Freeman's champion., 1858-05-13
Rapzas PoIitics, &c
ADDRESS
Of the LeavenwOrth Constitutional
Convention.

Convention.
The undersigned were appointed by
the Constitutional Convention, to pre-
pare an Address to accompany the in
strument which should emanate from
this body. In performing this duty
we desire briefly to direct attention
to that necessity in which the present
movement Of the People originated
and the reasons why it should still
meet with the hearty approval Of ev'
cry American Citizen. 80
All the difficulties in Kansas orig
mated in the successful attempt to
wrest the Government from the Peo.
pie by fraud and to force Usurpation
upon them by violence. The charae-
ter ofthis Usurpstion was such that
it seemed evident to the people, that
the most speedy and practical way to
accomplish its overthrow, would bo
TO change the Government from a
Territorial form to that of sover.
eign and Independent State. Believ-
ing the right to make this change to
be indefeasible, and holding that it
was recognized by the treaty of ces-
sion with France, sanctioned by the
Organic Act of Congress, and pro.
c!aimsdb by the dominant political par
ty of the country, the people, prolnp-
ted only by the hope d desire Of fspeed-
lily terminating their difficulties and
peacably recovering their rights, inau-
gurated that movement, in 1855,
which resulted in the formation Of a
State Constitution. This instrument
upon being presented to Congress,
was rejected by one branch of that
body, chiefly, as it was asserted, be-
cause it emanated from the people
without an enabling prov sion from
the Territorial Legislature, or from
Congress.
Failing to find relief in this, the
people with hope of better success,
participated in the election, last Oc-
tober, and secured the control of the
'Territosal Legislature. But, before
this body could take any official action
q convention, previously provided for
NY the alien Legislature and elected
Mder q partisan and fraudulent reg
istration and apportionmcnt, had
framed a Constitution for Kan as, 70.
pugpant in. many Of its provisions,
thus throwing another great obstacle
between the people and their rights
just when they were about to enter in
to their possession and enjoyment.
In this crisis, when q people whose
patience had been exhausted a by the
repetition ofacts Of tyranny ard per-
secnhon, were exasperatsd by newN
and startling attempt to fasten .anoth-
'er usurpation upon them and wero
ready to crush out their oppressors
by violence, the Territorial Legisla.
ture, with q hope of avsfting the i'm.
pending calamilies. enacted the law
providing for another Constitutional
'Convention. 1t was fully believed
that All Enabling Act thus emanating
lirsm alegally constituted Legislative
body wonld remove all technical OBJ
Jections previously urged against the
Constitution which originated with
the people, and this conviction gave
them confidence in the measure. AM
,imated by that Spiritwhieh has in.
spired them from the first, and fully
determined to exhaust every peaceabie
means to defeat tho consummation of
the gigantic fraud before resorting to
force, the people earnestly engaged in
Constitutional movement,
and BY avery large vote, elected Dol
egates to frame an Organic Law for
Kanzas. ~
Tcthe American People, we would
say that the people Of Kanzas, after
they had rcpudiaed the Lecompton
Constitution BY an overwhelming
vote, and had demonstrated against L
ia every ppsslblc way, behold with
diamay. thatths Congress Of the Uni-
tod States disregarded their petitions
andtheir protests. But amid all these
discbufagements they engaged in this
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