Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-05-21
qoolittraI
KANsAs-THE LECoNPToN CONSTITUTION.
SPEECH OF HON. SOLOMON FOOT

OF VERMONT,
Ip he Senate Of the Unifrd Stqtes March %. 1855
The Senate, as in Commie Of tho Whole having under
confederation the bin for the admission Of the State
Of Kansas into the Union
Mr. FOOT said
Mr. President, oppose the Introduction Of Kansas
into the Union under the Lecomntou Constitution.
oppose The enforcement OF that Constitution upon tho
people of Kansas II is not the expression Of their will
not their free act and deed II not the work OF
their hands. They only unwilling to accent IT,
they are not only unwilling to come into the Union nm.
der IT, but they utter their most solemn protest against
the bonds As institution Of State Government tho
Lecompton Constitution not formed in obedience to
th' Will OF the people Of Kansas nor 10 pursuance Of
I al,norut' nor yet IN pursuance Of any legal au-
honty whatever 1t is only the product the cousumma-
ton Of long series of acts Of oppression violence and
aud' Of artful devices and unmitgacd outrage, the
lNc whereof this country had before Witnessed
within ITS horders Il was literally conceived in sin aud
brought tlrh IN inqnity And now Congress Is iuvok-
ed 90 legitimate this unnaural bautlng, and force
recognition upon people who disowu IT, who spurn it,,
and turn their hacks upOn it with INDIGNANT scorn and
disgust, the offspring Of violence and dishonor They
have expressed their abhorrence and rcpudatou Of it in
every possible legal and authoritative form They have
repudaed i by the popular and by legislative pro-
te,taton. II is now brought into presence here in
oil It's deomy, dscredted and dsowncd and with the
stamp Of the popular reprobaon and rejection branded
upon It's forehead. This the Lecompton Constitution
ohll ~ be imposed upon unwilling and protesting
e'ple' In the name OF justice and freedom and self
t,lihncnt IN the name OF the prosecuted and down
uodden and subingated people Of Kansas in the
OF the sovereign Sta'e and equal coparncr in this Union
OF ours n whose behalf am authorized TO speak In this
august presence, though it be with feeble and
needed voice. enter my earnest and perpetual protest
against the consmmation Of this great inquity
And now, here, Mr.. President before proceeding fur
ther let me say-and rejoice in being able say-that
the question before us the monentous question before
u.s. Is not altogether party question that it is By
means exclusively sectional question II is prop
ery speaking, question Of popular rights question
OF the right of sc-gpycumen the right Of the people
10 be heard in the framing, and to he consulted In the
adoption ratification " the fundamental law under
which they are to be initiated into the Union Of States
ana uhner wheh hey are TO be governed This question
rises higher and far above the partisan questions Of
the day II expands and reaches out far beyond any
the mere local sectional questions which unhappy
divide and ALLEVIATE from the ties Of political and social
brotherhood In opposition 10 this measure Of imposing
Constitution upon a people who had no voice In M
framing aud which they utterly rrpcl and repudate l.
sir as Republican, join hands with the main forces Of
the Northern Democracy. | Join hands in this oppos-
sir with the giants OF that party the North who have
led your mighty hosts in many field Of contest and
who, than once when defeat hung doubt
iu ana trembling IN the scale have gasped your stand
ard with their strong hand and borne the prize
IN triumph and laid the crown OF victory your feet
As Northern man. oing hands in opposing this great
wrong, with conservative and strong mon, with honored
and trusted sir, and with proSlavcry men, vet
honorable aud patriotic men from the South | ioiu
hands u resisting this wrong against human rights with
your Walkers and your StantOns and Wiscs Of the
South; and, rejoice 10 add with your BELLS And vonr
Crtiendeu, whose fidelity 10 the Interests and
the honor aud to the institutions Of the South YOU will
not be likely to impugn, aud whom you will hardly ven
hre 70 sigmali1e as "miserable hntcs and Abolition
lsai as you are sometimes wont TO do, with fippant
tongue-and sensccss and unheeded ninpant-all
Noflhein men VINO ta 10 yield ready and willing
dicnce 20 the behosts Of the Bclial Of Slavery
will further remark, in this connection that II Is
great TO that parties in Kansas arc divided
upon the basis OF the political sectional divisions which
prevail in the country at large. The people Of kansas
80 far as there is any political division among them
divided upon the question whether shall be- rec State
or Slavcholding State. Hence the only recognised
parties there are distinguished and designated the
Free Snie and the Pro-Sayery parties And the Free
State party which embraces at least Of the
population Of the Territory, is by no means composed
exclusively Of those who sympathize aud act with the
Republican party Of the country; but il embraces
siderable portion Of those who sympathize and always
have been identified with the Democratic party Of the
country Nor is the Frce-State party boy any means
posed exclusively Of those who from the Northern
states but IL embraces very considerable number Of
those who from the southern States. On the other
hand the Pro-Savery party in Kansas is not composed
exclusively Of those who thore from the ayehold-
ing States but II embraces many, quite too many who
went there from the free States aud among them some
who have been prominent and leading actors In the scenes
Of fand aud outrage which have long been poipeirat
ed with npunity upon the reeSaie people OF that Ter
rtory Mr. Calhoun late President Of the Leoompton /
Convention, and yicc regent Of the Pro-Slnve party
in Kansas who had the manipulation Of the returns Of
the January State election and who will probably let the
world know the result Just when he gets ready Il North
man, originally as understand. from the State Of
Massachusetts,. Governor Ransom tho late candidate Of
the ProSayery party for delegate the House Of Rem
rescntaiiNes in Congress, ORIGINALLY from my own
State and more recently from Michigan. where he had
filled the offices Of Judge Of the Supreme Court and
eTnor Of the State, and then terminated his political ca
In that State defeated Democratic Free-So can
did1te TN e scnate of the United Sa'e in opposition