Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-06

Secretary Cas-, under date of the 9th of
December last, that =" the important step
Of calling the Legislature together was
taken after Governor Walker had become
satisfied that the election ordered by the
Convention on the 2lst inst, could not be
conducted without collision or bloodshed." !"
SO intense was the disloyal feeling among
the enemies of the Government esta ablished
by Congress, that an election which afforded
them an opportunity, if in the majority, Of
making Kansas free State, according to
their own professed desire, could not be
conducted without collision and boodshed.
The truth is, that until the present moment,
the enemies of the existing Government
still adhere to the Topeka Revolutionary
Constitution and Government. The very
first paragraph of the message Of Governor
Robson, dated the 7th Of December, to
the Topeka Legislature, now assembled in
Lawrence, contains an open defiance OF
the Constitution and laws of the United
States. The Governor says: "Thc
Convention which framed the Constitution
at Topeka originated with the people of
Kansas Territory. They have al pied
and rstiGed the same twice by direct
vote, and also indirectly through two cleo
tions Of State officers and members of the
State Legislature, yet it has pleased the
Admin tration to regard the whole pro-
ceedings as revolutionary. This Topeka
government, adhered to with such treason
able pertinacity, is government in direct
opposition to the existing government as
prescribed and recognized by Congtess.-
1t is an usurpation Of the same character
as it would be for a portion of the people
OF any State to undertake to establish a
separate government within its limits for
the purpose of redressing any grievances,
real or imaginary, of which they might
complain, against the legitimate State
government. Such a principle, if carried
into execution, would destroy all lawful
authority and produce universal anarchy.
From this statement of facts, the reason
becomes palpablc why the enemies of the
government authorized by Congress have
refused to vote for Delegates to he Kansas
Constitutional Convention, and also after
wards, on the question ol slavery submitted
by it to the people. 1t is because they
have ever refused to sanction or recognize
any other Constitution than that framed at
/ Topeka. Had the whole lecomption
Constitution been submitted 10 the people,
the adherents of this orgauiza ion would
/ doubtless have voted against it, because if
successful they would thus have removed
an obstacle out of the way of their own
revolutionary Constitution. They would
have done this not upon consideration of
the merits of the whole or part of the
Lecompton Constitution, but simply because
they have ever resisted the authority of the.
government authorized by Congress, from
which it emiuated.
Such being the unfortunate condition of
the affairs of The Territory, what was the
right, as well as duty, of law-abiding
people 7 Were they silently and patiently
to submit to the Topeka usurpation. or
adopt some necessary measure to establish
Constitution under the organic law of
Congress That this law recognized the
right of the people of the Territory, without
the enabling act Of Congress, to form a
State Constitution, isl too clearfor argument.
For Congress to leave the people of the
Territory perfectly free," in framing their
Constitution, to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way,
subject only to the Constitution of the
United States" and then to say they shall
not be permitted to proceed and frame a
Constitution in their own way, without the
express authority from Congress, appears
to be almost a contradiction Of terms 1t
would be much more plausible that the
people of Territory might be kept out Of
the Union for an indefinite period, and
until it might please Congress to permit
them to exercise the right of self-govern-
ment. This would be to adopt, not " their
own way" but the way which Congress
might prescribe.
1t is impossible that any people could
have proceeded with more regularity in
the form alton of a Constitution than the
people of Kansas have done. 1t was
necessary first, TO ascertain whether it was
the desire of the people to be relieved from
a Territorial dependence, and establish O
State Government. In this purpose, the
' Territorial Legislature in 1866 passed a
law " for taking the sense of the people ot
this Territory, upon The cxpedicncy oI
calling a Convention to form State
Constitutions" a! the general election 10 be
held in October, 1856. The "sense of the
people" was accordingly taken, and they
decide in favor of Convention. 1t is true
that at this election, the enemies of the
Territorial Government did not vote, be.
cause they were then engaged a. Topeka
without the slightest pre;ext of Lawful
authority, in framing a Constitution o
: their own, FOR the purpose of subvertiDl
the Territorial Government.
In pursuance OF this decision of the peo
pie in favor of Convention, the Terrific
> rial Legislature, on the 9th of February
| 1857, passed an act for the election of del
f cgatos on the third Monday of June, 1857
e to frame a State Constitution. This la,
!, is as fair in its provisions as any that eve
: passed Legislature Tor similar purpose
It The right Ct suffrage al this election
c clearly and justly defned-"Evtry bon