Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-02-11
Synopsis of the President's
Kansas Message.

columns in type, and was read in congress
at o'clock this afternoon. 1t says that
delusion prevails rs to the condition of par
ties in Kansas: recapitulates the history Of
past affairs; pronounces the Topeka gov
eminent an usurpation. and says that it is
impossible that any people could have pro-
ceeded with more regularity in the forma
ton of the Lecompton Constitution, than
the people of Kansas have done. The
Convention of last June was propitious
movement to settle the difficulties, but The
Topeka-ites, suffered the election to 60 by
default. Hence, they had no right to COM
plain. The Lecompton Convention was
legally constituted and invested with pow
er to frame Constitution, which it did.
and submitted the question to the people
whether Kansas should be free or slave
State The President believes that under
the organic act, the Convention was bound
to submit this all important question to the
people. They did SO. and again the To-
peka-ites defaulted At the election of
officers, January 4th, wiser spirit pre-
vailed, and the vote was larger. The peo-
pie of Kansas have, therefore, in strict
conformity with the organic act, framed a
Constitution and State Government, sub
mitted the slavery question to the people.
elected officers, and now ask admission in
to the Union under this Constitution. The
Presidents decidedly in favor Of its ad
mission. and thus terminating the Kansas
question by localizing the distracting
influences. AS question Of expediency,
even, Kansas should be admitted, in as
much as it would restore quiet to the I'm
ion, and prosperity to the Territory and to
the people of Kansas. The only practical
difference between admission and rejection
is, whether they can more speedily change
their present Constitution or frame
second, to be submitted to Congress II
should never be forgotten that. in proper
ton to the insigni6cance of the slave ques
, ton, as effecting the few thousand inhabit-
ants of Kansas, the fourteen slave States
will feel the rejection of the Constitution
keeniy. Kansas once admitted, the excite
ment becomes localized and cools, and the
troops can be withdrawn.
The following is the concluding portion
of the message:
Every patriot in the country had in
dulged the hope that the Kansas Nebrask,
act would put final end to slavery agita
q tons: least in Congress-which had con
vuisr;a the cc.ntry and endangered the I'm
ion. This act invoii,7..d great Fundamental
t principles, and il carried into effect will
settle the question. Should agitas;;on OF
r again renewed; should The people Of sister
D States be ag in estranged from each other
r with more than their former bitterness
: this will arise from cause, so far as the
interests of Kansas are concerned, more
trifling and Insignificant than has ever stir
: red the elements of great people into
e commotion. To the people of Kansas. the
e the only practical difference between the
0 admission or rejection depends solely upor
: the fact whether they can themselves more
:, speedily chsnge their present Constitution
Q il it does not accord with the will of the
9 majority, or frame second Constitution
J. to be submitted to Congress hereafter
Even If this were question of mere expo
n diency. and not Of right. the small differ
). ence Of time, one way or the other, is no
o of the least Importance when contrastet
with the evils which must nece.sarially re
d suit to the whole country frcm the rivalry
d Of slavery agitation. In considering Thu
h question 1t should never be forgotten tina
e in proportion to its insigniicance, let tn
decision be what it NAV, so far as it ma,
r effect few thousand inhabitants of Kan
t. sas, who have from the beginning resisted
II the Constitution and laws. For this yer,
ir reason tie rejection of the Constitution
,e will be so mucn the more keenly felt by tn
l. people of ID States whose slavery is rec
2, ognizsd under the Constitution of the Uni
ted States. Again. the speedy admissio
r. of Kansas into the Union would restor
g. peace and quiet to the whole country
Already the affairs Of the Territory hsv