Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-17

evil than submission. Hence, if the
Leconpton Constitution be accepted
by Congress and the State admitted
under it, while there will be no claw
full manner of amending or abrogating
it until after the year 1864, and then
only by the concurrence Of two-thirds
OF each branch of the Legislature, in
the first instance, followed by major
ity vote Of all the citizens of the State,
and the concurrence of the two Houses
Of The Legislature-aH prior to the cleo
ton of delegates, and the assembling
OF a convention-vet the revolutionary
right will remain to the people of Kan
sas, to be resortcd to or not according
as they determine for themselves that
it is a less evil to resist than to submit
to a Constitution which was never their
act and deed, and never did embodv
their will.
THE RIGHT OF REVOLUTION.
1t may be true that under this terri
bic right of revolution, eff a majority
of the people desire to abolish domeS-
tic slavery within the State, there is
no other mode by which this can be
effected SO speedily as by prompt ad-
mission;' but if this s'mode" be resort
ed to under the impression that it will
abolish slavery in Kansas more ssspeed-
lily" than any other possible, it must
be understood to mean revolution if
successful, and rebellion in case of
failure. But suppose the line ofpolicy
Indicated by the President should be
pUsued-that Kansas be admitted I'M
der the Lecompton Constitution-that
| Congress in the act of admission should
recognize the II Chit of "the Legislature
| already elected, at its very first session,
to submit the question to the vote of
the people whether they will or not
have Convention to amend their Con-
stitution, and adopt all necessary meas
ures to give effect to the popular will;'
suppose all this to have been done, of
what relief will it be to the oppressed
people of Kansas.
CALHoUN's FRAUDULENT CONDUCT.
Unless Mr.. Calhoun should set aside
the fraudulent returns from Delaware
Crossing, or 90 behind the returns and
reject the fraudulent votes at Kickapoo,
or Shawano, or Oxford, or other pre-
clncts, III order to secure a majority in
both branches of the Legislature op-
posed to the Lecompton Constitution,
and in favor of an immediate change.
Unless the President is prepared to in
form us that this is to be done, it is
worse than mockery to talk about the
right Of the Legislature, sat it's very
first session." to submit the question to
the people, and to insert clause in
the act of admission, declaratory of a
right which can be exercised only in
violation of the Constitution and by
revolution; and especially if it is under
stood, that, by forged returns and
fraudulent votes, q majority Of mem
| bers are declared to be elected in both
branches of the Legislature, who are
determined to maintain the Lecompton
Constitution and resist every and any
effort to change it. By the express
command of the Constitution the re-
turns Of that election were to be made
to the President of the Convention
within eight days ssftcr the vlvvtiv.r.
On the ninth day after the election, to-
wit, on the 18th day of January, the
returns were opened and counted by
Mr. Calhoun, as appears by the procla-
nation of the presiding officers of the
two Houses of the Legislature, who
were present by invitation of Mr.. Cal
houn, to witness the opening and count
ing of votes.
More than month has elapsed since
the returns were opened and the votes
counted, and Mr.. Calhoun being in
this city, we are not permitted to know
the result Of his deliberations; whether
the rumor of yesterday, that the anti
| Lec0mpton members were elected, OF
the runor Of to day, that the Lecomp-
ton party had triumphed, or whether
the policy is to withhold the decision
until the State shall have been admit
ted, and leave each party to infer that
the decision is to be in their favor,
compel Congress to act in the dark,
and wait patiently to find out the result
of its action. But suppose there should
be a majority in both branches of the
Legislature, opposed to the Lecompton
Constitution and in favor of change,
what can they do toward relieving the
people of Kansas from Constitution
they abhor, since it is well understood
that in consequence Of a large number
Of votes cast for the anti-Lecompton
ticket having been returned to Gov.
Denver instead of Mr.. Calhoun, the Le-