The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-04
Hon. George Bsnerofs o" the Lseompto"
C0assitu sion.

Feilor Citizens! The proper solution Of
the question before the country, which, in
some OF its aspects, il the most mOmentOus
that has been presented since the adoption
OF the Federal constitution, IL selfevident
but that solution has been No thwarted that
il is made necessary TO revert 10 fist princi'
pies, and 10 take counsel Of the people, who
are the source Of wisdom and Of power
We are assembled tonight. not IN hostility
TO the administration. We venerate the
President for his age and past services, and
desire 10 remove out Of his path the great
obstacle 10 his present usefulness. Still less
are we at variance with the South. we
have never feared 10 sustain the south On
any question In which the South wins in the
right, and We are justified in asking its CO.
operation 10 prevent great national wrong,
which, II contaminated, will injurc its
friends. Far from opposing democracy, we
come here ~ night To uphold il, by freshen
ing in our minds the love Of justice and free
dom without which democracy is delu-
sion.
We are assembled to protest against fore
Ing the IecomptOn constitution upon the
people Of Kansas against their will. Bear
with me, fellow. citizens, II, in the fcwest pos.
siblc words speak 10 the facts In the case,
TO the right and 10 the means Of redress.
A to the facts Of the case, the Iecomp
ton constitution was authorized In advance
by no QUO branch Of the general government.
The Senate ofthc United States passed bill
for a convention in Kansas, having in view
. very different mode Of procedure. The
House, by q decided vote, declared itself
willing 10 accept the real and true opinion
d the majority Of Kansas, however II might
be expressed. The President through his
agent, tho Governor Of the Territory, We
toa,d the bill for the convention. The Sen.
ate, the House, the President Of the United
States, are all innocent Of the lecompton
convention The people Of the Territory
never elected that convention, and never
had an opportunity " do So The lists OF
voters were made out by partisan officers,
who acted under no penalties for neglect Of
duty. Fifteen counties, by no fault oftbcir
own, had no possible opportunity to vote at
all. The convention, thereto e, never had
even Il pretext for binding the people.
Before the convention did IL work, new
election Of Kansas Legislature took place,
and, thanks 10 Walker and Stanton. false,
fraudulent and forged returns were rejected,
and Legislature was formed Of unqu,stion.
able legality. The convention. knowing the
true will OF the people, in defiance Of that
will refused 10 refer the constitution 10 the
people, scque~tued their inalicnablc rights,
and ma,lc themselves masters. They nc.
knowlcdged that such reference should
have been made at least OF the slavery clause,
md then they framed schedule which made
no true reference even Of that clause, but lis
iranchised NIL except those who would nc.
knowledge their usnrpatlon, and were willing
to take test oatla to support H. The con
vention further ASSUMED most extraordinary
powers, AMI sought IN advance to nulliiy AM
render void the acts Of the newly electet
Legislature. They did what they could {,
show appreciation OF the fraudulent vote
which Walker ind Stanton with the ap,
prevail, /; is to be hoped, OF the President. hal
rejected. Moreover, they ordered an election
OF State officers, under their unraiificd constl.
tuition, without requiring an oath Of the
election officers, or alIiNing u penalty on
fraudulent voting or forged returns and
they, moreover. directed returns 10 he made
not 10 the Governor or tho legal Legislature
but TO one man alone, the President OF their
convention; II man holding most lucrative
Office and large patronage under the gen
eral government clothed with power I,
judgc at hs discretion Of all returns 81 q
Legislature before which he might becom,
u candidate Tor Office bound by no oath /,
fidelity, and exposed to no legal penalty fol
the abusc 81 hs trust. We hold then, tina
the convention has no claim to the sover
eighty IN Kansas but by usurpation tina
II had IN no wisc the sanction of Congress,
nor of the President, nor Of the people .
Kansas. and was bu, II cunning device TO DC
fraud that people Of It's sovereignty,
The cardinal point ON which the grta
question turns IL this: Il the LecomptoI
constitution the choice and will OF the pcop
II Kansas say II is not, and shal
prove IL. The first witness is the couven
ton itself they were urged to refer Tn
hoAtt w Nh' f''Ii'' bu' VNtu'hN, ~ ~
high Office. pledged himself over and over
and over again, 10 the APPRECIATION of tina
course and by the authority and with tn,
knowledge OF the President. the Governo
and officers OF the Presidents appointment
quoted the discoutents oi thu people OF Kan
sas by advocating the necessity oil such sub
mission before the Constitution could claiu
any validity. And yet the convention n
fused To submit It's doings TO the people thu
eonI,ssiug its Consciousness that It's worl
would be rejected
The second witness Is the newspaper prs
Of Kansas that press is against the cons,
tuition by a majority o. seven or eight L
QUE.
Next Kansas, by act Of Congress, In
u right Ia delegate IN Congress, charge,
with the duty to speak for its people The
have now delegate who is undoubtedly ,h
choice OF the lecplc, and is the first kausa
delegate ever chosen by the people. Tie
my thrd witness
N.Nt ask th,, lin, al t.nvarnnrs an,.,int