The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-12-13

Government, existing under what was call
ed the Topeka Constitution. The avowed
object WAS to subduc the Territorial Gov
ernment by force, aid to inaugurate hat
was called the Topeka Government in its
stead. To accomplish this object, an extern
sive military organization was tormea and
its command entrusted to the most violent
revolutionary leaders. Under these cir
cumstances it became my imperative duty
to exert the whole Constitutional power of
the Executive, to prevent the flames of
civil war from raging in Kansas, which the
excited state OF the public mind both North
and South might have extended into the
neighboring States. The hostile parties in
Kansas had been iuaamed against each 9th
er by e,nissaries both fr"m the North and
South, to degree Of maligni;y without
parallel in our history. Toprevent event
ual collision and to resist the civil maais-
trates in enforcing the laws, a strong de
tachment Of the army was stationed in the
Territory, ready to aid the Marshal and
his deputies when officially called upon as a
posse comltatus in the execution Of civil
and criminal processes. Still the troubles
in Kansas would not have been permanent
ly settled without an election by the PEG
pie, the ballot box being the surest arbitra
tor OF disputes among freemen. Under
this conviction, every proper effort was
employed to induce the hostile parties to
vote at the election OF delegates to frame
the State Constitution, and afterwards at
the election to decide whether Kansas
should be a slave or free State. The ;isur.
gent party refused to vote at either lest
this might be considered as recognition
on their part OF the Territorial government
established by Congress. A better spirit.
however, seemed soon after to prevail. and
the two parties met face to face in the
election, held the first Monday of January
1898, tor members of the Legislature and
State officers, under the Lccompton const;.
tuition. The result was the triumph of
the anti-Savery party at the polls. This
decision of the ballot box proved clearly
that this party were in the Il aortv. and
removed the danger of civil war. From
that time We have heard nothing of the
Topeka government, and all serious danger
OF re evolutionary troubles in Kansas was
then at an end The Lecompton Constj-
tuition, which had been thus recognized at
this State election, by the votes of both
political parties in Kansas, was transmitted
with the request that should present it to
Congress. This could not have refused
to DO, without violating my ceasest and
strongest convictions of duty. |
The laws, and all the proceedings which .
preceded and followed its formation. were
fair, and regular on their face, and what /
then believed and expressed has proven
true; the interests of the people Of Kan
sas would have been best consulted by is
admission as State, into the Union esnc
clally as the majority within a brief peri
cd, could have amended the constitution "a
cording to their will and pleasure. If
fraud existed in any or all of these nro-
ceedlngs, it was not for the President, hut
for Congress to investigate and determine
the question Of fraud, and what ought to
De the consequences. If at the two first
elections the majority refused to vote. il
cannot be pretended that this refusal to ex.
erc'se the electoral franchise could invsli-
cate an election fairly held under lawful
'H'nor'sy' even Il the. had not .oted a,