Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-04-28
zSsSSS
For the Reporter.
Lecompton Constitution.-Faets.

The act of Congress commonly call
ed the Kansas and Nebraska act, pro-
vitles
''That nothing herein contained
should be SO construed as to legislate
slavery into or out OF any State or Ter
ritory, but to leave the people thereof
perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestic institutions in their own way.
subject only to the Constitution of the
United States"
President Buchanan in his letter of
acceptance, says:
"What conception, then, was it
for Congress TO apply this simple rule;
that the viii Of the minority shall GOV
ern, to the settlement Of the question
OF domestic slavery in the Territories. ;"
And the President again referring to
the admission Of a State, in his annual
message uses this language:
'This is, happily, a matter of little
practical Importance. Besides, it is q
judicial question which legitimately be-
longs to the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States, before whom it is now pend
ing, and viii, it is understood, be speed
lily and finally settled. To their decis-
ion, in common with all good citizens.
[ shall cheerfnIlv submit, Whatever this
may be, though it has never been nv
individual opinion that, under the Ne
braska-Kansas act, the apDroDriate pc
riod will be when the number of actual
residents in the Territory shall Justify
the formation Of Constitution with a
view to its admission as a State into
the Union. But be this as it NAV. il
is the imperative and indispensable du-
ty of the Government Of the United
States to sec2tye TO creyy yps;Go71t iuLub-
liant the free and ;01I3e0do1zt cq37ress-
ION Of his op;,eion Jo/ his rotc. This
sacrcI yi1If Of cach i}adiridluZ mast
be presorrcd"
The Presldent, IN instructions to
Gov. v allser, says:
s:7Ho i,aqfitufin1,e If Hry2sqs sI0u77
be estu6Hshc3 Jy tie r0tcs of the 2)e0pEe
Of Kmas0S, u3eo,ced and uninterrupted
| 6y force and fra2za.
'"The regular Legislature ofthe Ter
ritory having authorized the assembling
of a convention to frame a constitution,
to be accepted or rejected by Congress,
underthc provisions ofthe Federal Con
stitution, the people Of Kansas have the
right TO be protected in the peaceful
election ofdeIegatcs for such Q purpose,
under such authority; and the conven-
ton itself has a right to similar protcc-
'lo, II, 'he o2pD1'uln's lof '141q'i' ana
const;tyt;on sbau ba s,,l,,,;+raG 1t - ,.'l fln
people Of a Territory, they must be
protected III the exercise Of their right
70 vote 1or or against the Instrument,
:,, .Y.'lol- ''i''1
or vio1oncn,'
nv :. c.,,.
/ III L esl''eii'' III HIS olilIii'"ii le''ef'
says:
E"The convention will soon assemble
to perform the solemn duty Of framing
a constitution for themselves and their
posterity; and, Sn the state of incipient
rebellion which still exists in Kansas,
it is my imperative duty to employ thc
troops Of the United States, should this
become necessary, Ia defending the
convention against violence While franz
ngthe constitutions and in protecting the
''bono 130o inhabitants qualified to vote
under the provisions Of this instrument,
in the free exercise OF the right of suf-
fi'age, when it shall be submitted to
them for appreciation or rejection"
pauoo.rar1 f.or, tho 1o++or of aaa,,,,
81 = "P'' '0'Al ,,le le''7i y, ''re'P
tance OF Governor " alkef to the fres-
ident, dated March 30th 1857, and pub
lished in the WASHINGTON Union, be-
foro C2orornor zy-aIl,o,. loft yvosbioo,
+on
''n.
: l understand that you and your Cab
met cordlally concur IN the OPINION eX-
,es9eu oS 4tl ~ 'n'TT I'll: "gen@! gGzsa lsSse
bv a fair and REGULAR vote unatfectcd
by fraud or violence, must be permit
ted, IN adopting their State constitu-