Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/837

 

 Constitutional Convention at Locompton. — Appointment of Delegates. — Pro-slavery Majority. — Provisions of the Constitution. — Constitution not to be submitted to the People — Sent to Congress. — Admission of Kansas under it urged by the President. — Northern Democrats oppose it. — Amendments to the bill o lie red in the Uouse and Senate. — Defeat of the bill. — Committee of Conference. — English bill passed. — Constitution rejected by the People of Kansas. — President removes Gov. Walker and Secretary Stanton. — Medary of Ohio appointed Governor. — Republican Legislature elected in Kansas. — Provide for a Constitutional Convention. — New Constitution framed — Ratified by the People. — State Officers elected under it. — Sent to the President.

Convention referred to in the preceding chapter assembled at Lecompton on the 25th of October, 1857, and proceeded to form a Constitution for the future State. By means of a fraudulent apportionment of delegates, the administration or pro-slavery party secured a majority in that body. They provided for the perpetuation of slavery. They apportioned the State for the first election under the Constitution so as if possible to secure a pro-slavery legislature, and thus also to secure two pro-slavery United States Senators. But the crowning outrage was the resolution not to submit their work to the people of Kansas for their acceptance or rejection, but to apply to Congress at once for admission with this pro-slavery Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

The President of the Convention, the famous John Calhoun, took the instrument to Washington and presented it to the President, In due time it was submitted to Congress, with a message strongly recommending the admission of Kansas as a State under it.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I have received from J. Calhoun, Esq., President of the late Constitutional Convention of Kansas, a copy, duly certified by himself, of the Constitution framed by that body, with the expression of a hope that I would submit the same to the consideration of Congress, "with the view of the admission of Kansas into the Union as an independent State." In compliance with this request, I herewith transmit to Congress, for their action, the Constitution of Kansas, with the ordinance respecting the public lands, as well as the letter of Mr. Calhoun, dated at Lecompton on the 14th ultimo, by which they were accompanied. Having received but a single copy of the Constitution and ordinance, I send this to the Senate.

A great delusion seems to pervade the public mind in relation to the condition of parties in Kansas. This arises from the difficulty of inducing the