Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-02-11
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.

SENATE-Mr. Mason from the Commit.
tee on Foreign Relations, reported bill to
indemnify the master and owners of the
Spanish steamer Amistad and cargo, in
volving payment for alleged slaves.
| Mr.. Seward, in behalf of Mr.. Foote and
himself, submitted minority report sta
ting that the claim in their opinion was
not supported by facts or law.
The Senate then passed the House bill
appropriating S360,0O0 for the support of
the national armies. The Senate then re-
sumed the consideration of the Army bill.
The Presidents Message was transmit
ted to Congress to-day, enclosing copy
of the Lecompton Constitution with the
ordinance respecting the public lands and
letter accompanying them, from Mr.. Cal
hour.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
REFERRING TO THE LEcoMPToN coNsTI-
TUITION.
The President opens with the assertion
that great delusion seems TO pervade the
public mind in relation to the condition of
parties in Kansas. This rises from the diff
iculty of inducing the American people to
realize the fact that any portion of them
should be in state ofrebellion against the
Government under which they live The
dividing line then is not between two pollt-
ical parties, both acknowledging the law
full existance of the Government, but be-
tween those who are loyal to this Govern
ment and those who have endeavored to
destroy its existence by force and usurpa-
ton; between those who abstain and those
who have done all in their power to over
throw the territorial Government establish
ed by Congress. This Government they
would long since have subverted had it not
been protected from assaults by the troops
of the United States.
The protest then cites Gov. Walkers
despatch as evidence of the existence of a
revolutionizing movement in Kansas, and
gives the history of the Topeka government.
The very first paragraph, he says, of the
Message of Gov. Robinson, dated the 7th
Dec, to the Topeka Legislature, contains
an open defiance of the laws and Constitu-
tion of the United States The Topeka
government, adhered to with such treason
able pertinacity, is a government in direct
opposition to the existing government pre-
scribed and recognized by Congress. Such
a principle if carried into execution, would
destroy all lawful authority, and produce
universal anarchy. g $50
From this statement of facts, the reason
becomes palpable why the enemies of the
government authorized by Congress have
refused to vote for the Kansas Constitution
al Convention, and also afterwards on the
question of slavery. 1t is because they
have refused to sanction or recognize any
other Constitution than that framed at To-
peka. Had the whole Lecompton Consti-
tuition been submitted to the people, the
adherants ofthis organization would doubt
less have voted against it, because, if sue
cessful, they would thus have removed the
obstacles from the way of their own reyo-
lutionary Constitution. Such being the
unfortunate condition of affairs in the Ter
ritory, what was the right as we'll as the
duty OF the aw-abiding peoplel Where
they silently and patiently to submit to
the Topeka usurpation, or to adopt the ne
cessary measure, or TO establish Constitu-
ton under the organic law of Congress p
That this law recognized the right of the
people of the Territory, without an enab-
ling act of Congress 10 form State Con-
stitution, is too clear for argument.
1t is impossible that any people could
have proc,e ,eded with more regularity in the
formation of constitution, than the peo-
pie of Kansas have done. 1t is necessary,
first, to ascertain whether it was the desire
of the people TO be relieved from territorial
dependency, and establish State govern
ment. For this purpose, the territorial
Legislature in 1855, passed law for TAX
ing sense of the people of the territory, on
the expediency of calling convention to
form State Constitution, at the election,
to be held in October, 1856. The sense
of the people was accordingly taken and
they decided in favor of Constitution.
1t is true that in this election the enc
mics of the Territorial Government did not
vote because then they were. engaged at
Topeka without the slightest pretext of
lawful authority in framing a Constitution
of their own for subverting the Territorial
Government. In pursuance of this decis-
ion in favor of the Convention the Terrific
rial Legislature, on the 9th of February,
1857, passed an act for the election of del
egates on the Sd Monday of June, 1857,
10 frame State Constitution. This law
is as fair in its provisions as any that ever
passed Legislative body for similar pur-
pose. The right of suffrage at this cleo
tion is clearly aud justly defined. Every
bona fide citizen of the o. S. above the age
of 81, and who had resided therein for
three months previous TO that date was en-
titled 10 vote. In order to avoid all in
reference from neighboring States and
Territories with the freedom and fairness
of the election provision was made for
the registry of bona fide votes, and pursu-
ant thereof 9l5 votes were registered
Gov. Walker did his whole duty in urging
all qalifed citizens to vote at this election.
The President argues that the Topeka
ties by refusing to vote at the election for
delegates to the Convention, authorizing
those who did vote 10 act for them, the
consequences of their refusal to submit to
the lawful authority and vote, may yet
prove to be of the most deplorable charac-
ter. Our only safety consists in obedience
and conformity TO law, should general
spirit against its enforcement prevail this
would prove fatal TO US nation.
Mr.. Buchanan continues: From this re-