Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-02-12
pnIltttaI.
THE LECOMPTON CONSTITUTION.
MESSAGE FROM THE pREgTDrNT

body with the expression of the hope that would SUBJ
init the same 20 the consideration of Congress- with the
view Of the admission OF Kansas into the Union as an u
dependent State In compliance with this request here
with transmit 10 Congress Tor It's action the NJ
Kansas with the ordinance respecting the public lands
well as the letter Of Mr. Calhoun dated Locomuton Ian
ult' by which they accompanied Having received
send this To- the senate
great delusiou seems 20 peryadc the public mind in
relauon TO the condition Of parties n Kansas. This
rises rom the difficulty uf Inducing the American people
20 realize the fact that any portion of them should be
state OF rebellion against the government, under which
they live. When speak of the affairs Of Kansas We
arc apt to refer merely the existence Of two violent
political parties in that territory divided hv the question
OF slavery just as we speak Of such parties in States
This presents adequate idea Of the n the case.
Tue dividing line there is not between political par
ties both acknowledging the lawful existence Of the gov
crumcut but between those who lnval this govern
mcu aud those who have cndeayorcd 70 destroy It's
cnce by force and usurpaton between those who are
sustaining and those who have done all 10 their power 20
overthrow The Territorial Government established by
congress This government would long since have hccu
uUTcrcd had u been protected from assaults by r
troops Of te United States Such has been the condi
ton Of affairs since my inauguration. hyen since that
pcod large portion 0f the people ofkansas have been
in state Of rebellion against the government, with mil
tary leader at their head of most turbulent and dan
tel"us character ihcy nave never acknowledged but
have constantly denounced and dchcd the government to
which they sworc allegiance and have been an this time
IN state Of rebellion against its authority They have
al the time been endoa,oring 90 subycrt and establish
a. revolutionary government under the so-cncd Topeka
Constitution 10 its stead Even 90 this very moment the
Topeka Legislature arc in session.
Whoever has read the correspondence of Governor
""H.i WIN uc Htat department recently comnnni-
called ti Cue Senate will Dee convinced that hi picture is
not oycrdrawu. lle always protested against the with
"' any P9ruon q" the Hil ai loree" ihe tned
iH'h lm we territory aeemn. t7 presence absolute
necessary for the preservation Of the regular Govern
mcnt, and the execution NJ the laws.
ln bis very first dispatch to the Secretary Of State da
tea June = 1907, he SAYS.
" most alarming movement. however proceeds from
we "ssemplage OF the so-caed Topeka Legislature win
e 'ew t' thc enactment Of ah entire Code Of Laws OF
d nH NV d
womb lcad o an inevitable and disastrous collision,
and DO fact renew civil war in Kansas
urn 20 regiment nf Dragons t1 proceed 90 hc CITY %
lcurc, and this for che that he had received
authentic Intelligence verified by his actual observa
ton. that dangerous rebellion had occurred involving
open defiance Of the laws and the cs,abshmcnt Of an n
surgcnt government in that citv.
Ia the Governors dispatch Of July ll he informed the
Secretary VI State that te movement In Lawrence was
tho beginning Of ian Of or,anilrtiou in tb,c oor
ganize rebellion throughout the Territory and cspc
cily iu an the towns cities and counties whore the Re
publican party have % maiorify
Lawrence IS the hot bed Of Am abolition movements 10
this Territory II s the ccntc shcl y the abDli-
ton societies Of the East and whilst horr are rr.pec-
table number Of ncopc there il Is filled bv considerable
number of merchants who are paid by the abolition soc
cites 10 ncrnctnac and dTusc agitation Throughout ,n-
sas and prevent tho peaceful settlement Of his question
Having failed in inducing their own so-called Topeka
State Legislature 10 orr3uile this iusrrection Lawrence
has commenced 10 herself and il not arrested rebellion
will extend throughout Tie territory {"
And again: In order 10 send this communication i'm
ncdiately hy mail must close, assuring YOU that the
spirit Of rebellion pcryad~s the great mass Of the Repub
can puriy Of this Territory insrated, entertain
doubt they are by Eastern societies, having in view
suits most disastrous 90 the government and the Union
and that the continued presence Of Gen llacy indis
peusahlc originally stipulated by me, with large
body OF dragons and several hattcrics.''
On the ith Of July, 1857, Gen Lane under the au-
horitv ar the Topcka Constitution, undertook as Gen.
