Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-04-15
The House and Senate on Lecompton.

We stated in our last weeks paper,
that the Lecompton Constitution passed
the House with Crittenden's amendment
attached. This statement needs some
correction. Mr.. Crittendens amendment
was modified In the House by an amend
ment to it offered by Mr.. Montgomery
of Pennsylvania. This latter modiiea-
ton rendered the proposition acceptable
to the Republican members ofthe House
obviating any thing like recognition Of
the legality of the Leeompton constitu-
ton. The language Of the Montgomery
amendment, treats the Lecompton Con-
stitution as probable fraud, by the in
sertion Of words as follows" Inasmuch
as it is greatly disputed, whether the
constitution framed at Lecompton on the
seventh day of November last, and now
pending before Congress was fairly
made,or expressedit the will of the people
of Kansas &C." With the modification
of this amendment, simple declaration
| is made of the admission of Kansas into
the Union as a state, referring the ques-
ton Of what form of constitution, it will
haye,to the people themselves. A mod
ification was also made to Crittendens
amendment, in respect to the qualifica-
ton Of voters.
1t is nottruet that the amendmentto Lee
compton, as it passed the House, auth
orizes the President to admit Kansas.
1t proposes that Congress admit Kansas
into the Union on the only and express
condition that the people adopt the Le-
compton constitution, or form one to
suit themselves. When the people of
Kansas shall have adopted such con-
stitution as they desire, the President is
to make proclamation that the funda-
mental CONDITIONAL been complied with
and therefore Kansas a member Of the
Union.
1t will be seen that the proposition be-
fore TIE House, presented the question
in a form so that every Republican men,
Der could cast his vote, without in any
respect endorsing the Lecompton swim
die, or any transaction connected with
it. The motion on the adoption of the
amendment Of Mr.. Montgomery, also the
motion on the final passage of the bill
resulted ayes 100 noes 112. Thus did
the House by decisive majority, rebuke
the policy Of the administration, and re-
ject the great and leading measure,
which all the power and patronage of
the President had for months sought to
force through Congress. 1t is a fact
which should be noted that dbirty-one
democrats from the free states, voted
against allowing the people of Kansas
the right, to determine their own institu-
tons; and this too, when some of the
most prominent democratic leaders in
Congress, had pronounced against the
right of the people to alter the Lecomp-
ton Constitution before the year 1864.
What a shameful and hypocritical com
mentary is this on the democratic boast
of popular sovereignty.
The subsequent history of Lecompton
in the Senate and House our readers are
already familiar with; the amended bill
being returned to the Senate, that body
rejected the amendment so to %. 1t
was again sent back to the House and
the vote to recede was refused, by the
same majority which adopted the amend
ment. A motion to reconsider the vote
to adhere was laid on the table. This
is the finishing stroke of Lecompton.