outtost Pemotrat. A. J. O,ER3IITSON,. Editor, LCONT:aosE, 15.1. Tlinrodaf, Februn ry(l I, » ►s • . _ oria‘tofriace—Lnafersinaprinting,offino.j3o DECuNED.-A romance sent- us some time gime, the title of whikth we cannot at, this trioment remember. Thesoutiment 'was much better. than the style. .174 r The Lecompton Constitution end ac icompanyingdocuments;were referted on Mon ilay, in the Senate, to theConnittee on teal-. tories,and in the louse to especial Commi t ttee of 15.. • ,gam li:}ring recently copied onr Mail Book, it is possible that ,we may have acci dentally gverlooked the names of-some of our subscribers. If any fail to - receive their papers for that reason, we will make the correction, when our attention is galled to it. . _ 'lt4r We (earn that Mr. Gillyert Meleehe of 13ridgewater - aied onTuesday, front injuries caused .by tieing thrown front his wagon oh th u tsJay . last. . Ms- horse took . fricist at some object, and starlet! (11T suddenly, • and :he was tillable - •clieck it. M., was 118 'years , of ace. • jiner - The election in Lancaster City has re salted in the choiceX Thomas It. Burrowes for 11:11 Or, by a majority: of 12 votes. Since the election, the opposition pipers claim it- Its a. "Republican" victory, but it so happens that the nomination was made by thdie - "op. io O#nyling party politks trail the *Ars of the City GoKernment." Before and Idler the electidn a Idiffetent tune must be danced:tn. 111. B. is the editor of Tho Pecn-. `sylvinia School Journal. An,l SII AKESPE A RE= NA NIPOSTOR. — Mr. "Wm. F. Mason" paid our town n flying visit last. week`, issuk7l circular's, engaged a Bail, and made quiet a Ihiuri-h, elaitning to be "the only Shaliesperian header of the age. 4 ' . Ile read one evening and the,next day disappeared, since. which Ave have heard noth ing of him. If he Would. return and pay his bills, hecOuld then lea4Witli the unanimous Approval:of our citizens. Should he attempt to iinPos - e - Won the people of.any of our neigh- . boiinz towns, and asks some of our eoternpo iiries to jive him a "pilff," they will do well to copy this notice of him. Z.Br.Te ask every person to carefully read the• President's 'Message relating to the' ad- Mission of Kansas:: 'All who do so with un-' biased . feelings, I cannot but be convinced that I the most praetteal and speedy way of settling the brawl, in and out of Congress, Will be to place . het-at oneeort an elual footing with the other States. -To do so, 'rill be to rid the country of . the vexations question, to. defer its admission on the grounds of the opposi --Con, can result in no good, but, only tend to keep upa‘perpetu:tl-strife. , • One objection.set up, is, that the Constitu tion cannot be changed, until 1804. This is .a false;plea, for no provision of the kind is contained- in the instrument, only a direction how it may be changed•erfter that, 'date.. . Besides, - another clatise expressly says that the people may alter or abolish their forth otgovernment at their pleasure. This objection comes froni those Who voted for the admission under the Topeka conc,crn,,which expressly, declared that no change - could be wade for 101. yea'rs? If. we bad any assurance that the Lane fac tion would ever vote their sentiments on-. the . - slavery questiorr while in a territorial condi tion, it would 'do to defer the matter, and . give them a Min!. chance to - do so. ,As it now stands they. hive at the bidding of their party .masters, caused the- Constitution to .be sent up as a pro-slavery one by default, that they may have a hobby to ride. Admit tier as a Stale, and the excuse can no longer be entertained, and it will be, declared a free State by a popular vote at the earlit,pleas ure of the people. . . The prediction that the Black Republicans would if within their power, make' Kansas a - . slave State, for.a time; is about to be verified, and .the country will hold them responsible for their Itypoctitical acts. In the mean time they cannot, alter the fact that Kansasis, per maneptly, a free State. • Ja' It is often the boast I,f those who de . serf the Democratic Firty, that they never tange, but that the party haves them, while they remain- - consistent to. their former Nth. This plea might be listened to with some de .gree of credit, were it not •for the singular fact that such persons are immediately found . working in the ranks - of the foes of Vemocra . cy, who also clitim that their position in 'no wisek differs from that which thev'-formerlv occtiPied. How two persons can fur ati disagree in every particular upon a piestio'n, yet - finally come together without either be ing convinced of error, is more