The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-29
KANSAS NEWS.
The following letter from Charles Robinson
we take from Massachusetts journal:
WASHINGTON, April 3, 1858.

no one can predict the result. Should both
Houses remain firm, and Kansas not be admit
ted, ! shall visit Fitchburg, l think, next week;
but, should either House yield, shall return
Immediately to Kansas, without going to Mas
sachusetts.
Let the result in Congress be as it may, none
who are contemplating going to Kansas this
season need delay or hesitate from fear of dis
turbance; for should K ansas be admitted under
the Lecompton Constitution, and Mr.. Calhoun
give certificates of election, as he has indicated,
no trouble can arise, as the Free State party
soiH haue the Government in their hands, and,
ofcourse, ioiU haze no oppt sition of consequence
The people of Kansas have been schooled suf.
iciently to know how to rid themselves of the
Lecompton or any other Objectionable Consti.
tuition, should they desire it, without strife or
bloodshed, if the power shall be in the hands
of the majority. Of course, if we have the
Government, we can do as the good of the
State shall require, with "none to modest or
make Us afraid" Hence you see the reason
why have urged our people to vote for State
officers under that Constitution, in order that
we might not be left at the mercy of Congress
or any other power.
/ noticed, some time since, that friend Piper,
in the Rereille, criticised our voting policy
somewhat severely, and among other things, if
for us to vote for State officers on the same
day that we voted against the Constitution"
But how could we know that jority of the
! people would vote against it ? or, if they did,
how could we know that Congress would re-
gard that vote 2
All must admit there was a possibility, if
not probability, of our being admitted into the
Union under that Constitution, even though a
majority of votes should be cast against it on
the 4th of January and such being the case,
why not put the Government under it in the
hands of our friends, 80 that, should there be
any necessity for change, or revolution even,
it could be effected peaceably? Having done
this, should Lscompton be admitted, we should
at once organize the Government, and take
such action as should best subserve the inter
est of the State. Indeed, were there no ques-
| ton as to who would receive the certificates CT
election, am not certain but Kansas tcottld be
the gamer by being admitted under any con-
cetoa6e Constitution, If the agitation could thus
| De ended, rather than to be left In confusion
| with three State Constitutions and Govern
| ments, beside the Territorial Government, for
another year. Kansas has had her share of
political GgitdtiOns, and her Impoverished citi
zens are anxious for a return of honorable peace
and prosperity.
AS desire my old friends in Fitchburg to
understand the reasons for my course in Kan.
sas, you can hand this to friend Piper, if you
think proper, for publication. intended to
have written him some time since upon his
Yours, respectfully, C. ROBINSON.
Il. r. Stafford, Esq.
The Washington correspondent of the Phla.
delphia Inquirer remarks upon the above
letter:
The recent letter of Governor Robinson, of
Kansas, is hailed by the Administration and its
organs as virtual admission that the Anti LIE.
compton party in Congress and throughout the
country Is not justified in holding out longer
against the admission CT the State under the
Lecompton Constitution. Willie do not con-
ceive that the letter justly bears such an inter
probation, it certainly does, as a whole, betrsy
want of party fidelity on the part of the Gov
ernor, which places him in a rather unfortunate
attitude, and tends to discourage those who
have been so valiantly fighting his battles.
| looks as though, having so long kept
back the expression OF his opinion, he had only
| waited to know that Mr.. Calhoun had deter
mined to recognise the validity of the Free
| State ticket, thus securing his own position,
when he would be willing to abandon the prin
| cipte for which he and his friends have been
so long contending, and satisfy himself with
the ioaves and fishes accompanying his guber.
Material dignity.
81 say it looks so; but 1 have no idea that
Gov. Robinson intends to be 30 understood
Like great many others, he is anxious to
have the protracted difficulties brought to a
conclusion, and designed to express his belief
and determination that, once admitted in any
shape as State, the people ef Kansas would
take immediate steps to make their govern.
ment and laws just what is required by the
majority"
We learn from Kansas that troops and stores
for Utah were arriving daily. The spring is a
month earlier than last year, and the expedi-
ton could have started within a week. The
Leavenworth Constitution is rapidly growing
in favor, and though some old fogies still swear
by the Topeka instrument, which they call
more " conservative" they cannot breathe life
into Its corpse, or make any show of resistance
to the later embodiment of the peoples will.
Emigration is entering the Territory from all
quarters, and though there is not the same
speculative demand for property, there is a
better opening for bona tide settlers than last
year. Judge Cato being in Washington, Lee
compte has been trying to hold court at LIE.
compton. There were plenty of cases, both
criminal and civil, but no juries could be had
for love or money. After three weeks of per.
severing efforts, he adjourned: Gov. Denver is
still teaching the people Of Kansas {" how not
to do it."
The subjoined extracts from Kansas letter
we take from the New York Post. 1t is dated.
Lawrence, April 10. The extracts show the
state of feeling among the people of Kansas
upon the Lecompton Constitution
The question Of the admission of Kansas
as a free State is believed to be yirtuaiIv act
tied, and the only query now is az to the form
of admission. To be admitted under the lie.
compton Constitution, even with the privilege
of an immediate change, would be unsatisfac
tory to large portion of the people of Kansas
as it would thereby prove the parent or source
OF all our State Government, hateful heritage
to posterity; but by Mr.. Montgomery's amend.
ment to MIR. Crittenden's substitute, this diff
Guilty is happily obviated. At least, such is the
spirit and belief with which the news of its &C.
ceptance would be received here.
"There is unquestionably general desire
for peace on the part of the people of Kansas.
but not, as has been intimated, to that extent
which would imply an acquiescence in any
form OF government under the Lecompton
Constitution. None could travel over this Ter.
rifory, as have travelled, and see the flashing
eyes and clenched hands Of stalwart men. as I
have seen them, whenever the bitter fate sesu,.
ed most nearly and surely pending, and doubt
that the passage of the Lecompton Constitution
would cause their blood to boil with indigna.
ton, and make rebel of every msn. | state
put what is known to every person in the Ter.
ritory, when say that the active and efficient
enrolment and organization of the militia under
General Lane, which has been progressing for
the last three months, was solely to resist the
Embellishments of the Taoor,n to,, n =. |