, 1858-04-02
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1858.

| have received from Mr. Calhoun, preS
dent of the late constitutional convention
of Kansas, copy duly certified by him
self, of the constitution framed by that
body, with the expression Of the hope that
| would submit the same to the considera.
/ ton of Congress, with the view Of the ad,
mission of Kansas into the Union as an in
dependant state In compliance with this
request, | herewith transmit to Congress
for its action, the constitution Of Kansas,
with the ordinance respecting the public
lands, as well as the letter of Mr.. Calhoun
dated Lecomptou l4th ult., by which they
were accompanied. Having received but
q single copy of the constitution, and ordi,
nance / send this to the senate.
A great delusion seems to pervade the
public mind in relation to the condition Of
parties in Kansas. This arises from the
difficulties Of inducing the American peo-
pie to realize the fact that any portion Of
them should be in state of rebellion
against the government under which they
live. When we speak of the affairs in
Kansas VIC are apt to refer merely to the
existence of two violent political parties in
that territory, divided by the question oi
slavery, just as we speak of such parties in
states.
This presents no adequate idea Of the
state of the case. The dividing line there
is not between two political parties, both
acknowledging the lawful existence of the
government, but between those who are
! loyal to this government and those who
have endeavored TO destroy its existence by
force and usurpation, between those who
are sustaining and those who have done all
in their power to overthrow the territorial
government established by congress.
This government would long since have
been subverted had it not been protected
from assaults by the troops Of the United
States. Such has been the condition Of
affairs since my Inauguration. Ever since
that period large portion Of the people
of Kansas have been in state Of rebellion
against the government, with q military
leader ct their had Of q most turbulent and
dangerous character. They have never
acknowledged, but have constantly de-
nonnced and delied, the government to
which they swore allegiance, and have been
all this time in state of rebellion against
its authority. They have all the time been
endeavoring TO subvert it and establish a
revolutionary government under the social
ed Topeka constitution in its stead. Even
at this very moment the Topeka legislature
is in session.
Whoever has read the correspondence Of
Gov. Walker with the state department,
recently communicated to the Senate, will
be convinced that this picture is not over
drawn He always protested against the
withdrawal of any portion of the military
force of the United States from the terrific
ry deemng its presence absolutely neeessa-
RI for the preservation Of the regular gov
ernment and the execution of the laws.
In his very first dispatch to the secrea-
ry Of state, dated Juue I'd, 1851, he says
"A most alarming movement, however,
proceeds from the assembling of the So
called Topeka legislature with the view to
the enactment Of an entire code Of laws.
OF course it will be my endeavor to pre-
vent such result, as it would lead to an in
evitable and disastrous collision, aud, in
fact, renew civil war in Kansas"
This was perverted by the efforts Of Gov.
Walker, but soon he had TO send to Gen.
Harvey to request him to furnish a regi-
ment of Dragons to proceed to the city Of
Lawrence; and this for the reason that he
had received authentic intelligence, verified
by bis own actual observation, that dan
gerous rebellion had occurred, involving
open defiance Of the laws, and the estab-
lishment Of an insurgent government in
that city.
In the governors dispatch Of July 18th,
he informed the secretary Of state that the
movement in Lawrence was the beginning
Of plan of organization in that city to Or
Lganize a rebellion throughout the territory,
and especially in all the towns, cities and
counties where the republican party have q
majority.
Lawrence is the hot bed Of all abolition
movements in this territory. 1t is the GEN.
tire established by the abolition societies Of
the east, and whilst there are respectable
number of people there, it is filled by a
considerable number Of merchants who are
paid by the abolition societies to perpetuate
and dffuse agitation throughout Kansas,
and prevent the peaceful settlement of this
question.
Having failed in inducing their own So
called Topeka state legislature to organize
this insurreciion, Lawrence has commenced
it herself, and if not arrested, rebellion will
extend throughout the Territory"
And again-"Tn order TO send this COM
munication Immediately by mail, l must
close, assuring you that the spirit Of rebel
lion peryades the great mass Of the repub.
lcan party of this territory, instigated, as
entertain no doubt they are, by eastern
societies, having in view results most disas.
trous to the government and the Union,
and that the continued presence of Gen
Harney is Indispensable, as was originally
stipulated by me, with large body of dra.
goons and several batteries"
On the goth Of July, 1851, Gen. Lane,