than we can comprehend. , The "Republican" party claim now to oc_ copy the same: ground they did inSlite cam paign of 1856. There are •a few Members of Congress .who were elected as . Democrats, who now differ with the Adntinistration, et claim that their views are the same as when elected. As an instance we cite the case,of hick. A. Hickman lion! Chester district. Shia gent claims to be the personification of consistency, of course, but by reference to the Chester i Counte_Tinw, the Opposition we find the idea of his being in the least degree consistent, .unwittingly „ repudiated.. *The Times publishes Mr. Martian's soeech goes into ecstacies'at the accession made to their ranks. We.clip two sentences from an article commenting on tlie speech, which are quite stfliCient_to cover the whole grotind "lie (Hickman). is to he considered one Who shifts his po.sWou from the side of sift very.to that of freedom." * ** * "In the present speech Mr: Hickman occupies about she same ground as did Hick/man Republican party - during the last Prftidential carve:lip)." - And claims to be • a Demo end!' If tiebit.s, ttie Times boasts, "shifted Lis pusition," and gone - over to.theFrernont ground of '5O, there can be no - traCe of ;)e• Innerecy is him;: it indeed b ever pos. .0:x+! v. "'Z" ,, .~,'~a-+ - a.:t.... i - ~;N a:-/-scn7i~'v )i::c:,~:r::iJ~]L. :"w. I=l keitt and Grow. A squabble took place between L. M. Keitt, Member from S. C., and G. A.,GroW from this County', ou• Saturday morning last, about two o'clock, Which — Wel been a three' days thone for the Washington letter-writers. • .Most ofthesevion Cr - frriday was consum ed by the House, in discussing and voting on the contested election case of 'Mr. Campbell of Ohio. AbOut five o'clock, this was dis posed of, so far as accepting the report of .the ninjwity of the Election Committee went, and then a motion for the, reference of the PresiderkCi message and the Lecompton Con . stitution to a select committee of IS, instead I of the regular •committee on territories, %Imre; it properly should go ? , came up. Mr. Grow had the floor ? but yielded it to Harris of 111., upon the question of-reference. The night was spent in Various nianceuvres, nothing be ing accomplished except to create confusion. The reports of the "fight," are very contra dictorY, the first was in substanoe as follows; Grow was w:diring down the aisle. on the Democratic aide-of the House, when Qaitman rose and Mr.'Grow objected to his.'speaking. Said Mr. Keitt," if you want to object you had better go to youy own side of the House." This is a free - land," said Mr. Grow, "and • every man has a right to go where . . be pleases." What do you, mean by such an answer as that!" - said Mr. lieitt. "I mean just what I said;' replied. Mr Grow, and repeated the remark. Mr. Keitt then seized him by the collar ex- claiming. "I will /et ymr-know that you are a d—d Black• Republican puppy?' Mr. Grow-thrust his band aside with vio letice, saying, "I shall occupy such a dace as ITlease, and do nigger-driver sbal; crack hi§ whip over me." k Again Mr. Keitt seized him by-the throat, and "was agar; driven off by Mr. Grow, and on the attempt being repeated, Mr. Grow de livered a well-aimed blow and knocked Mn Keitt down. Soon as the affray was noticed them was a general rush from all quarters of *he . , Hall, and Mr. pat Wale - of Mississippi, rushed in to keparate the combatants. Mr. Washburn of Illinois, who has a front seat on the R publican side, thinking that he was gain; o help Keitt, hurtled into the melee and knock ed Mr. Barksdale 's wig off. • A later 'despatch contradicted the above, 'stating that Mr. Grow did not knock hini downrat all. One report states that Mr. Quit man rose to submit a motion for.an adjourn._ 'Dent, and Mr. Grow, who was then v e ry near Mr. Keites seat, turneaand remarked; - "I ob ject." . Mr Keitt teplied, "Go on Tour own side £f the House sir, and make your objections there." • Mr.