Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-06
The Wyandotte Constitution.
BY HON. D. r. SIMPSON.

We are here tonight at this silver we'd
ding, not as historians, but as analists. We
paint pictures from recollection, rather than
solve problems The great problem to
which many of those present gave their ear
liest and best efforts, has been solved ever
since the 18th day of January, A. d. 1861,
ever since Kansas was admitted into the
sisterhood of states with constitution for
bidding slavery and involuntary servitude.
The solution of that problem for Kansas was
the "beginning of the end" of slavery
throughout the Union. Let no man under
take to write the history of that great pre-
Eminary struggle for freedom, unless he
lived within the circle of the endeavor, OF
so near its circumference that he felt its
momentum and caught its spirit. stranger
to it may wander along the banks and note
the drift wood that clings to the shore or is
tossed about on its eddies. These but rep.
resent the chickering's of the leaders, or the
timid souls who shrank in fright from the
fury of the contest, to appreciate the depth
of the tide of sublime sentiment that m AIDE
Kansas free, he who records it must have
waded to the center of the stream, felt the
force of the current and the vigor of the
undertow. Alphabetical tinkering, word
tinting and physiological architecture, are
but poor tributes to the earnest minds and
willing hands that built ON everlasting
rocks a great state.
remember the earlier part of the night of
the 18th day of January-lSGl very distinctly.
was at the Eldridge house in Lawrence a
member of the last territorial legislature,
that was then holding its session in that
dearly beloved free state city. There was
from three to four inches of snow on the
ground, ian unusual sight in Kansas in those
days. and the night was windy and cold. Ii
must have been rs late as 8 o. clock when d.
K. Anthony. the same Anthony who is now
president of our Historical society, came into
the hotel with sturdy stride ana flashing eyes
and told us that the president of the United
States had that day signed and approved the
bill admitting Kansas into the Union. He
brought with him and scattered around, ex-
tras issued by newspaper published at
Leavenworth called the. Conservative, an
nouncing the joyful tidings in flaring head
lines. The leading spirits in this newspaper
were d. r. Anthony and d. w. Wilder. just
think of it, Web. Wilder and Dan. Anthony
editing a conservative newspaper. 1t was
the most impudent eSa-1ple of sarcastic mis-
nomenclature that ever was perpetrated.
You might as well try to think of old John
Brown, of Osawatomie, (God bless his
memory as a pro-slavery border ruffian as
these two Knights Militant of free state
party as conservatives. There was .'sound
of revelry" that night in Lawrence, for the
news ran through the town like wild fire.
Houses were lighted, doors were thrown
open, land some were broken open.) the peo-
pie gathered in public places. Old Sacra-
mento was taken from his resting place and
emphasized with hoarse throat the good
tidings: toasts were drank: songs were sung:
speeches were made, and-well, the truth is
that my recollection is not good after mid
night. You must recollect that the main
question then was admission, not prohibi-
ton.
The next day, however, very curious
question arose with the members of that
territorial Legislature as to whether the adj
mission of the state had not taken the life
of that body, and hence had destroyed its
power to pass laws. The session, however,
continued for some days and many acts of a
general nature were pasced and the validity of
some of these laws was subsequently affirmed
By decision Of the supreme court Of the
sfn1e of Kansas, and ss I go before me
xepeeooufntivee OF evosy branch Of III gts1o
eosoEnk ] pa1f - sumind ~ q ~