True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-02-24
Z.1RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

Lecompton Convention would not have
been chosen But for Federal intcrven-
tion, and the presence of Federal bayon-
cts at LecomptoD, those delegates would
not have thus conspired against the liber-
ties and insulled the majesty Of the people.
Now, that this act OF infamy has been
done; now that the rights Of the people
have been cloven down now that pop.
ular sovereignty in that Territory has
been strangled, or, as a distinguished Ad.
minis!ration Senator is reported to have
said, Mrotled,* by the hands Of the Fed
eral executive-we arc blandly told to
affirm this grea! crime against popular
rights for the sake of the Union, or, to
use the Presidents very expressive words
-"for the peace and quiet of the whole
country" Sir, it is not the first time
that acts of tyranny have been digui6ed
with The title Of peace measures. The
invader has before now destroyed the vim
tage, ensaved The people, pIuudered and
burned their habitations, and called the
desolation which followed in the train Of
conquest peace!
We were assured the other day, by
the Court Journal, that " all is quiet in
Kansas" Sir, if there be quiet in that
distant territory, it is not the quiet of con-
teutment, it is not the calm repose of a
people secure in their rights and happy
in the enjoymen. Of them it is the filful
lull which precedes the storm. Look to
it, ye warders Of the Union and the Con-
s!itution, that by your act the freemen uI
Kansas are not driven to that point al
which forbearance ceases 10 be virtue,
nay, becomes a crime, and submission
the basest cowardice and treason. | was
panied, sir, to hear the gentleman from
Arkansas Mr.. WARNER say in this de.
bate that the people Of Kansas had moi
the maniness to assert and defend their
rights as free men, and to form their own
government" and yet he was ready to
"vote now TO admit the State of Kansas
under the Lecompton Constitution. -
The first of these assertions, sir, whether
So intended or not, is, in my judgment,
calumny upon that injured people, and
the last is concession that the Constitu
tion which that gentleman is ready 10 vote
for and sanction was not formed by the
people of Kansas.
While thank the gentleman for this
honest concession that the Lecompton
Constitution was not framed by the peo.
pie. beg leave 10 say to him, and 10 all
who think with, him, upon this floor, that
notwithstanding his assertion of their
want of manliness, notwithstanding he
questions their valor, Kansas is peopled
with freelnen who know their rights, and
knowing, dare maintain them. They
have the fortitude 10 endure /; they have
the courage to dare; they have learned
wisdom in their lair of oppression; and
to-day, by their defiant attitude, bear wit.
ness that the fires Of persecution through
which they have walked are not wholly
impolent for good, but may elevate anc
purify as well as consume. l say, as did
the gentleman from Georgia, Mr.. GAR
TRELL, who addressed the House this
morning. ~ am no alarm,st." woul(
scorn 10 invoke any mans fears; IwoulC
scorn 10 appeal TO any mans prejudces
| would scoIn TO anticipate consequences
however imminent aud perious, by way
of apology, or colorado apology, for inf
deity to duty. | say it deliberately, al
the conviction Of my mind, that our oaIh'
and our honor, and the peace and pros
perity ofour whole country, alike demand
that, as Representatives of the American
people, we should, careless of all conse
quences, spurn this Lecompton ConsIitu
ton from us. An honest man, fears M
act Of his life so much as duly unperlorm
ed, or wrong purposely committed
repeat ii: look to it, ye Representa-
tives Of the people, ye men who keel
ward and watch over the Constitution ant
the Union, tina, the (reemen of Kansa
are not, by your act, driven to the drea,
election of submission and dishonor, o
resistance unto blood. tell you, not
wiihstanding their alleged want Of manli
ness, Kansas has hosts of citizens, goo'
men and true, who will never stoop to b
your abject slaves,
while Heaven has light, or earth has graves
Sanction this Constitution, conceive,
in sin aud brought forth in iniquly, an
you can only MAINTAIN it by the Fedora
arm and the Federal bayonet; it can ne
yer receive the voluntary support Of
free people. Sanction this Constitution
and with it, sanction, as it sanctions, tina
code Of denominations which the invader
; Of Kansas enacted, and you con pei resis
tanee. Resistance. to such legislatio
would be duty, not crime patriotism
not treason. The resistants, or insurgents
or REBELS, If you please, could point yor
in vindication of their rebellion, TO tn
fact that the history. of Federal inter ven
- $3.50 ~ .I Neu
. at appeared in the public journals, that o
the 7th of July last, U. s. Senator, A.
Brown of Mississippi, made speech at VI
e zoo, Mississippi, in which be said
" He had heard it from the Presidents ow
4 lips, that this theory of Squatter Sovel
eighty was one of the most damnable heresie
ever broached in this or any other country
3 and that he 1.-THE President) would leave nc
3 thino madame To THROTTLE It." ..rU