- Grow retorted, "1 will .make my oh jecti9ns where I please, and am not to be in iimidated by the lash of a slave driver." Mr.'Keitt, taking this remark as a personal insult, sprang to his feet and struck Mr. Grow, who retuned the-blow, and the diately closed in a " rough,and.tumble" fight. A icenT3 of confusiOn then followed, in which several Members took apart. The fracas did not lest more than two minutes, when the prompt intervention of the Serie:int-at-Arms, Mr. Glossbreoner; and his assistants, succeed ed in restoring order. During the remainder of the sessioo, which continued until after six o'clock on Saturday morning, everything went on smoothly and - So many contradictions are reported - that it is difficult to find out, the truth of the matter; but it is quite probable that no blows were gien on either side, at least the story that Grow struck Keitt with such' force as to knoCk him down, is not confirmed, and there fore entitled to no credit. But little notice was taken of the affray in the dity,—not : more than would le of any street brawl. On Monday, Mi. Keitt rose in his place and expressed his regret to the House for ilke violation of its order and decorum, assuming .to himself the rtiponsibility of the occurrence. He also stated 'that he was not awara of re ceiving a blow from any source, whether one was aimed at him or not. Mr. Urow also tendered whatever apology Was due to the House for the violation of its order and de corum, and regretted the occasion fur the difficulty. Endorsement of the. Administrit- jAt the.recent Democratic County.conven lion held_ in Philadelphia, resolutions were in troduced endorsing the Ad ministration,.. and approving the admission of Kansas as a State. The opposition press aided by the individu al organ of Foinelv, have endeavored to falsitv their action by reporting that the resolutions were 'not pared. The officers of the Con vention, and a majority of the members have since publicly certified that they were passel !Without a dissenting voice. The truatof this statement cannot . be questioned. . Resolced,,That ‘ thi:i Convention has full confidence in the patietiarti and,,avisdom of I James Buchanan, and/approves not only his vindication of ;he national - honor by a strict I and energetic enforcement of our neutrality I laws and. international 'treaties,' but also his recommendations it: regard to the- adthission !:•of Kansas into the Union.. Resolved, the prompt admission of Kansas as a State, with the unrestricted tight'to alter or amend her Constitution— thereby.corderring upon her people absolute :(nd unqualified sovereignty, with the power to regulate and control -each and all of ,_their Otical and doMestic institutions in their way—is the best, if not the only means Melt the troubles in Kansas will cease to ct and disturb the country, and peace `•dei• - be restored to that Territory. by' and -But little business of special interest -bas ,een -transacted in our State Legislature within the past week. We notice that Mr. Chase read a bill to repeal the Lenox Road Laws in the townships of Brooklyn and Gibson. Re ferred to Committee on Roads and Bridges. Mr. Smith of Wyoming, a bill to annex cer tain territory (report does not state what)'to Wyoming County. Referred to committee on New Counties. Mr. Chase read a bill some time since to authorize Administrators, ace., 'to administer oaths in certain cases. The Judiciary. Committee reported negatively upon it," but. Chase and others -desired its passage. As such oaths would ,be clearly extrajudicial, and put it_in the powerg ner sotis to thus swear money - iitto their pockets without being. liable for perjury, the bill was lost by a vote•of 26 yeas to 53 nap. Democratic Seurat° lal Conference. The Democratic Sena orial Conference, for the Senatorial district timposed of the coun ties of Bradford, Susquel anna, Wyotning and Sullivan,-met, in accordance with usage of previous years, at RushAlle, on Friday, Feb• sth, 1855. No other Co lerees. but those from Susq'a Cennty, appear d at the usual hour, theT therefore adjourned Without: transacting -any business, except to icontirm the selection Of R: T. Stephens,. Esq., the Choice of the Susq'a County Conver tion,, for Senatorial Delegate,' to represent said -district in the Democratic-State Convention, to be held at Harrisburg on the Fourth of March next. A: . GERRITSON, For S sq'a Co. Conferees. ___ _—•- Democratic onvention. a Convention'et the County met at the lhoro' of Towanda, on en E. W. Baird Esq. r, and• VA. Overton t Pursuant to custom, Democracy of Bradford Court House in the B Tuesday, the 2d inst., w was called to the Chai appointed Secretary. On motion, 11. J. Madill Esq.,and Col. V E. Piotette, were appointed representative delegates to the Democratic State Convention to he held at Ilarrishurg on the 4th of MatAt next, with' power to substitute ib case of their inability to attend, kJ motion, the delegates -were instructed to vote for Wm. Elwekl. Esq. as the candidate for Judge of the Sapreme Court. Col. J. F. Means, E. W. Baird, C. S. Russell, LI. B. McKean, and D'A. Overton, were apyointed Conferees to meet the Con ferees ot -Susquehanna and Tioga counties.