St. Mary's beacon., 1858-03-18

Constitution, is but coufinuaticn Of s1he con.
test which has been ;waxed In Kansas aFa
throughout the Union from the frst organiza-
ton Of the territory. The obiecfi0ns which
have been urged against the Lec0mpt0n Con-
sttutiJn on the score Of alleged infornlaIites ID
the mode and maunef Of is adop1ion. are alll-
gether aside from the REL merits Ct the Qnes.
ton. That question b tlae question of Slavery.
lts agitation in Kansas has borne the bloody
fruit Of civil war lA a4ikRtiDn IN Csueys4s
may prove nee l1ea fAt = = J. zl.sszs. gsggs 0i.
posing interests md two rival parties have
from the beginning, divided tine .sympatlliss q
the pe0ple-tw0 governments have claimed
their allegiance-two Legislatures and TIVE
Governors have sought to eompel kheir abeli-
ence. In perfect consistency with this ussiias5-
py division Of feeling and interests, which has
been the bane Of Kansas during the whole pc
Rod Of her territorial existence, when she ap-
plies for admission as o State, it il with two
constitutions.
1t is true the. constitution framed at I.ec0snp-
ton and adopted on tie 21st December, 1867,
is the only instrument which il formally under
consideration by COugreaA. 1t 10 none the less
true, however, that the other, or Topeka c0n-
stitution, is constantly kept in view throughout
the whole discussion. IL is the "Gltya f,ars. "
Strenuous efforts are made to make the whole
decision OF the question turn upon the peculias
merits or dement's Of the Letompton C0nstitu-
ton, and the character Of the eIectiphs which
have been held under it but the real issue in-
vOlved is one Of Ear higher and move transcend
ing importance. The question Is not whether
the Leccmpten Constitution faithfully reflects
the seltiments and wishes Of the people of Kan
So, nor whether the President Of the Conven-
tiOn by whom it was framed has been guilty
Of frauds in conducting the elections which
were by it directed to be held. 1t is the peace
and happiness of the country, and the integrity
of the Union, which is at stake, and which is
greatly impelilled by the further agitation of
the question of slavery, and which imperativeIy
requires that that question should be at once
banished from Congress by the immediate ad-
mission of Kansas as q State.
How that admission shall be effected is a
question which can admit of but one solution.
The Lecompton Constitution bears the exter-
nal stamp Of authenticity and legality. both as
respects its formation aud its adoption The
Topeka Constitution is the unauthorized act of
an illegal and irresponsible body, acting in
open defiance Of law, and in treas0nable oppo-
Sition 10 the authority Of the Republic. Only
under the former constitution, il at all, can
Kansas be lawfully admitted into fhe Union
by her ADMISSION under that constitution, no
great harm can possibly be done; fOf once
ciUtted with the attributes of State sovcreign@
ty, the people of Kansas will have power to
alter and remodel their institutions at pleasure,
and can at any time redress what temporary
mischief the recognition of the Leccrnpton
Constitution may infict. By her admission
under that constitution one great good will Ger
taIniy be attained the restoration of peace
and harmony in the councils of the Re.ublic.
All good men will rejoice in the peaceable set
Element OF q question whose solution is heiged
around with difficulties, thickly set on every
side, and whose very agitation is fraught with
dangerous consequences to the Republic only
the demagogue and the traitor will have occa-
sion to mourn over the loss of their occupation
and the Illustration oftheir rschemes.-EnetGm0e