The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-02-18
The presto ent,s Kansas message


mind in relation to the condition OF parties in
Kansas. This arises from the difficulty of in
ducing the American people to realize the fact
that any portion Of them should be in state
of rebellion against the government under
which they live. The dividing line then isnot
between two political parties, both acknnwl-
edging the lawful existence If the govern
ment, put those who are loyal to this govern
m"nt and those who have endeavored TO destroy
its existence by force and usurpation-between
those who abstain and those who have done all
in their power to overthrow the Territorial
government established by Congress- This
government they wonid long since have sub
verfed had it not been protected from assaults
by the United State troops. The President
then cite. Gov. Walkers despatch as evidence
of revolutionary movement in Kansas, and
gives the history Of the Topeka government.
The very first paragraph, he says, Of the mes
sage Of Gov. Robinson dated the 7th Of Dec
ember. to the Topeka Legislature, contains an
open defiance OF the laws and Constitution Of
the United States. The Topeka government
adhered with reasonable pertinacity to a gov
eminent in direct opposition to the existing
government prescribed by Congress. Such a
principle, if carried into execution, would des-
troy all lawful authority and produce univet-
sal anarchy. From this statement of facts the
reason becomes palpable why the enemies of
the government authorized by Congress have
refused 10 vote for the Kansas Constitutional
Convention, and also afterwards on the ques-
ton of slavery. 1t is because they have re-
fused to recognise any other Constitution than
that formed at Topeka. Had the whole Le-
complain Constitution been submitted to the
people, the adherents Of this organization
would doubtless have voted against it, bee ause
if successful they would thus have removed
the obstacle from the way of their own revo-
lutionary constitution. Such being the un
fortunate condition Of affairs in the Territory,
what was The right as well as the duty of the
law abiding people? Were they silently and
patiently to submit to the Topeka usurpation
or to establish Constitution under the organic
law of Congress. That this law recognized
the right of the people of the Territory, with.
out an enabling act of Congress, to form a
State Constitution is too clear for argument.
1t is impossible that any people could have
proceeded with more regularity in the forma-
ton of Constitution than the people OF Kan
sas have done. 1t is necessary first TO ascer-
tain whether 1t was the desire of the people to
be relieved from Territorial dependency and
establish State Government. For this pur-
pose the Territorial Legislature, in 1855. pass
ed a law for taking the sense of the people of
the Territory on the expediency of calling d
Convention to form State Constitution at the
genera! election to be held in October, 1856.
The sense of the people was accordingly
taken, and they decided IN favor of Coasti-
tntion. 1t is true that at this election the en-
emies of the Territorial Government did not
vote, because they were engaged at Topeka.
the slightest pretext of lawful authori-
ty, in framing Constitution of their own, for
snbverting the Territorial Government In
pursuance of this decision in favor IF the Con-
ventinn, the Territorial Legislature, OH the 9th
of February, 1887. passed an act for the cleo
tiol of delegates on The Sd Monday of June,
1857, to form State Constitution This law
Is as fair in its provisions as any that ever
passed a legislative body for similar pur-
pose. The right of suffrage at this election is
clearly ami justly defned-every bona fde
citizen of the United States, above the age of
twenty-one. and who had resided therein lhr. e
months previous to that date was entitled to
vote. In order to avoid all interference from
neighboring States and Territories with the
freedom and fairness of the election, provs-
on was made for the registry Of bona fde
votes, and pursuant thereof 925 votes were
registered. Gov Walker did his whole duty
in urging all qualified 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 W. o
did vote to act for them. The consequence of
their refusal to submit to the lawful authority
and vote, may yet prove to be Of the most de-
plorabe character. Our only safety consists
in obedience and COMO nifty 10 law. Should a
general spirit against its enforcement prevail,
this would prove fatal to us as nation.
Mr.. Buchanan coptlnues--from this review
tits manifest that the Lecompton Convention
was legally constructed and invested with
power to frame Constitution. M
. He justifes the Convention for submitting
only the slavery question to the people II
was of a character as paramount in respect to
the condition of Kansas as TO rlvet the anxious
attention of the people of the whole country
upon it alone. No person thought of any 9th
er questions. For my own part, when in
structed Gov. Walker in general terms in IA
vor Of submitting the Constitution to :he peo-
pie, had no object in view except the all-ab-
sorbing one Of slavery. In whatever manner
the people Of Kansas might regulate their 9TH
er concerns was not the subject which attrac-
ted my attention. It was never nv opinion
that Independently Of this act they would
have been bonnd to submit any portion Of the
Constitution to popular vote. ir order to give
it validity. Had entertained such an opin-
ion. this would have been in opposition TO
many presidents, commencing in the very
best age Of our republic. Itwould have been
in opposition to 1.-THE principle which pervades
our institutions and which is every day car