Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1858-02-12

nINII4 % turif toPcA" co''a.f"."h-' BY
efhmcnt The FIRST paragraph OF the mes
nngq Of Gov. Robinson, dated 7th OF De-
eombek tothe Topeka Legislature, now as
solnbled Al Lawrence, contains an open de.
fance Of tho laws and constitution Of the
United States. The Governor says:
The convention which framed the Topeka
constitution originated with the people Of
Kansas territory. They have adopted and
ratified tho same twice by q direct vote; al
20 indirectly through two elections Of State
oficers and members Of the Statc Legisla-
tpre; yet Il has pleased tho Administration
% regard the whole proceeding rs reyolu-
tionary. .-.f s. a.f.,'
This Topeka Government, adhered to with
such Reasonable pertinacity, is q Govern
mont IN direct opposition TO tho existing
Government, presented aud recognized by
Congress. It Is usurpation Of the same
character as il would be for portion Of tho
people Of any state 70 undertake to estab.
isb a separate government within its limits
fbf the purpose Of redressing any grievance,
real OF imaginary. Of which they might com.
plain, against the, legitimate state govern
nentr Such principle il carried into OK
ccution would destroy all lawful authority
and produce universal anarchy. From this
statement Of facts the reason becomes palp-
able why, the enemies of the Government
authorized by Congress have refused to vote
for the Kansas constitutional convention and
ssls? afterwards on the question OF Slavery.
~ y because they have refused to sanction
or ofrceoguize any other constitution than that
framed at Topeka. Had the whole Le-
compton constitution been submitted to the
people the sdherents OF this organization
would doubtless have voted against, because
y successful, they wetld thus have removed
me obstacles nom tnc way .oI 'neir own
seVolusiVnaiy cohsA'u'ion' lucy ~ou'u
nave gone .hls' no. upon inc consideration
= - s'ie l'e'i's VI .ns Nn9'e VI PH', VI wy
E'eotnPson cous'tstion' ou' silnp,y because
aney nave ever resisted 'ae aS'norlty OF the
B9ye,hnen' autnorizea oy congress from
wnicn II emanatea. Sucn oeing tne unIor-
tuna.c condi'ion ol AFFAIRS IN me Territory,
VIVA, was 'ne rlgnt as wen as tno any 9r
me law aolnlng people were Tnoy silently
G vy st - stt' ,h - s.e rouaa ..snsa. S,
sso' =. = "Co. sae As0.,s nea.",s' oS"Dae
ssr - ~ oenS'''"''N N"N'e' '--e y
N. co's.
"' .',I -, 'ar reoogu'Iea INC rieu' " .ue
PsVs r.. ps ''.l'y, "Aau S. enaOs
@ 49,. !, w ~. go ~ .o,m o'A'e 'on''''0-
'''- . w s'''' 'o' "e"'
TOT congress 10 ieave the people OF
terntory perfectly iree IN framing their
Sons'i.u'iou 10 iofi'' ana regulate their 90
mes''c institutions IN their own way, suo,
lecs only 70 tne constitution OF tne United
STATES ana then u say that tney shall not
% pernl.'eo 70 proceed ana ifamo tue con-
sfltution 10 tneir own way Without express
ausaorlty from congress appears 70 DO al
most = contradiction OF Terms. ~ wonlu
oe muen more plausible 10 con'enu 'na'
congress nad no power 70 pass such al eii,
aoing act' tnan 10 argue tnat Inc people OF
. territory might DO kept out OF the Union
Tor an Indefinite PERIOD, ana until 1t might
please congress 70 permit tnem S 70 exercise
.ne r'gnt OF sen-goVcrnment' Inns would
DC 70 ADOPT, not their own way, put the
way whien congress might prescribe.
It is impossible that any people could
have proceeded with more regularity in the
formation of constitution than the people
Of Kansas have done. 1t was necessary,
FIRST, to ascertain whether it was the desire
Of the people to DO relieved from Territori-
al dependency, and establish State govern
ment For this purpose the Territorial
Legislature in 1855, passed law for taking
the sense Of tho people on the oxpcdioncy
cf calling convention to form constitu-
zion, at the general election to be hold in
October, 1856. The sense of the people
was accordingly taken, and they decided in
favor Of a constitution. 1t Is true that at
this election, the enemies of the Territorial
government did not vote because they wero
engaged st Topeka, without tho slightest
Iprstext OF lawful authority, IN framing a
constitution OF their own for subverting the
uerritorial government. In pursuance OF
tins decision In favor OF tho convention, the
Territorial Legislature, on the 9th OF Feb
'ruary 1897, passed an act for the election
OF delegates to take place on tho third
Monday OF june, 1857, to frame a State con
stltutlon. Tins law IS as far IN Its provis-
Ions, as any that ever passed legislative
body for similar purpose. The right of
suffrage at this election Is clearly and Justly
defined. Every bona tide citizen OF the
United states, above tho ago OF u. who