Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/855

 office. The pro-slavery influence was potent at Washington, and it was political death to any man, however long he may have served the party, or however ably he may have served the country, if he would not consent to fasten slavery upon an unwilling people. Samuel Medary of Ohio, who had just returned from the post of Governor of Minnesota, and who had signalized himself as an ardent supporter of the effort to fasten slavery upon Kansas by means of the Lecompton Constitution, was appointed Governor of the Territory.

In the fall of 1858, the people of Kansas elected a Republican Legislature. In the winter following they passed a law authorizing the election of delegates to form a Constitution. This bill was approved by Governor Medary and became a law, notwithstanding the provisions of the English bill, which required a legal [sic]sensus, &c. In the spring of 1859, the delegates were elected, and a strong majority were in favor of a free State constitution. They met at Wyandott during the summer, and finally framed an instrument prohibiting slavery, and similar in its general features to the Constitution of Ohio.

This Constitution was submitted to the people, and was opposed with much zeal by the Democratic party, sustained by government officials, but it was adopted by a majority of several thousand, July 29, 1859. On the 6th of December, 1859, the people elected their Governor and State officers, and member of Congress under the new Constitution. The Republican ticket was largely in the majority. Charles Robinson, who was formerly chosen Governor by the people under the Topeka Constitution, was elected Governor, and M. D. Conway was elected to Congress. M. J. Parrott was elected delegate to Congress to act until the new State was admitted