The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-02-13
SPECIAL MESSAGE
OF PRESIDENT BUCHANAN ON THE
KANSAS CONSTITUTION.
WAsHiyoroN, Feb. Q

have received from Mr.. Calhoun, Prcsi-
dent ofthc Constitutional Convention of Kan
vu7 ,.-rsr+tt,--ti tr,t--f tttt.
Constitution framed by that body with the cA-
preston of the hope that | would submit the
Same 10 the consideration OF Congress, with
the view of the admission of Kansas into the
Union as an independent State, In compli-
aHea with tAjs request herewith transmit to
Congress FOR It's action the Constitution OF
Kansas with the ordinance respecting the pub.
lie lands as well as the letter of Mr. Calhoun.
dIt5T, E5c0mpt0u, Tt Mt, ~ which tifry wrrc
accompanied. Having received, but single
copy ofthe Constitution and ordinance, send
this TO the Senate.
\ great delusion seems to pcrvade the
public mind in relation TO the condition Of
parties in Kansas. This arises from the
difficulty Of inducing the American people
10 realize the fact that any portion of them
should be in state Of rebellion against the
government, tinder which they live. When
We spcal, OF the affairs of Kansas, we are apt
to refer merely TO the exiStancc of two violent
political parties sin that territory, divided by
the question of slavery, just as we speak Of
such parties IN States.
This presents no adequate idea Of the state
OF the euse,--lh he dividing line there, is not
between two opolitical parties, both acknowledg-
but between those who are loyal TO this gov.
ernmcnt aad those who have endeavored to
destroy its existence by force and usurpation ;
between those who are sustaining and those
who have doEe all in their power 10 over
throw the Territorial Government established
by Congress. This government would long
since have been subverted had il not been
protected from assaults by the troops of the
/ lniicd- -Siaics.-Snch has been the condition
Of affairs since my Inauguration. Ever since
that period, large portion Of the people of
Kansas have been in a state of rebellion
against the government, with military lead
er ut their head of most turbulent and dam
gerous character. They have never ac-
knowlcdgcd but have constantly denounced
and dcfod the government to which they
swore allegiance, and have been all this time
in state of'rebcllion against it's authority
They have all the time been endeavoring to
suhNert it and establish revolutionary gov
eminent under the so-caled Topeka Consti-
tuition in its stead. Even at this very moment
the Topeka Legislature is in session. Who
ever has read the correspondence of Gov
Walker with the State department, recently
communicated to tho Senate, will be convin-
ced that this picture is not overdrawn. He
always protested against the withdrawal of
any portion of the military force fthe United
NlNH'No AAp-i NlN itlilAbili dttuliUE lth pres
encc absolutely necessary for the preservation
of the regular Government and the execution
of the. laws. In his very first despatch to the
Secretary Of state, dated June I'd, 1857, he
says:-
"a most alarming movement, however, pro-
ceeds from the assembling of the so called
Topeka Legislature, with the view to the en-
actment ofau entire code of laws. OF course
il will be my cndcavor to prevent such re-
suit, as it would lead to an inevitable and dis
astrous collision, and, in fact, renew civil war
in Kansas"
This was prevented by the efforts Of Gov.
Walker, but soon he had to send TO Gen Har-
ney to request him to furnish a regiment of
drugoons TO proceed to the city of Lawrence
and this for the reason that he had received
authentic intelligence verified by his own ac-
tual observation that dangerous rebellion
had occurred Involving open defiance of the
laws, and the establishment of an insurgent
government in that city.
In the Governors despatch Of July ., he
the Secretary SP State that
"The, movement in Lawrence was the be-
ginning of plan Of organization in that city
to organize a rebellion throughout the Terri.