The Kanzas news., 1858-01-16
Governor Robinson,s Message to the
State Legislature.

0GdtS 1-GS4S1a-tAISs
FsIlosc-eisisens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.:
The Convention which framed the Con-
stitution at Topeka originated with the peo-
ole of Kanzas Territory They have adopt
ed and ratified the same twice by direct
vote. and also indirectly through two cleo
tions of State officers and members of the
State Legislature. Yet it has pleased the
Administration to regard the whole proceed
i1gs as revolutionary and treasonable.
This Constitutions, In the main. is in ac-
cordance with the views of a large majority
of the people of Kanzas. 1t IS prevented
from becoming the active law of the land
only because of an earnest desire on the part
of the people to avoid collision with the
Federal authorities, while there is prospect
that they can in any other way obtain peace
fully their natural organic and constitutional
rights.
We have had numerous promises and
pledges that our just rights should be speed
lily secured TO US. but every pledge and
promise has been broken. In the Terrific
rial Organic Act we were told that the peo-
pie Of Kanzas should be left perfectly free
to form their domestic institutions in their
own way. subject only to the Constitution
of the United States - and President Bu
ehanan exclaimed s'What conception for
Congress to apply this simple rule-that the
viii of the majority should goyern-to the
settlement of the question of domestic slave
~ in the Territories. Also he says: "It is
the imperative and indispensable duty of the
Government of the United States to secure
to every resident inhabitant the free and in
dependent expression of his opinion by his
vote. This sacred right of every individ
ual must be preserved" Again: ''The in
stitutions of Kanzas shall be established by
the vote of the people of Kanzas, unswerved
and uninterrupted by force and fraud. -
s'When such a Constitution shall be sub
mitted to the people of the Territory, they
must be protected in the exercise of their
right Of voting for or against the instru
ment, and the fair expression of the popular
will must not be interrupted by fraud or vi
olence." But fraud and force, indorsed by
the Administration, have been the rule in
Kanzas from the beginning.
The history of the several Governors who
have been sent to Kanzas, is highly illus
trative of the policy which the Administra
ton has attempted to carry out in this Ter
ritory.
Hon. A. H. Reeder was the first Governor
sent to Kanzas, and, according to high au-
thority, for the purpose of making the Ter
ritory slave Stale. But the government
resulting from the invasion of the 30th of
March, 1856, was too much for him to exc
cute upon the people, and he was removed.
Next came the reign of terror under Gov.
Shannon, but he sickened at the smoking,
burnings and butcherings of his militia, and
he was removed. Next came Gov. Geary,
who called off the ''dogs of war; for brief
period pending the Presidential election, and
the people had rest for brief period when.
however, after the election the olive branch
was to be exchanged for the upas, he saved
his self-respect by resigning his Office
Secretary Stanton succeeded Gov. Geary,
and later r. j. Walker became Governor of
Kanzas-both gentlemen of character, and
eminence and from the South They came
with the same words of promise, and, un-
fortunately for their continuance in Office,
| they believed in the fair terms of the Pres
ident's message, and endeayored to realize
them in some degree to the people. They
have both been discarded
/ It would seem that there is a power be-
hind the throne greater than the throne );
that the slave power governs this, as it did
the last Administration that no conduct
however judicious, nor doctrine of popular
rights however well established-no princi-
pie of representative government however
important. is of any avail before the insa-
tiate demands of this despotic power. De-
mocracy. with such an exposition of its car
| dinal principles as the present Administra-
ton is making, becomes by-word, hiss
ing and reproach with all honest men,
! No hot WI hoe
the consolidation of Federalism should resist
| the despotism of Democracy. The course
of such men as Stanton, Walker and Dou-
glas, as to the policy attempted to be pur
sued by the Administration in this Territory
in regard to the Lecompton Constitution, is
of cheering and encouraging character.
Our principle in action, however, must be
self-protection. The work of making Kan
zas free State deyolyes especially upon her
citizens.
The present attempt on the part of the
General Government, with all its executive
patronage and power, is to force upon the
people Constitution framed by a minority
of the voters of one-half of the counties of
the Territory, and that, too, without giving
the people an opportunity to express their
dissent from any of its provisions.
The pretended submission of the question
of slavery, the pet institution of the Admin
listration, and for the protection and spread
Iof which the Federal Government seems to
iexist, is, in fact, no submission at all. Il
lis simply the establishing of slavery in the
Territory and in the State let the people vote
Jas they may. On this question the Charles
ton Mercury aud the Chicago Times should
be good Democratic authority. The Her
eury says:
'eThe Constitution is not submitted to the vote
tof the people, but only the article prohibiting
emancipation and authorizing the ingress of slaves
from other States. If this article is rejected it does
not abolish slavery in Kanzas."
The Chicago Times says: