The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-13
Buchanan,s Message Transmitting the
LecOmptOn COnstituI ton. -l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2

Buchanan,s Message Transmitting the
LecOmptOn CONSTITUTE lion.
'." .2"' WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.
SENATE-The Senate resumed the consid-
Grafton of the Army bill.
In the midst of the debate upon it, the
Presidents message was received and read,
as follows:
The President opens with the assertion that
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 people to realize the
fact that any portion of them should be in a
state of rebellion against the government I'M
der which they live. The dividing line then
is not between two political parties, both &C.
knowledging the lawful existence of the gov
eminent, but to those who are loyal to this
government and those who have endeavored
to destroy its existence by force and usurpa-
tion-between those who abstain and those
who have done all in their power to over
throw the Territorial government established
by Congress-. This government they would
long since have subverted had it not been
protected from assaults by the United States
troops.
The President then cites Governor Walk
er's dispatches as evidence to the existence
Of a revolutionary movement in Kan sas. and
gives the history of the Topeka COVE rnment.
The very first paragraph, he says, of the
message of Gov. Robinson dated the 7th of
December, to the Topeka Legislatu re- con-
tains an open defiance of the laws and Cons
titution of the United States. The Topeka
government adhered to with such REASONABLE
pcrtinacity is government in direct opposi-
ton to the existing government prescribed
and recognized by Congress. Such princi-
pie, if carried into execution would destroy
all lawful authority and produce universal
anarchy. From this statement of facts the
reason becomes palpable why the enemies of
the government authorized by Congress have
refused to vote for the Kansas Constitution
al Convention, and also afterwards on the
question of slavery. 1t is because they have
refused to sanction or recognize any other
Constitution than that formed at Topeka
Had the whole Lecompton Constitution been
submitted to the people, the adherents of this
organization would doubtless have voted "a
gainst it, because, if successful. they would
have thus removed the obstacles from the
way of their own revolutionary Constitution.
Such being the unfortunate condition Of af-
fairs in the Territory, what was the right, as
well as the duty, Of the law-abidirg people !?
Were they silently and patiently to submit
to the Topeka usurpation, or to establish a
Constitution under the organic law of Con-
eress.
That this law recognized the right Of the
people of the Territory, without an enabling
act of Congress, to form State Constitution
a nIQor for ia
that any people could have proceeded with
tuition than the people of Kansas have done.
was the desire of the people to be relieved
from Territorial dependency amp establish
State Government For this purpose the
Territorial Legislature, in 1855, passed law
for taking the sense of the people Of the
Territory on the expediency of calling a Con-
vcntion to form a State Constitution at the
general election to be held in October, 1856.
The sense Of the people was accordingly ia
ken, and they decided in favor of Constitu-
ton.
1t is true that at this election the enemies
Of the Territorial Government did not vote,
because then they were engaged at Topeka,
without the slightest pretext of lawful author
ity in framing Constitution of their own for
subverting the Territorial Government. In
pursuance of this decision in favor of the
Convention, the Territorial Legislature, on
the 9th Of February, 1857, passed an act
for the election of delegates on the Sd Mon
day of June, 1857, to frame State Constitu-
ton. This law is as fair in its provisions as
any that ever passed legislative body for a
similar purpose. The right of suffrage at
this election is clearly and justly defined
I every bona fide citizen of the United States,
above the age of twenty -one, and who had
resided therein three months previous to that
date was entitled to vote. In order to avoid
an interference from neighboring States and
Territories with the freedom and fairness of
the election, a provision was made for the
registry of bona fide votes, and in pursuance
thereof 925 votes were registered. Gov.
Walker did his whole duty in urging all quail
fled citizens to vote at this election
The President argues that The Topekaites
by refusing to vote for the election for dele
gate to the Convention, authorized those
who did vote to act for them. The conse-
quence of their refusal to submit to the law
full authority and vote, may yet prove to be
of the most deplorable character. Our only
safety consists in obedience and conformity
to law. Should general spirit against its
enforcement prevail, this would prove fatal
| to us as nation.
Mr.. Buchanan continues-from this review
it is manifest that the Lecompton Convention
was legally constructed and invested with
power to frame Constitution,
! He justifes the Convention for submitting
only the slavery question to the people. 1t
was OF character as param punt in respect
! to the condition of Kansas as to rivet the
anxious attention of the people of the whole
country upon it alone No person thought
of any other question. For my own part,
when [ instructed Gov. Walker in general
! terms in favor CT submitting the Constitu
! ton to the people, had no object in view
except the all-absorbing one of slavery. In
whatever manner the people Of Kansas might
regulate their other concerns was not the
subject which attracted my attention. 1t
was never my opinion that independently of
this act they would have been bound to sub
nit any portion of the Constitution TO a pop
ular vote, in order to give it validity. Had
entertained such an opinion, this would have
been in opposition to many precedents, COM
mencing in the very best age of our republic.
1t would have been in opposition to the prin-
ciple which pervades our institutions, and
which is every day carried into practice, that
the people have a right to delegate to the
representatives chosen by themselves their
sovereignty to frame constitutions,
enact laws, and perform many other impor-
tant acts, without requiring that these should
be subjected to their subsequent appreciation.
1t would be most inconvenient limitation
of their own power, imposed by the people on
themselves, to exclude them from exercising
their sovereignty in any lawful manner in
which they think proper. 1t is true that the
people of Kansas might, If they had pleased,
srequired the Convention to submit the Con-
stitution to a popular VOTE but this they
have not done. The only remedy therefore
in this case is that which exists in all other
cases. If the delegates have III any manner