The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-22
VOL. XII.

VI AT Wy lHdt tueJ nave btNu pcIclsLentIV
hostile TO that body, while it was an imposed and
usurping assemblage. Knowing it to be the
creature OF fraud, they could not recognise II
without becoming accessory after the fact to the
great crime charged against it. But this opno.
stion has been limited to a non-recognition Of
its vslidty-to action Of a negative kind merely
On the other hand, this Government is indebte5
TO the loyal forbearance Of the people for i,s
existence so long. They could have SVEN, !,
from their soil long ere this had they chosen
This is all; and if this be revolution. rebeIIio-
or treason, own my participation in IL witbor.
fear and without shame. But the Topeka Co..
stitution Is there treason lurking in its f,I5sq
What are the facts in relation to il? Tho neo
pie met, framed it, and petitioned CONGRESS -
admit them under it. 1t was a petition for =
redress OF their grievances They were in Tho
strict line of precedent-indeed Others had con.
further without reproach--in setting I'd a Con.
stitution and State Government on the autbor;,,
of the people alone
IL was framed and held in strict subordinate
to the will of Congress. The Convention which
framed it, sent it here with a memorial for al.
mission. The first Legislature under II. At Il,
first meeting in March, again at its meeting IN
July, and yet again at its meeting in January of
the next year, and still again in July, memoir
allied Congress for its recognition. Since the
formation OF the Topeka Constitution, no Legis
out reiterstlng, in some form or other. their
entire dependence on Congress for the vitality of
the instrument. Since have had seat here
have presented many petitions to that effect on.
alone signed by 1000 UOters have also n,e
sented the joint resolutions of the Legislature 10
the same effect; and now, after two wears indus
triousiy employed by the friends Of this Copst
tuition In piling petition upon petition before
Congress and in presenting the accumulated
avid Ofaf Il. -
there comes, and from the Chief Magistrate of
the Union, this stale mputation-something the
worse for age-Of rebellion and treason, to ter
rify the timid, to embarrass the uniformed 10
prejudice the public, and thus to bolster IN the
fortunes of falling cause. 1t should be set at
rest.
The loyal people that | represent, discouraged
by the persistent deafhess of Congress to their
petitions on this subject, have at last of their
own motion, discarded the Topeka Constitution
and its Government. ! speak these words in
justice to its memory, and in yindication of the
motives of those who so long sustained it.
| should like, if time permitted, to draw par
allel between these two Constitutions Topeka
the child of popular sovereignty, and Lecomp-
ton, the illicit offspring of popular violence and
Presidential intervention - wretched bastard
pretender, scarce half made up," that now stands
with brazen mendacity at your bar, candidate
for the honors which belong to legitimacy alone
3 The former confessedly sprang spontaneously
from the people, asking the restitution of thei.
rights the latter is the vile spawn of usurpa-
ton, emitted by spurious legislation and so far
from having any support from the people, il
sinks away, like convicted felon, from any sub
mission of its pretensions to the judgment of
popular verdict.
Mr.. CLEMENS, (interrupting.) Do under
stand the gentleman from Kansas to contend
that the Topeka Constitution is either legal or
legitimate; and that he, a Delegate of the people
of Kansas, maintains, in the discharge of his Of
fetal duty, that Constitution in preference to the
Lecompton?
Mr.. PARROTT. l said, moment ago, that
the people of Kansas had virtually withdrawn
their application under the Topeka Constitution
In answer further, however, to the gentleman
from Virginia, say do, in the discharge of my
official duty, give the Topeka Constitution vastly
the preference. In every point of view, it is in
comparably superior to the one framed at Lee
compton. was going on to say word of the
attitude occupied by the friends and trainers OF
the Topeka Constitution in relation to the Ter
ritorial Government. Those who made and up
held this Constitution whilst it was living
measure, so far from subverting the Territorial
Government, have, in reality, rescued it from the
odium and imbecility beneath which it was pros
trate they have lifted it from the ground, poured
oil into its wounds and infused into its veins the
newness of life, through popular support Nay
more; they are the only defenders of it against
those who were its worst enemies, while they
enjoyed it by usurpation and its only ones, nov
that they can no longer wrest it to their unlawful
ends But, alas with the departure of the rut-
fan usurpation, has fed also those charms which
once captivated the affections of the Executive
bosom. The President no longer upholds this
Government
Enough has been said on this subject to show
you that the specifications. on which the Presi-
dent grounds his charges against the people OF
Kansas, are papably erroneous, as illustrated by
the records of Congress, as well as otherwise
The people of Kansas have borne and forboue
much for the sake of the Constitution and Union
which they revere. ! could, it my time permit
ted, point you to some instances where they have
suffered outrages at the hands of the Federal
authorities, rather than adopt the dreadful alter
native of resistance to its process. On the 2lsi
day of May they suffered band of drunken black
guards, because United States Marshal, In
abuse of his authority, marched at their head
to oyerrun and desolate one of the fsirtst and
most cherished towns of the Territory. Again
in the same year, on the 4th of July, what do We
seer That is sacred day. Partisan spirit
however rampant, is generally exercised by the
shades of the immortal patriots that are evoked
by the stirring memories of that anniversary Of
our national freedom. 1t did not happen So on
this occasion. The people had assembled TO g ON
memorate the day, and 10 exercise the great con-
sttutional right of consulting about public alaiTs
While engaged in their pious purposes the sun
in the meridian, the rattle of sabres is heard,
then the tramp of armed men, and the asseilUE
is dispersed by q regiment of Federal dragons
Yet we are told that the people Of Kansas are
revolutionary, when these fragrant acts of tyranny
have been submitted to, sooner than raise an arm
against the colors of our country. Who Is the
President of the United States, that he should
dare to libel and insult any portion of the PEG
pie, threatening them with ostracism if they DO
not bow the head and bend the knee in seryue
compliance to the dogmatic arrogance OF his
demands But for his infdelity to two noted
pledges, this Constitution would never have
vexed the peace of the country. The first was
given in the Presidential campaign, and was to
the effect that the people Of Kansas should be le
free to form their domestic institutions and the
second was his pledge, through Gov. Walker, that
the right of passing on their Constitution should
be secured to them. The infraction of these
pledges has brought division and dismay to the
ranks of his followers and distrust of his designs
to the country at large.
One word more of the people of Kansas. The!
are the peers of the President-they are not SUI
passed by any people in this country, or any other
country, in respect to those qualities which ele
vate and ennoble the character of communities
in the scale of social moral, or political worin
Their misfortune is their merit-constancy to ths
cause of Freedom. The struggle is now over
they have won new empire of inexhaushbe
fertility on a remote frontier; to them beloag'
the imperishable honor of the achievement
They know the value of good Government
none the less for having tasted the bitterness
a bad one. The settlement and growth OF MAJ
sas in material point of view, taking into con,
sideration the discouraging circumstances tha,
have embarrassed her career, constitute one o.