The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-02-10
Latest KoUsnS NeMa.

Congress there remains hardly u doubt. hut the *
tation in that u~uhappily disturbed territory must uN
rage 6ercer than ever, AMI no one can foresee how il
to terminate.
What concerns US in the present contest in Congress
relative to Kansas, is the declaration of le .ding Sena
tors that Minnesota is to be kept in abeyance-aer ad
mission into tho Union being dependent upon the &C
complshmcnt of the scheme SO repugnant to the peopl
Of the North Of all parties. Read these declaration
with care, and see what a peril the country il now in
WASHINGTON, Feb. l, l85S.-The Senate debate 0,
the motion of Mr.. Douglas to give Minnesota precedence
of the Pacific Railroad bill excited much feeling, and j
regarded as the entering wedge in . severe struggle.
Mr.. Mason intiinated plainly that the South shout,
see their whole Kansas policy developed BY the Repub
licans, before contributing to the admission of othe
States, since there might be facts making one depcnden
on the other.
Mr. Wilson, in responding to Mr.. Mason, said tina
the Republicans in both the Senate and the House woule
use all the power conferred by the rules to prevent th,
e%onsummation of the Lecompton swindle, and that tn
South might receive this warning now.
There Is a'secret purpose to defer the admission o.
Minnesota, on various pretexts, and it may be REGARDED
as certain that her two votes will not be recorded on thl
Kansas question.
The opposition is only yet partially developed, and
the pending motion is almost = test question.
Those thrown against the Constitution on tke 4th ult
have not been received, in consequence of neglect some
where.
1t is said that &c Anti Lecompton Democrats in the
House have conferred together, and that the result il
considered extremely doubtful by the friends of the Ad
ministrati"n, who regard the chances as adverse to them
Mr.. McKibbiu of California is among them.
A proposition for a compromise is entertained at the
White House, which some Southern votes favor, of ad.
hitting the l.ecompton Constitution, on the condition
Of submitting the Slavery question.
Tho Dra.iiput said tO.iuv that II won1I M throunh
Congress in a fortnight. His friends in the House are
confident OF a majority of IL.
Gen. Calhoun is still expected here on Wednesday.
In the Senate, Mr.. Mason, Of Virginia, announced
the intention Of the South to resist the admission of
Minnesota till the kan>as question was settled. He in.
timated u purpose OF disunlon, if the Leconapton instru.
ment should not be approved.
The Presidents Message Transmittlng the
LcCOlMpiOn Cons: ltutiOn.
The President opens with the assertion that a great
delusion seems to pervade the public mind in relation
to the condition of parties in Kansas. This arises from
the difficulty of inducing the American people to realize
the fact that any portion of them should be in a state
of rebellion against the government under which they
live. The dividing line then is not between two politi-
cal parties, both acknowledging the lawful existence of
the government, but to those who are loyal to this gov
ernment, an those who have endeavored to destroy it's
existence by force and usurpation- between those who
abstain and those who have done all in their power to
overthrow the Territorial government established by
Congress. This government they would long since have
subverted had it not been protected from assaults by
the United States troops.
The President then cites Governor Walkers des.
patches as evidence to the existence of a revolutionary
movement in Kansas, and gives the history of the To-
peka government. nRs
The very first paragraph, he saws, of the message of
Gov. Robinson dated the 9TH of December, to the To-
pcka Legislature, contains an open defiance of the laws
and Constitution of the United States. The Topeka
government adhered to with such reasonable pertinacity
is a government in direct opposition to the existing gov
ernment prescribed and recognized by Congress-. Such
"a principle, if carried into execution would Destroy all
lawful authority and produce universal anarchy. From
this statement of facts the reason becomes palpable why
the enemies of the government authorized by Congress
have refused to vote for the Kansas Constitutional Con.
vention, and also afterwards on the question of slavery.
1t is because they have refused to sanction or recognize
any other Constitution than that formed ut Topeka.
Had the whole J4ecompton Constitution been submitted
to the people, the alherents of this organization would
doubtless nave voted against it, because, If successful, they
would have thus removed the obstacles from the way
OF their own revolutionary Constitution. Such being
the unfortunate condition of affairs in the Territory,
what was the right, as we'll as the duty, of the law abid-
ing people! Were they silently and patiently to sub.
mt to the Topeka usurpation, or to establish a Consti.
tuition under the organic act If Congress.
That this law recognized the right of the people of
the Territory, without an enabling act of Congress, to
form a State Constitution is too clear for argument.
1t Is impossible that any people could have proceeded
with more regularity in the formation of Constitution
than the people Of Kansas have done. 1t IS necessary
first to ascertain whether it was the desire of the people
to be relieved from Territorial dependency and establish
a State Government. For this purpose the Territorial
Legislature, in 1885, passed a law for taking tina sense
OF the people of the Territory on the expediency Of call.
general election to be held in October, 1886. The sense
Of the people was accordingly taken, and they decided
in favor Of Il Constitution. .s. rs = 9M~
1t is true that at this election the enemies of the
Territororial Government did not vote, because then
they were engaged at Topeka, without the slightest pre-
text Of lawful authority, in framing a Constitution Of
their own tor subvertlng the Territorial Government.
In pursuance IF this decision in favor of the (nnyeu.
ton, the Territorial Legislature, On the 9th of Febru-
airy, 1857, passed an act for the election Of delegates
on the I'd Monday of june, 1851, to frame q State
Constitution. This law is rs fair in its provisions as
any that ever passed a legislative bOdy for y SIMILAR ur.
po>e. The right Of suffrage at this election is clearly
and justly defned-every bona file citizen of the United
States, above the age vi ,wenfy-oue, and who had re-
sided therein three months previous to that date was
entitled t" vote. In order to avoid IN interference from
neighbo. ing States and Territories With this freedom
and fairness OF the election, a provision was made for
the registry Of bona fde votes, aud in pursuance thereof
925 votes were registered. Gov. Walker did his whole
duty in urging all qualified citizens to vote at this cleo.
ton. -str.t
The President argues that the Topeksites BY refusing
to vote for the election Ut delegates to the Convention,
authorized those who did vote to act for them. The
consequence If their refusal to submit to the lawful .u-
thori:y and vote, may yet prove Of the M st dsplorable
character. Our only safety consists in obedience and
conformity to law. Should a general spirit against its
enforcement prevail, this would prove fatal to US as .
nation.
Mr.. Buchanan continues-from this review it il
manifest that the Lecompton Convention VS. legally
constructed and invested with power to frame a Consti-
tuition.
lie ~justi6es the Convention for submitting only the
slavery question to the people. 1t was Of a character
as paramount in respect to the condition Of Kan.
ss as to rivet the anxious attention of the peo.
pie of the whole country upon it alore. No person
thought OF any other question. For my own part, when
| instructed Gov. Walker in general terms in favor Of
submitting the Constitution to the people, l had no oh.
ject in view excep' the all.absorbing one Of slavery. In
whatever manner the people Of Kansas might regulate
their other concerns was not the subject which attracted