— Ou motion, the Chairnian was authorized to appoint a Standing Committee fur the ensu ing year. Whereupon,the following gentle- Klell were appointed ;Cul. J. F. Means, Col. Addiion McKean,John Baldwin, I%ank Smith, Col. Writ. E. Barton, Jacob Reel and Ftede• tic Whitman.. On motion, it. was resolved that the news papers of this County he requested to publish the proceedings of this' Convention and that a copy thereof . ..a/so be furnished the Montrose Democrat.' E. W., 13A D, Pres EVA. 0 V Eirrox, scc.' - -- • For the '3lontr - aso Democrat F.Mron: In response to a call published in your last issue, a respectable number of citizens met at the Court house to consult upon matters pertaining• to our Schools, nong other things, the following resolution yr:: unanimously passeo: li“colred, That,the following memorial be pul t lishcd in both the t_unty papers, and - that ti frie n ds thereof in the several townships, pt• and circulate the same for subscribers, and that they forward the result to A. O. Warren, Montrose, by the 25th of February. Te the honorable Solute and House of Rer resentatives of the ( - vommonwealfth Pennsgleania ! _ Your petifiomir ciligens of- Susquehanna COunty, in said State,! respectfully represent to your honorable bodies,that iidey are laboring under Many inconveniences, and difficulties,. growing out of the adMinistration of the pres ent School Law. AO 'your petitioners pray your honorable bodies to repeal so much of the 'act passed! the Bth day of Mar, 1834, as provides foy.the eicerion d.f six School I iirec• tors, and also that - refidting to the election of Ginnie SnPerintendent for Susiya County, and instead thereof to Droviile for the election of three Directors and one Superintendent in each town, and they io be, paid a reasonitide compensation for theiri services, it being the (114 of some one of them to visit each school in their respectiye toms twice each term. Atil your petitioners ill ever pray. Reports of Teacher' Institutes: The teachers and people have - repor,dul to our calls for It.titutes with such earne4 ness and "rood feeling .htst we deem it poi er to give a brief notice Of the meetings already At the Institute in 'Clifford, the house was i well filled With intelligent ladies- and gentle men, who listened td the leetufes of Prof. Stodda-d with increasing interest to the close. So interested did theylbecome,that their anx ious solicitationS furl us to remain in the evening (which we cOlth...not' well do) were really irresistible, and we could only parry them,by promising to; come again. Our friends- Alwordi and Truesdail deserve the thanks of all for their kindness in furnish ing refreshments to all who desired. ' The "Chicken fixers" furnished by friend Alward', were admirbble, as a large circle of friends, who aided us in discussing them, will cheerfully bear witness. We shall come ag ain, friends. - At Brackney welrtal a glorious time—up wards of two hundritl and fifty citizens in attendance. In the evening the church we occupied, was well 'lighted with splendid globe lamps, and 'everything moved off happily. , l lirackney has won! the tanner for all that' we see. Friends Audker, Gaige, Sm., are de serving of many thanks for their hospital,ty. SCPERINTE;iDENT. . L--- -- ---0- -4.-- ."' Mormons in Kansas. The St. Louis Rep blican has a correspond ent, writing on the :?..d ult., from Westport, M0., - who gave such kncidents as satisfy him that there is a considerable sprinkle of M6r mons in Kansas engaged in desperate enter prises He-writes : 1 . "There exists in Kiitisas Territory a branch of the Mormon DanNis. They are principally Mormons and Free Lriers; being compactly organized, and baring influential members, they rule the destinies and fix the policy of the Free State partyi in Kansas. They are Making use of the itbbred prejudices of peo ple from the Free States to propagate their nefariods doctrines i"and accomplish their treasonable and immaral designs. ' "That such an Organization exists there can be but little doubt, and that they are now playing - the des:par:de game for which they are banded togetherdfacts go to show. A few days ago, li,t the hotel, which cost X 54000, .was burntlit Lexington, Johnson County. The town is Pro-slavery, and the helve was owned by la Pro-slavery man—Col. S. L. McKinny, of this place. About the same time a number Of cabins, belonging to me / tubers, of the Democratic party, were also btirnt. • s , "Last week an l l ndian by the name of Tully, was shot. A body of Danites, Who had been stealing lisliniber and otherwise tres passing on his land, have him notice to leave as they did Henrylouhtze and Cary, Dutch li Henry and others, v lion) they murdered.