Walker SAYS 90 organize tle whole Free party
into volunteers and To take the names Of an who refused
enromen The proposed object 10 protect the polls
F f .Nr mf
state legislature The object In taking the names Of all
who refused enrolment IS to erry the Free State con-
ser'atycs INTO submission This Is proved by the recent
l59cues committed ON such men by the lolckaltes'-
inc speedy ioeetiet - ~fso hedea * rgguqr troops
mere WIN Two Dattelc Is hecess ~ me io'.ehc' M
sN-hls a"a lhe ue'ei'PeihtH' {" tuis ht" ln"iy VI
EauH.uon-
~ the Hovernors dspatch OF Zith' ne says
" Lane ana hs stall everywhere deny the authority Of
he terfliofle laws ana counsel toa uisipEIuu hose
'hn-iInehtS' ,
Mnhoui maklnE any turther quotations 1t similar
ehlrogter rom other aspa'ches ei uov WMNer, II APP
7! =. '' go o.t +, ~ i I. .,. , - ~,
70 He Nass YIN eoemoer last that the important step
2L calling tne LesslatuTe together was taken atf zen
',e'' N'u ''"lV 9a'.Su.N tia lc Sie'l'on ~
the enuon on -st met could not DE conducted WIN
out collision ana e,ood,hee'
80 intense was lhe dsio}M ieehng among the enemies
OF the government established hy Congress that an ee
ton Whlcn ah9Fueu mem oppor runlues' II ~ the MAORI
~, vi h.Nlnt HAils's a i'c osl'e' i w e
own pucasN slre' e9u hot pe onnuuv.eo Wtluu' COZ
sion any Vooushsu lIe trutn Is, ,hat u tne pIgse'
moment ln. sneieS ol ue tAs,hs go,ernSh' sun "u-
ne very hIst ataBtaph 9l te message o. NpNoIIor
Robinson dated ,h December to the Topeka lesise-
ure now assembled AZ lawrence contains an open ueh-
aur. n thc lH"H ana constitution Oh 'ne Nh''Se
ne Governor SAYS mat tne eonNcniioh Whloh runeu
He "pesa constitution 3fisnateu win inc peops o !ne
h"HH"N 'iIl"l ih'9 navy "uDiteu anu iu'l'lSu we
slmc twice 1y direct vote hisp inWrecly hinuth ihe
election OF 9sate oie'r anu mhnsfs OF the 9tate Le
g's9tre Yet IT mas pleased the Administration 70 re-
Saru the Wlole p'oceeulhS na ieN"ltuohAf'
Inns iopeha government auhorea 70 win sueh treason
sonane pernacity Is government IN dreet opp"sluoh
10 the Government Is nsnfpalon w the same ehai-
ecef as Wou'I DC ioi p1Iu"h ol tho Peopt oi any
STATE 10 nd'rtahe t9 establish separate government
within its limits for the purpose OF redressing any grey
anfe' real or imaginary. ol "hlch mey mleht complain
sust tNc ,kunl'ie otAie government Suvh primer
pe eAriieu Hn cA'eililph N"uiu ue'iIS an laMl "u-
monty, ana produce universal anarchy from TINS state
lent oi AeH lhe reason Incomes pAlpaoe Inc enemies
20 vote if thc qele3aies 70 the hansas NohsutIphai
Con'enuon anu also ter"aras on me quesnon9i slave
Iy suumttca uY u 20 inc people. ~ Us because l,y hae
ever refused 10 sanction orreeognNe any other consu-
ton than that framed a. Topeka. lad ihe "hoie Le-
compton Constitution hecn submitted 70 me people, the
adherens OF the organization would uon9tea hase voted
against H. because su'cessu they would thon nave re-
moved the obstacles out OF the way OF their own reVon
uohAfl constitution. ihcy would nave zone ihls' NOT
upon lae consideration OF me merits OF me Whole OF part
of the LecomWon Constitutions bur simply because they
have ever resisted the authority of the government au
ihorued by congress- rom winch u emanatea
such being the unfortunate condition Of affairs m the
Iernto what was me ish as wen as the auty OF tne
aw-abding people Were they silently and patiently to
submit TO the Topeka u'urpaon or 20 adopt the neocs
say measures 10 establish Constitution under the au-
thouty Of the organic lay OF Congress
mat this law recognized INC neht OF the territory
without enabling act of Congress TO form State Con-
atIf is Congress