The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-17
Well Known Character Opposed
to Policy of Government.
Doesn't Like Course With Ref
erence to Philippines.
OMEGA TOPEKA CRANK
Many acknowledgement Bying-
ton and His Eccentricities.
Is Now 80 Years Old But Still
a MaIcOntent.

WaverIy, o., July 17-Legrand By
ington of Iowa, who recently renowned
his citizenship, was formerly a dis
tinguished citizen of this county He IS
now 80, and resident Of Iowa City, Ia
He says he became so thoroughly DIS
gusted with the administration that ne
no longer considers himself under obn-
cations to the government, and IN pur-
suance of this conclusion, prepared an
OATH which he took before proper
officer. He says:
This act of voluntary eXpatr1atlon
proceeds from the revolution backward
effected by the Washington govern
ment whereby it has repudiated the
great declaration Of July 4, 70, has
brazenly trampled under foot the
fundamental doctrine of the federal
constitution that all rightful govern
ment is by the consent of the people:
In the 4Os ByingtOn represented this
county in the legislature two or three
terms.
A familiar character on the streets of
Topeka about Is years ago was the
Hon" Legrand Byington, who a few
days ago in Iowa renounced his alleg-
lance to the United States. He was
known as an extremist or crank
Mr.. Byington came to Topeka some
time in the early eighties, and for ten
years was prominent in business and
politics in Topeka and Kansas. BY
profession he was a lawyer and was
man of culture and learning. He con-
tributed many strong and IDLY writ
ten articles to the press and in 'S7,with
the late S. n. Wood, made plans to
publish a daily paper, but the deal telI
through owing to a Disagreement with
Col. Wood. At the opening of Okla
hOma, Mr.. ByingtOn compiled and had
published the laws of that territory
Many people in Topeka will remember
him for his peculiarities while many
others remember him kindly for assist
ance in time Of need. He did many
things by jndirectiOn and rarely for
got a friend or forgave an enemy.
There are many incidents of his early
history that show his strong PERSONAL
ties and force of character. 1t is said
of him that While a member Of the
Ohio senate some time in the fOrtieS.
that he got the floor early in the morn
ing and talked against time until mid
night in order to defeat the banking
measure to which he was opposed. 1t
is also related of him that he was the
prime mover in a redistricting of the
state running all the districts to a point
into Hamilton county so as to give
the Democrats the larger representa-
ton.
During the presidency of James
Buchanan, he purchased a large num-
Der of soldiers land warrants and sent
an agent west to locate the land. The
agent located several quarters in and
around Salina and some in the northern
part of the state and then wrote to Mr.
ByingtOn that in his opinion Kansas
would never amount to much and ad-
vised him to go further into the state
of Missouri Mr.. ByingtOn agreed with
the suggestion of his agent and located
nearly 1000 acres in Dent, Crawford
and cher counties in the state of Mis-
souri,. When Mr.. Byington was in To-
peka in 1892 he still held the ownership
Of this investment. During the civil
war he was a Copperhead and was so
much opposed to the government that
he refused to pay taxes for it's sup
port
Mr. Byington is a, lawyer of force
and learning. a shrewd business man,
but a man of peculiar views and eccen-
the in the extreme.