— Not long after notic to leave his own land bad, been served o the Shawnee, he 'was shot, in an altercation with the - trespassers. "Last night the L pseomb House, at New Santa.Fe, in Missouri, adjoining Oxfurd, in Kansas, was burnt di "To day a gent 4 shot on the highway traveling in a coach, when he was over.ta ites; they asked him ing it; one of them • cutting away part tongue. Stofer is a from Leavenworth chief of the Danites, ocratic member elect,' maimed." :s.~~; _The Philadelphi4 and Pittsburg Banks have resumed specie payments. There is also a general movement through the country to the same effect. Better times may now be anticipated. An Informal Convention of the Repub lican party, is called at Ilarrisburf.v, on the 22d of February, "to impress upon the Legis lature of the Nation the principles enunciated by the Philadelphia Convention of 1856." .... The Banncr of Liberty speaking of the Free State men' of Kansas, who would tot vote whee they could have made Kansan free had they voted, says "In refusing, to vote, these fellows remind ode of a sptan'krehild that refuses to eat his sapper until after the table has been eleared, , so as to have some *thing to cry about. mini named Stofer was It is said that he-was !not far from Wyandot, en or met by awn° Dan his name, and on learn :hot Stofer in the mouth, lof the jaw and half the emocratic member elect 'unto. _Jim Lane, as has ordered every Dem .d, to be, hung, shot, -or Items. .... Judge Closser of tbo Probate Coort of Windsor, Vt., has decked that a . good newspaper is one of : -the necessary articles for the support of a familrdurinm the settlement of-an estate, and, as such, th e administrator, in insolvent estates, is justifiable in paying for orre--the widow to make her owe st4ection of what paper ske will have. . ...There is not a bernocratio paper in t'he' State o 4 New fork bet what sustains the President's Kansas policy. Two more volumes of Macauley's itisto ry of England, which brings the history down to 'Queen Anne's feign, are completed and will soon be published. .„,. Ex-Vresidi3nt Filhnore is eipected to be married to day to Mrs. Mclntosh of Canada. ....The annual report of the Pennsylvania . Railroad Company 'howl a balance Of $1,100,130 50; allowing - a dividend of more than eight per cent. Upon the capital stock of the company. The spirit of Daniel Webster was called up lately, in a spiritual circle in Northamp ton Mass. He confessed he had made many mistakes in his social and political life while on earth, and in his Dictionary. Green Peas and New Potatoes aro sait.. to be abundant in the vicinity of New Orleans. On some plantations the orange trees are putting forth their blossoms, and in others are ielding abundance of fruit. The Dem( oratic Convention of Erie Co., with' a great deal of unanimity, passed Na tional resolutions, among others lendursing the President. Judge Lowrie is the only one, out of the five Supreme Judges elected some .years since, who still retains his F•ent--all the rest having either died or resigned. Who says now that JuJges seldom die, and never re sign . Ex Governor Grimes, "rep.," was dee ted 1:. -- S.S..snater from lowa, by the.L(lisla tu.e, on the •25th, receiving 21,votes of a majolity. Ile will succeed lion. George W. Jones, whose term will expire ill 1859. . The Harrisburg papers give a list of the occupations of the ,411011bers. of our Let-risk , t u .e. W e c u ll as follows: In the Senate there 'are fifteen lawyers, six farmers and ono gen tleman, (save the mark.) In the House there are thirty•six farmers, twenty-two lawyers, six physicians', live editors, COW-carpenters, &c. The lawyers, it will be seen, preponderate in the Senate, arid the farmers in the House. In the, whole body . of 133 ,xnen, there are unly duce that a,:rire to t h e n Vreci;nt ion or " gen denim)," by which, we trust, they do not in. - m] anything invidious towards the respectai He body of farmers, niwyers, ph3s'e'ans, mer chants, editur:7., cord wainers, tinners, tanners, Ate. - This was witlistlifficulty prevented by the 11, e (' - '3IY I Jury of Yew () ileac' have 1 efforts of Governor Wiflker,tut soon General found true bilis against Walker, Anderson h tirney and other, recently engaged in Fillibustering was required to furnish him a regi- Expediiiiins, against Niliaragua, for iolation tment of dragoons to proceed to the City of Lawrence; and this for the reason that he had of the -.Neutrality Laws. • I received authentic Ex-Preddent T 3 ler is lying , very ilI at his residence, Sherwood Forest, Charles City County, Va. lje has beeti suffering for several weeks past with a severe chronic attack. .... Harrisburg, Feb. 4th, 1858.