Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-19
Kansas and the Lecompton
Constitution.

defeat Of the administration IN Inc con-
test ia the house, any one who is sensible
OF the tremendous power ofthe the Presi-
dent, can but believe his final triumph .
probable. At the outset the majority
against the Kansas-Nebra>ka bill was
ten times as large as the majority for the
special committee, and yet the admins
iration found means TO carry the bill. II
we look at this precedcot, therefore, we
must fear the success of theswindle, how
ever repugnani it may be 20 the people
Of Kansas, aud honorable men every
where: Look back over the history OF
this transaction. At the admission of Mis-
souri as a slave State, it was stipulated
that slavery should be forever excluded
from this very Territory in consideration
ofthat concession on the part Of the North.
But in late years the slave power has
been growing in our government, making
larger and larger demands, and obtaining
what it asked for. In 1854 a bill wa,
introduced for the organization OF the
Territory of Kansas, leaving the question
of slavery TO be determined by tue SUI
nreme court. But the south would not
consent to this. They demanded that a
clause should be inserted in the bill re-
pealing the restriction Of the Missouri
Compromise, and leaving the people per-
tectly free to manage their institutions
in their own way-in other words allow
ing the states to colonize the Territory,
and that when the question should be ia
ken, the question ofslayery should be de-
cided by majority of votes.
This, on the outside, had a plausible
appearance, and the bill was carried as
we have sad But the North was
caught mapping, not in numbers but in
management. The South commissioned
able leaders who went on there, brow.
beat, murdered and oppressed the free
state settlers in every conceivable man
ner until an election of delegate tool
place. Then armies Of Missourian,
marched over and controlled the result
and caused pro-slavery man to be re
turned elected. Then followed the cleo
ton of territorial legislature, and ther
the same scene was reenacted, only NOR,
50 The Missourians marched over by
hundreds and by thousands and swep
all before them. The investigator;
Committee sent out there by Congress
proved by the oaths of those who knew
that over 5000 of these spurious vote
were cast. The legislature was not tn
legislature Of Kansas but Of the horde
rufiians who elected it. This fact wa
notorious throughout the whole country
This legislature went forward and enact
ed laws which even Mr.. Cass pronounce
disgrace 10 the age. They also CAV
themselves power OF a second legislator,
aud continued their usurPation for tw
instead Of one year. Near the last {
their labors they passed law for takin
the census, dcs,ricling the territory in
most atrocious manner, and then provi,
ing for the election Of a convention
frame a constitution which should be SCI
TO Congress demanding admission to ii
Union upon it. The officers proceed,
to take the census in the spirit Of the
masters who Lad employed them, leavil
out about one half of the counties al
neglrcling to register full one half Il
votes in the territory. Ofcourse the fir
State party refused to vote at such di
advantage, even ifthey would recogn
tue bogus legislature at all, which thu
bad all along most justly refused to d
They were under no more obligation
obey Laws made by that legislature tb'
we should be 70 obey laws made by m
elected TO office by The State Of \,
Hampshire.
\ pro-sliyery convention was elect
and after compiling slavery CONSTITUTE
they finally consented 70 send it 10 1
people to be voted for, either nominal
upholding or excluding slavery, but
fact the one excluding slavery was
much a pro-slavery constitution as t
other, with the exception that in the L
ter case the importation Of slavery "
forbidden. There was no opportuni
given 10 vote against the instrument. T
poison must be taken, and the only out
ton was whether il should be sugar CO.
ed or not. Again the free State men
fused to vote, and of course this instrumC
was sanctioned by a nominal vote
Go0o, 1000 Of which were probably 81
rious.
But the free State party had succeed
inelecting Observation-Disclosures and
extra SESSION was called by Gov. Sta