Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-02-13
VI | S c f L / A n Y.
KANSAS AND THE LECOMPTON CON
STITUTI0N.
Special Message of President Buchanan q
Congress-.

Congress.
TUESDAY, FEBRCAEY ?.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
| have received from Mr.. Calhoun, president
OF the late constitutional convention of Kansas,
a copy duly certified 10y himself, of the copst-
uIioa framed by that body, with the expression
Of the hope that would submit the same 20 the
consideration OF Congress, with the view of the
admission of Kansas into the Union as an indie
pendent state. In compliance with this request
herewith transmit to Congress, for its action,
the constitution OF Kansas. with the ordinance
respecting the public lands, well as the letter
of Mr.. Calhoun, dated Lecompton the l4th ult.,
by which they were accompanied. Having re-
ceived but single copy OF the constitution and
ordinance, send this to the Senate.
A great deusion seems to peryade the public
mind in relation 10 the condition of parties in
Kansas. This arises from the difficulty of in
ducng the American people to realize tine fact
that any portion Of them should be in state of
rebellion against the government under which
they live. " hen they speak of the affairs of
Kansas we are apt to refer merely to the exis-
tence OF two violent political parties in that ter
ritorv, divided by the question OF slavery, Just as
we speak Of such parties in states. This pre-
sens no adequate idea OF the state OF the case.
The dividing line there is not between two poll
tical parties. both acknowledging the lawful ex-
isence of the government, but between those
who are loyal To this government and those who
have endeavored to destroy its existence by force
and usurpauon between those who sustain and
those who have done all in their power to over
throw, the territorial government established by
Congress This government they would long
since have subyerted, had it not been protected
from assaults by the troops Of the United States
Such has been the condition Of affairs since nv
Inauguration. Ever since that period, large
portion OF the people OF Kansas have been in Il
state OF rebellion against the government, with a
military leader at their head OF most turbulent
aud dangerous character They have never ac-
knowledged but have constantly renowned and
deiied. the government to which they swore al.
egiance, and have been all this time in a state
ut rebellion against It's authority. They have
al. the time been endeavoring to subvert it, and
establish revolutionary government under the
so called Topeka constitution in its stead Even
al this very moment the Topeka legislature is in
session
Whoever has read the correspondence of Gov.
Walker with the stale department, recently com
nuicated to the Senate, will be convinced that
this picture is not overdrawn. lie always pro-
tested against the withdrawal of any portion OF
the military force Of the United States from the
territory, deemlng lis presence absolutely neces-
sary for the preservation of the regular govern.
ment and the execution of the laws. III his very
first dispatch 10 the secretary state, dated June
2d, 1857, he saysi" A moSi alarming movement,
however, proceeds from the assembling of the
50 caleI Topeka legislature, with the view to
The enactment of an entire code of laws. OF
course it will be my endeavor 10 prevent such a
result as would lead to an inevitable and disas-
trous collision and in fact renew civil war in
Kansas" This was prevented by the efforts of
Gov. Walker, but soon he had to send to Gen.
llarney to request hlm to furnish regiment of
Dragons TO proceed to the city OF Lawrence,
and thus for the. reason that he had received au-
'hehUc intelligence, verified by his own actual
observation, that dangerous rebellion had oc-
CURED involving an open defiance Of the laws
and the establishment Of an insurgenl govern
ment in that city
In the governors dispatch of July 10th, he in
formed the secretary of sia,e that the movement
in Lawrence was the beginning of plan =" to
organize rebellion throughout the territory.
and especially in all the towns, cities and coun-
ties where the republican party have majority.
Lawrence is the hot bed Of ali abolition move
mems in this territory. 1t is the center estab-