Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-02-18

crnment still adhere to their Topeka rev.
olutionary constitution and government
The very first paragraph of Gov. Robin
sons message, dated on the 7th Decem-
Der, to the Topeka Legislature now assem-
bled at Lawrence, contains on open def
ance of the constitution and laws of the
United States. The Governor says
The convention which framed the
constitution at Topeka, originated with
the people of Kansas Territory. They
have adopted and ratified the same twice
by direct vote, and also indirectly
through two elections of State officers
and members of the State legislature
Yet it has pleased the administration to
regard the whole proceeding revolution
ary"
The Topeka government, adhered TO
with such reasonable pertinacity, is a
government in direct opposition to the
existing government prescribed AMI re-
cognised by Congress. 1t is a usurpa-
tion of the same character as it would be
for portion of the people of any State
of the Union, to undertake to establish a
separate government within its limits, f,r
the purpose of redressing any grievance,
real or imaginary, of which they might
complain, against the legitimate State
government. Such principle, if car
ried into execution, would destroy all
lawful authority, and produce universal
anarchy.
From this statement Of facts, the rea-
son becomes palpable why the enemies of
the government authorized by Congress
have refused 10 vote for the delegates TO
the Kansas constitutional convention, and
also afterwards on the question of slav-
cry submitted by it to the people. 1t is
because they have ever refused to sane
ZION or recognise any other cons.itut O.,
than that framed at Topeka.
Had the whole Lecompton constitution
been submitted to the people, the adhe-
rents of lhis organization would doubt
less have voted against it, because, il
sucnessful, they would thus have re-
moved an obstacle out of the way of their
own revolutionary constitution. They
would have done this, not upon consid-
eraliop o, lhe merils of tho u,hal4. .,.,..
part OF the Leeompaen constitution, but
simply because they have ever resisted
the au,hori Y Of the government author
lied by Congress, from which it emanl-
ted.
suen being IL unfortunate condition
OF aaairs IN tie leriitosy. what was the
right as we'll as the duty Of the law -abi-
ling people ? Were hey silently and
patiently to submit to the Topeka usurp-
alton, or adopt the necessary measures TO
establish Il constitution under the author
i,y of the organic law OF Congress ?
That this law recognised the right Of
the people Of the Territory, without any
enabling act from Congress, to form a
S:a.e constitution, is too clear for argu-
ment. For Congress !" TO leave the peo
pie of the Territory perfectly Free" in
framing their constitution, to form and
regulate their domestic institutions in
their own way, subject only 10 the con
stitution of the United States - AMI
then to say that they shall not be permit
ted to proceed and frame Il constitution
ir their own way, without an express au-
thority from Congress, appears to be al
most contradiction in terms. Ii would
be much more plausible to contend that
Congress had no power to pass such an
enabling act than to argue that the peo-
pie of Territory might be kept out Of
the Union for an Indefinite period, and
until it might please Congress to permit
them to exercise the righ Of self govern
ment. This would be to adopt not " their
own way" but the way which Congress
might prescribe.
1t Is n"rassihla that any peopla- -enulI
have proceeded with more regularity in
the formation of a constitution than the
people of Kansas have done. IL was ne
cessary, first, to ascertain whether it was
the desire of the people to be relieved
from their territorial dependence and es-
tablish a State government. For this
purpose. the territorial Legislature. in
1855, passed a law " for taking the sense
of the people of this Territory upon the
expedieney Of calling convention to
form State constitution" at the general
election to be held in October, 1866
The "sense of the people" was accord.
ingly taken, and they decided in favor OF
a convention. 1t is true that at this elcc-
ton the enemies Of the territorial gov
ernment did not vote, because they were
IL -, o,.,.,e.aj at InrsIo vii kort tlk