The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-11

GLIDING the better portion OF the
Pro-Slavery party, who had acted
with the Leromptonites up to that
time, instantly withdrew ther conf
dence and support, and denounced
the measure, as a base betrayal of
the rights of the people.
The Lecomptonites were loyal to
the Territorial Government so long
as they filled the Offices and controll-
ed its power: but the moment they
were defeated at the election, and
the power passed into the hands of
their opponents, they rebelled against
it, defed it's authority, and devised
schemes to destroy its existeuce.-
Thus they provided: "This Consti-
tuition shall take effect and be in
force from and after its ratification
by the people, as hereinbefore provi-
ded;" that is, from and after the
election on the 2lst of December,
when the people were permitted to
vote for it, but not against 1t. In this
mode they propose to abrogate and
subvert the Territorial Government
established by Congress, by putting
in force a State Constitution without
the consent Of Congress. What is
this but rebellion-open, marked, I'M
disguised rebellion? Where is the
difference between this and the To
peka movement, which the President
denounccs as revolutionary Gov
ernment,' organized in defiance Of
the authority of the United States,
which it was his duty to suppress
with the Federal troops? He says:
"7nis Topeka Government, adhered 10
Nth such REASONABLE pertinao,fy, is a
government ia direct opposition to The En-
isting Government prescribed and reoog-
mixed By Congress"
Might not the President have said
with as much fairness and justice
that this Lecompton Constitution, ad
hered to with such reasonable per.
tinacity, is Constitution in direct
opposition to the existing govern
ment prescribed and recognized by
Congress If it be said that the
Topeka Constitution was framed and
declared to be in force without the
consent of Congress, and therefore
revolutionary, it may be answered
with equal truth that the Lecompton
Constitution was framed and declared
in force without the consent Of Con-
gress, and consequently revolution
airy" for the same reason.
But we are told that the Lecomp-
ton Convention assembled under the
authority of the Territorial Legisla-
ture. 1t is true that it commenced
it's proceedings under the sanction of
the Legislature, and terminated it's
action in open rebellion against the
authority of the Legislature.
When the Legislature, on the 18th
of December, interposed it's lawful
authority to prevent the Lecompton
Constitution from going into effect
until ratified by the people on the 4th
of January and accepted by Con-
gress, the Lecomptonites defied the
authority Of the Legislature cstab-
lished by Congress, and treated the
law with contempt--refusing to yield
obedience to it, or respect its man
dates, or abide by the decision un.
der it. :.
Thus it will be seen that from the
time the Lecomptonites lost posses
sion of the Offices under the Terrific
rial Government by fair election
on the first Monday in October last,
in the language of the President,
"theS have all the time been endcav-
oring to .ubvert it and establish a
revolutionary government under the
so-called Topeka (Lecompton) Con
stitution in its stead" Soft appears
that the Lecompton Constitution, as
well as the Topeka Constitution, was
declared to take effect and be in
force" not only without the consen,
Of Congress but in defiance and con
tempt Of the authority Of the Terri
torial Legislature established by
Congress. Hence, if it be true tha'
the Topeka Constitution was revolu
tionary-and ] have always held tha
it was so-for the reason that it wa.
declared to take effect and be in force
without the consent Of Congress, anC
in defiance Of the authority Of the Ter
ritorial Legislature, it is undeniablt
that the Lecompton Constitution wal
Revolutionary for the same reason
and that the President Of the Cniteo
States was under the same ofiicia
obligations to maintain law over thu
Lecompton Constitution until Con
gress should otherwise order and di
rect. Upon what principles Of fair
ness or justice. then, can it be urges
that we should admit Kansas int