The Kanzas news., 1858-04-17
ADDRESS
ADDRESS f-.f
of the Leavenwrth Constitutional Con-

The undersigned were appointed by the
Constitutional Convention to prepare an
Address to accompany the instrument
which should emanate from this body In
performing this duty, we desire briefly TO
direct attention to that necessity in which
| the present movement of the People origi-
mated and the reasons why it should still
meet with the hearty approval of every
| American Citizen. ,.--.la ~ a-s.
All the difficulties in Kanzas originated
in the successful attempt to wrest the Gov
ernment from the Peopte by fraud and to
| Fhe character of this Usurpation was such
the most speedy and practical way to ac-
complisb its overthrow, would be to change
the Government from Territorial form to
that of sovereign and independent State
| Believing the right to make this change to
! be indefeasible, and holding that it was
recognized by the treaty of cession with
France, sanctioned by the Organic Act of
Congress, and proclaimed by the dominant
political party of the country, the people,
prompted only by the hope and desire of
speedily terminating their difficulties and
peaceably recovering their rights, inaugu-
rated that movement, in 1855, which re
suited in the formation of State Constitu-
ton. This instrument, upon being present
ed to Congress, was rejected by one branch
of that body, chiefly, as it was asserted,
because it emanated from the. people with
out an enabling provision from the Terrific
rial Legislature, or from Congress. M
Failing to find relief in this, the people
with hope of better success, participated,
in the election, last October, and secured the
control of the Territorial Legislature
But, before this body could take any official
action, a Convention, previously provided
for by the alien Legislature and elected un-
der partisan and fraudulent registration
and appoTtionment, had framed Constitu-
lion for Kanzas, repugnant in many of its
provisions, thus throwing another great OBJ
stacle between the people and their rights
just when they were about to enter into
their possession and enjoyment. -
In this crisis, when people whose pa
tience had been exhausted by the repetition
of acts of tyranny and persecution, were
exasperated by new and startling attempt
to fasten another ,usurpation upon them and
were ready to crush out their oppressors by
violence, the Territorial Legislature. with a
hope of averting the impending calamities,
enacted the law providing for another Con-
stltutonal Convention. It was fully be-
ieved that an Enabling Act thus emanating
from legally constituted Legislative body
would remove all technical objections pre-
yiously urged against the Constitution
which originated with the people, and this
conviction gave them confidence In the
measure. Animated ~ that spirit which
has inspired them from the first, and fully
determined to exhaust every peaceabIe
means to defeat the eonsummation of the
gigantic fraud before resortiag TO force, the
people earnestly engaged in this new Con-
stitutional movement, and by very large
vote, elected Delegates to frame an Organic
Law for Kanzas-
To the American People, we would say,
that the people of Kanzas, after they had
rePudiated the Leeompton Constitution by
an overwhelming vote, and had remonstEat-
ed against 1t IN every possible way, beheld
with disnay, that the Congress of the Uni
ted States disreganded their petitions and
their protests. But amid all these disconr-
agements they engaged Ia this Constitu-
tlohal movement believing it to be the last
peaceable measure for the recovery OF their
rights to which they could resort. Their
Intention has been 70 make for themselves a
Fundamental Law and to organize a Gov
ernnaent under il, with the hope that its
existence might deter Congress from sane
tioning the Constitution framed at Leconp-
ton, and with the determination that il
should De the standard around which they
would rally In the event of a foreible and
violent resistance. to the Fraud becoming
necessary, Because Of this. we.i in behalf
Of the long oppressed people for whom we
speak, appeal % the citizens of every State
to use all their influence. TO prevent the
National Congress from sanctioning that