The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-09-03
The Authentic Lecompton Constitu-

The Authentic. Lee ompton C0nstttu.
Judge Siblack has published a letter in
the Enquirsr, declaring the copy of the Le-
compton constitution used by Judge Hovey,
in the debate with him--though printed I'M
der the supervision and authority Of the @.
:. Senate-not TO be correct version of
the document. It has en- omission OF an
eff" in one Of its clauses, which changes in
some degree its construction. The imprint
of the L. s. Senate has been heretofore con-
sidered good warrant for use of public
paper as an authentic document. But Judge
Niblack has impeached il, and proven it tc
be, as he says, a false copy, by sending to
Washington and getting "the certificate of
"A public officer" of whom or of what grade
he does not inform US, to his own copy OF
the constitution The constitution was not
framed at Washington, nor enrolled there;
and the only cePy that was e%er produccd
there was one, that was in the sole custody
of candlebox Calhoun, for several weeks af-
ter the adjournment of the convention that
framed il; and he has been charged, upon
good authority, with having made material
changes in its text after it had passed the
convention. 1t was long time after its
passage before the people of Kansas got
sight of it; and then it appeared in several
versions; as Speaker Orr's committee re-
fused to investigate the doings of the con-
vention, the people of Kansas and the coun-
ty have never yet been satisfied that they
have in any of the versions, true trans
cript of the instrument framed by the con-
vention-
If Judge Niblack has got true copy OF
undoubted authenticity of the Constitution
actually adopted by the Lecomptou Conven-
ton, he will crafty an ardent curiosity o.
the public by furnishing his constituent;
with the same number OF copies of it, thai
he gave them of the Green Report They
will also wish to know what public officer a
Washington was competent to verify a Con
stitution made in Kansas. 1t is from the
custodian ct the archives of Kansas, ant
not from Washington official that the bes
evidence of authenticity can be procured
Would Judge Niblack send to a "public of
fcer" at Washington to authenticate copy
of the Constitution of Indiana, or 10 "pub
Tic officer" at indianapolis? But if tn,
Senate copy Of the Constitution was -erro
neously printed, did not that of the Hous,
contain the same error?
These different copies of the same publ,
document are used indiScriminately by mem
bers of both houses, and the only question
of any Importance in this matter is, whethe
the copy on which Judge Niblack predica
ted his vote for the Lecompton Constitution
was that which Hovey has used, or tina
which is certified to by a public officer a
Washington. 1t is immaterial now wha
the Constitution contained, except to show
the infamous meanness and principles Nib
lack would have assisted by his vote to i'm
pose on free people. Ii he voted on tn
Hovey copy of the Constitution, he is a
guilty rs though there had been no " IFS
in the true copy. 1t is remarkable that thi
important error in the most important docu
ment of the session, should have escaped tn
lynx eyed opponents of the bill, and passe,
through three months searching debate, t
be discovered bp Mr.. Niblack in one of tn
dark corners ofDubois county. This remark
able errors that he has discovered at so lat
an hour, will convince him of the neceSsit,
of furnishing his constituents with correc
copies of all documents printed at Washing
ton. Had he not kept this precious docu
uIuent as closely concealed from his con
stituents as burglar does stolen good
from detective, Judge .Hovey would not
perhaps, have fallen into an error.