Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-06
MESSAGE OF
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN,
Lccompton Constitution

l TCSiucuJ VI tnc lute SouStlJuUlOnal CO0-
vention of Kansas, copy, duly certified
by himself, of the Constitution framed by
that body, with the expression Of hope
that would submit the same 10 the CON
sideration of Congress, with the view of
securing the admission of Kansas into the
Union as an independent State. In com
pliancc with this request, herewith trans
init to Congress, for its action, the Consti
tuition of Kansas, with the ordinance
respecting the Public Lands, as well as
the letter of Gen. Calhoun, dated Lecom.
ton, l4th ult, by which they were ac-
companicd.
Having received but a single copy of
the Constitution and Ordinance, l send
this to the Senate.
A great deluson seems to pervade the
public mind in relation to the condition f
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 state Of rebellion against the
Government under which they live When
we speak of affairs in Kansas, we are apt
to refer merely to the existence of two
violent political parties in that Territory,
divided on the question of slavery, Just as
we speak of such parties in the States
This presents no adequate idea Of the true
state of the case. I he dividing line there
is not between two political parties, both
acknowledl ling the lawful existence of the
loyal to this Government and those who
have endeavored to destroy its existence
by force and rpation--between those
who sustain and those who have done all
in thcir power to overthrow the Territorial
government established by Congress This
Government they would long since have
subverted, had it not been protected from
their assaults by the troops of the United
States. Such has been the. condition of
affairs since my Inauguration. Ever since
that period large portion of the people of
Kansas have been in u state OF rebellion
against the Government, with a military
leader at their head of the most turbulent
and dangerous character, They have never
acknow ledgcd, but have constantly re-
nounced aud defed the Government to
which they owe allegiance, aud have been
all the time in state of resistance against
its authority. They have all the time been
endeavoring to subvert it, and establish a
revoluti ionary Government under the So
called Topeka Constitution in its stead
Even at this very moment, the Topeka
Legislature is in session. Whoever has
read the correspondence of Governor
Walker with he State Department, recently
communicated to the Senate, will be con-
yinced that this picture is not overdrawn.
Hc always protested against the withdrawal
of any portion Of the military force of the
United States from the Territory, deeming
its presence absolutely necessary for the
preservation Of the regular government
and the execution of the laws. In his very
first despatch to the Secretary of State,
dated June I'd, 1867, he says:
"The most alarming movement, however,
proceeds from the assembling of the So
called Topeka Legislature, with the view
to the enactment of an entire code of laws.
OF course, it will be my endeavor to pre-
vent such result as would lead to an
inevitable disastrous collision, and, in fact,
renew civil war in Kansas"
This was with difficulty prevented by
the efforts of Governor Walker, but soon
General Harvey was required to furnish
him regiment of dragons to proceed to
the City of Lawrence; and this for the
reason that he had received authentic 10
telligence, verified by his own actual
observation, that a dangerous rebellion had
occurred, " involving open defiance TO the
laws, and the establishment of an insurgent
government in that city" In the Cover.
uor's despatch Of July 18th, he Informs the
Secretary of State that the movement al
Lawrence was the beginning of plan
originating in that city, to organize ar
insurrection throughout the Territory, and
especially in all towns, cities and counties
where the r. publican party have majori
ty. Lawrence is the hot-bed of all the
abolition movements in this Territory. i
is the town established by the Abolition
Societies of the East and whilst there are
respectable people there, it is filled by &
considerable number Of mercenaries who
are paid by the Abolition Societies t.
perpetuate and diffusc agitation throughou
Kansas, and preventive peaceful settlement
of this question. Having failed in iDdu
cling their own, the so.called Topeka STATE
Legislature, to organize this insurrecton
Lawrence has commenced it herself, ant
if not arrested, the rebellion will extent
throughout the Territory"
Aud again L" In order to send thi
communication Immediately by mail,
must close, assuring you that spirit 4
rebellion pervades the great mass of tn
t Republicans of this Territory, instigateC
2 as entertain no doubt they are, by + as
elm Societies, having in view results MOI
di. astrous to the Government and tn
Union. And that the continued presenc
> of General Harvey is Indispensable, {
c originally stipulated by me, with lOrg
t body of Dragons aud several batteries" D."
On the goth of July, 1857, Gener
, Lane, under the authority of the Topek
Convention, undertook, as Governor Wa
ker says, to organize the whole 50 oallc
, Free State marty into volunteers and tai