gov
Walkers letters leave the subject in no doubt what
ever The Mormons in rebellion, because they re-
fuse to recognise the authorities of the United States
How far removed from similar rebellion are those
persons in Kansas who still claim that the Topeka
authorities the only legal authorities there and
who seek. at every opportunity, to organize some
violent movement against the government? III must
close" (wrtes Gov Walker on the 18th of last July)
"by assuring you that the spirit Of rebellion pervades
the great mass of the republican party of this Terri
tory, instigated entertain no-doubt they are by
eastern societies, having in view results most disas
trous to the government and the Union and that the
continued presence of Gen. Harvey here is indspen
sable originally stipulated by me, with large body
of dragons and several batteries And these the
men--these whose insurrectionary spirit cannot
be kept in subcction without dragons and batteries
in whose behalf popular sovereignty is invoked, and
who set up the plea of their rroaed rights in order to
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member of the Union Rather than recognise the
regular government of the Territory, they refuse to
vote on any and all subjects, and then denounce the
election invalid because, from spirit of rebellion,
they have not participated in it Surely if those
who absent themselves from the polls, through mere
neglect or nattention, bound by the results of
the election they who wilfully absent themselves in
consequence of stubborn opposition to the govern
ment must be held bound, also, and should meet
with no liberation when they to set up their
own wrong in order TO vitiate the election. ~
But our purpose is only to cali the attention
of our readers to the Kansas correspondence al
ready printed with special reference to the proof
wbich it discloses of the rebeious spirit and con-
duct of those who have given direction to the repub-
lican party in the Territory, We are glad TO soc
tina. division has now occurred in the ranks 4 this
party and that the less reckless among them have
voted for State officers This is favorable indica-
ton and promises the best results. Yet the Topeka
legislature so-called is said TO be now in session in
Kansas and to have received message from the To-
peks governor We can hardly believe that il will
attempt to enact laws do anything else than
peat the farce OF declaring the Topeka constitution
and government to be shll subsstent, and then adj
journ to future day, in order to whether Con
gress win decide for Lecompton OF Topeka. On
this point do not think they viii remain long in
doubt
Thomas F. Meagher, esq, requests to say that
he is not the author Of TIE letter recently addressed
10 President Buchanan by Gen. William Walker.