—The Ilouse pas. , ed 'reAoluitons 10-day directing the Spe cial Committee on Nati*as not-to make n re- pimt until the 10th of kveh next on 'a vote of 28 to 04. - - Binghamton Charlet IClCction. I)EmocKATic Vicroity (oVEIL THE COMBINED FoBCEN OF li.Nrrni,icANs AND KNow-NeTD IN(;s. Some days ago, snys the Binghamton beet oral, the Republicans threw out the " sign of (listless" and Invited a cordial union of the Know Nothingswith the Republicans, in the choice of V illagr-Pflieers, and "in furtherance, hereafter, of the great principles of political action on which . the Republican .organisation is based." The moving call resifted in a bargain, by which the Republicans nominated for President of the Village,sCol. J. C. Roble, a leading Know Nothing, and their candidate for Assembly last fall, he•being also nomina ted by his own party. The result has been a fair pull between the Democrats and the combined forces, and .a splendid victory for the former, The following gentlemen "are Elected President arid Trustees. We shall give the whole vote next week. Benjamin Si. Loomis, Dem., President, MAJlimir 3831 D. D. Denton, Dem., Trustee, Ist Ward 11rson Cone, " " 2d Fie,Pli Lewis, " - Thos..l. Clark, Fusion, A Olin W. T) ler, Dem., Iluratio Evans, Fusion, In the Eth Ward no Democratic candidate" was run. In all the other Wards the contest spirited and exciting. Incidents are crowded out this week. We congratulate the Reput!lican on the success of the experiment which its editor so eloquently advOcated; awl invite it to unite with tc again in the ascription. GREAT is FUSION. " . §E$ .ATEIfS ASIEIIiC ( AN ALSi.ANAC is now ready for delivery at Mutsu's, who is supplied with it by the publisher for distribution gratis to all who call fur it. It contains about the richest collection of ane.cdotes we knuw of— a calender accurately calculated far this meridian and found reliable, besides •an amount of valuable • medical information; which should be in the possession of every family.. This little annual has become a welcome visitor to the fireside of the Ameri- Can people,—and not to them 'alone, but its numbers are freely circulated in almost every civilized country under the, sun. It it pub. Itsbed in the English, German, French and Spanish languages, with calenders adapted to every meridian of the Notbern Hemisphere. Over twenty•severt hundred thousand copies were issued last year, which is- doubtless the largest edition of any •book in the world. Our readers, are respectfully invited to call and get a copy, and when got, keep it. ar Many who suffer from Headache and nervous debility are not aware that the real cause in most instances, is a deranged state of the stomach and digestive functions. The Oxygen ated Bittern are peculiarly adapted to the cure of these symptoms. 1=11=::::= .C.o'The. sole survivor of the Wyoming massacre is Mr. Asa A. Gore, now living in the town of Preston, Conn., at the age of 70. tqr Sprinii - flowers are in blossom in the gardens of Norfolk, Va., Of Pftsident Buchanan -submitting the Le romplon Constitution: WASHINGTON, Feb. 2: The following Mes sage was submitted to both llouses this after' noon. I have received from Gen. Calhoun, the -.President of the late Constitutional Conven tion of Kansas*, a copy, duly certified by him ' self, of the Constitution framed by that body, with the eipression of a hope that I would submit the same to the consideration of... Co ngress, with the view of Securing the admission of Kansas into the Union as an independent State. In compliance with this reqUest, I herewith transmit to Congress, forits action, the Constitution of Kansas, with the erdinance respecting the Public Lands, as well as the letter of Gen. Calhoun, dated Lecompton, i 4th ult., by which they were accompanied. . flaring received but a single copy of the Constitution and Ordinance, 1 send this to the Senate. A great delusion seems to pervade the pub lic, mind in relation to tire condition of parties in Kansas. This arises from the difficulty of inducing_the American people to realize the fact that any portion of them should be in a state of rebellion against the GovernMent un der which they live: When we speak of af fairs in Kansas, we are apt to refer merely to the existence of two violent political parties in that Territory, divided on the question of slavery, just as we speak of such parties in the States. This presents no adequate - ilea of the tine state of the case. liredividing line there is not between two political parties, both knowledging the lawful existenceof the Gov moment, bat betv,-een those who are loyal to this Government and who have-endeav ored to destroy its'existence by force and I usurpation—between those who sustain and those 'who_hare