Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-04-21
Lecompon.

advance.
Lecompton.
The progress Of events in Congress for
a few weeks past has been full of interest,
and has shown more clearly than eve
the recklessness of the President and his
party. 1t will be remembered that when
The bill for the admission of Kansas
under the Lecompion Constitution was be-
fore the Senate, Mr.. Cri,tenden of Ken
lucky, after a mastery speech in which
he exposed the villanies of the bogus leg
,islature, brought forward an amendment
to the bill which provided that The Lee
compton Constitution should be referred
back to the people of Kansas for another
popular vote upon it, with careful provis-
ions 10 make. the vote q lair one, and that
If it was rejected by the people, they
were Immediately TO frame a new consti-
tuition. and whenever they had by a foil
and fair vote organized under any consti-
tuition, they were declared a State with
in The Union, without any further hdmis-
sion or action of Congress. This amend
meni the Republican Senators supported,
but. it was voted down by the ajmiuistra-
-tion majority, who had determined TO
force the hated bogus Constitution upon
the people of Kansas, whether they would
or no. J
When the bill went down 10 the House
of Representatives, the same amendment
wa moved by Mr.. Montgomery of Penn.
,sylyania. known as one Of the Douglps
Democrats, who earnestly protested
against the wrong of forcing upon a peo-
pie a constitution which was made, not
by themselves, but by a horde of %ruffian
invaders.
For a few days the Republicans of the
House were undecided how 70 treat the
amendment. They thought the bogus
Constitution hal been sufficiently acted
upon by tie Kansas people when they re
jscted iisp overwhelmingly in January
last, and hey disliked a bill which in lis
language seemed 10 regard it as even
possible that the new State should come
into the Union under it. Since however,
they knew that a mos. coniempiuous re-
lection awaited it as often as il should be
voted upon in Kansas, and since the proc
teal effect Of The Observation-Disclosures
cry amendment vas 10 put a final quietus
upon the Lecompton ~swindle, they finally
determined 10 accept the measure of the
Douglas men, and give it their united and
he ,riy support.
Under these circumstances the amend
nent of Mr.. Montgomery was carried in
she House by a vote of 40 10 liz, the
100 votes being made up of sixteen anti
Lecomptom or Douglas Democrats. eight
or ten American, 50 called, and the rest
Republicans.
The bill thus amended simply said:
The Kansas people. wthous Border rY-
San interference, shall choose their otOn
Constitution and cons into the Union an
,SerI This bill, so amended, went back
10 the Senate for their concurrence, but
the administration majority in the Senate
.posed il dozen, and refused 10 concur in
the amendment.
The House had then q choice Of We
courses, either 10 ask a committee Of con
ference composed Of members of The two
bodies, who should report whether there
was any possibility of agreement. or 10
vote at once TO adhere to their POSITION
They did the later, and the amended bill
went back once mere 10 the Senate.
That body now proposed the conference,
and when the House came TO act upon the
proposition, four of the sixteen Douglas
men favored il, and the vote was a tie,
I08 to los, The speaker gave The casting
vote in favor of the conference, and a
committee of three on the part of the
House wa appointed 10 meet a like num-
Der on the par; Of the Senate.
All who voted for the Montgomery a.
mendmeut except four, opposed the con-
ference, and for a very plain reason
The simple question was whether the Le-
compton Constitution should be forced up
on an unwilling people. So long as the
Senate majority insists that il shall, it is
pure nonsense TO talk Of compromising
with them, and a committee of confer
ence is a mere sham. If The Senate is
willing TO retrea, from IFS disgraceful and
tyranical position, the very least il can
do is to accept the bill as the House
passed it.
The four men who changed sides and
vo.ed for a conference are in a very sus-
picious attitude. II they Turn traitor 10
freedom, honesty AID fair dealing, AMI
lend their aid 10 the Senate TO force
through the Lecompton bill, they viii re-
ceive the execrations Of every loye- of
liberty and honesty, and may rely upon