done all in their power to overthrow the Territorial government estab lished by ,Congress. This government they would long since have subverted, had it not been protected from their assaults by the troops of the United States. Such bits been the condition of affairs since my inauguration. Ever since that period a large portion of the people of Kansas have been in a state of re 'hellion against the government, with a mili tary leader at their head of the most turbu lent and dangeious character. They have never acknowledged, but have constantly re-, nounced and defied the Government to which they owe allegiance, and have been all the time in a state .of resistance againSt its au thbritys _They have al! the time been endeav oring to subvert it, and establish a revnlution ary Government under the so-called- Topeka Constitution in its stead. Even at this very moment, the Topeka Legislature is in session. Whoever has read 'the correspondence of Guiernor Walker with the State Department recently communited to the Senate, will be coal:int:od that this picture is not overdrawn. He alwaYs protested against the withdrawal of ant' portion of the military-force of the Gni- Jed States from _the Territory, deeming , its pre. nee absolutely necessary for the preser vation of the ,egular government and the ex ecution of dm laws. In hi: very first despatch to the Secretary of State, dated June 2d,1857 he_ says : "The most alarming movement, however, proceeds from •the a‘sembling of the so-called Topeka Legislature, with the view to the enactment of an en fire •code of laws. Of course, it will my endeavor to prevent such a result as would lead 'to an inevitable disas trous collision, and in fact, renew civil war in_ Kansas, ' • own. actual observation, that a dangerous re bellion had occurred, " involving open defi ance to the laws, and the establishment of att insurgeut-government in that city." in the . _ Governor's tlespatc - lr of July 15tb, he informs the Secretary of State " that the movement at I.4lw,rence was the beginning of a plat., origi, Hating in that city.. to organize in insurrec tion throughout the Territory, anti especially in all towns, cities and counties, where the Republican party have a. majority. Lawrence is the hot-bed drill the abolition' movements in, this tnrritoi.y. It.is the town established by the Abolition Societies of the East ; and whilst there are respectable people there, it is filled by'a considerable number of mercena ries who are paid by the Abolition Societies to perpetuate and diffuse agitation through out Issas, and prevent-the peaceful 'settle ment of this question. Having failed in in ducing their own, the so-called Topeka State Legislature, to organize this insurrection, Lawrence has commenced it herself, and if not arrested, the rebellion will extend through out the Territory." And again : "In order to send•this com munication immediately by mail. I must close, assuring you that a spirit of rebellion pervades the great mass of the Republicans of this Ter ritory; instigated, as I entertain no doubt they are, by Eastern Societies; having in view' re sults most disastrous to the Government and the Union. And that the continued presence of General llarnev is indispensable, as origitt‘ ally stipulated bi me, witk a large body of dragoons and several batteries." On the 20th of July, 1857, General Lane unch r the authority of the Topeka Conver.=- Lion, undertook, as Governor Walker says, "to organize the whole so called Free State party into volunteers and take the names of all who refuse enrollment. The professed object was to protect the polls at the election in August, of the now insurgent Topeka State Legislature. • The object of taking the names dell who refuse the enrollment is-to terrify the Free State conservatives into submission. This is proved by the recent atrocities com tnitted on such men by the Topekaites, The speedy_ location' of large bodies of regular troops with two batterries is necessary. The Lawrence insurgents await the development of this new revolutignary military organiza tion," " 3d " " 4th " " sth " " Gth " In General Walker's despatch of July 27th, he says t "General Lane and his-staff every where deny the Authority of . the Territorial laws, and counsel a total disregard of these enactments." Without making further quo tations of similar character, from other de spatches of Governor; Walker, it Appears by referencn'to Acting Governor Stanton's com munication to Secretary Cass, under date of the 9th of December last, that " the important step of-calling the Legislature together was taken after Ou'vernor Walker had become satisfied that the election ordered by the Cbrr vention on the 21st inst., .could not be con ducted without colision or .bloodshed." So intense was the disloyal feeling among the enemies of the Government established by, Congress, that an election, which afforded them an opportunity, if in the majority, of making Kansas a free State, according to their own professed desire, could not be con : ducted without collision and. bloodshed. The truth is; that until the. present moment, the enemies of the existing Government still ad here to the Topeka Revolutionary Constitution and Government. The very first paragraph of the Message of Governor Robinson, dated the 7th of December. to the Topeka Legisla ture, now assembled in Lawrence, contains an open defiance of the Coestitutio awl laws of MESSAGE the stinited States. the Governor says ; ",The Convention which framed the Constitu tion at, ToPeke origin • ted with the people of ,ICarisas Territory: T' , ey have adopted and ratified the same twi.e by a direct vote, and also indirectly throng I two elections of State officers and members if the State Legislature, yet it has pleased th Administration to re gard the whole proce:. ings as revolutionary:" 'Oda Topeka Govern eat, adhered to with such treasonable pertinacity, is.st government in direct opposition to the existing government as prescribed and recognized by Congress.— It is an usurpation of the same character as , it would be foi a portion of the people.of any State to undertake to establish a separate government within its limits tie the purpose of redressing any grievances, real orimagina ry, of which they might Complain, against the legitimate State government. Such a, princi ple if carried into execution, would destroy all lawful authority, and produce universal anarchy. From this statement of facts, the - reason becomes palpable why the enemies of the government authorized by Congress have refused to vote for Delegates to- the Kansas Constitutional Convetttion, and also, after wards, on the question, of slavery submitted by it to the people. It is because they have ever refused to sanction or recognize any other Constitution than that framed at Topeka.— lied the whole Lecompton Constitution been submitted to the people, the adherents of this prOnization would doubtless have voted against it, because if:successful they would 'Sus have removed an ohatacle out of the way of their own revolutionary Constitution. They would have done tgls net upon consideration of the merits of the whole or part of the Le compton 'Constitution, but simply because they have ever resisted the authority of the government authorized by Congress, from svhick it emanated. Such being the unfortunate condition of the affairs of the Territory, what was the right,as • well as duty, of law abiding people ! Wore they silently and • patiently to submit to the Topeka usurpation, or a'& t some necessary s measure to establish a . ion under the organic law of Congress! . this law re cognized the right of the •ople of the Terri tory, without the enablin , et of Congress to form a State Constitution, is too clear for . ar gumenll For Congress " to,leave the people • of the Territory perfectly - free," in framing their Constitution, " to form and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way,suhject ~.only to the Constitution of the United States," and then to say they shall not be permitted to proceed and frame a Constitution in their own way, without the express authority from Congress, appears to be almost a contradic tion of terms. It would be much more plau sible that the people of a Territory might be kept out of the Union for an indefinite period - and until it might please Congress to permit them to exercise the right of self government. This i-ould be to adopt not" their own way," but the way which Congress might pre scribe. It is impossible that any people could have. proceeded with more regularity in the forma tion of a Constitution than the people of Kansas have done. It was necessary first ; to ascertain whether ft was the desire of the peo ple to be relieved from a Territorial dePend ence, and establish n State Go'vernmebt. In this purpose, the Territorial Legislate re in 1855 passed a law " for taking the sense of tho people of thislerritory, upon the.expeoi , ency of calling a Convention - to form a State Constitution," at the general election to be held in October, 185 G. :no "sense of tlib people " was accordingly taken, and they de cided in favor‘of a Coirreution. It is true that .at this election, the enemies`of the ; Territorial Government did not vote ; because they were engaged at Topeka, without the 'slightest - ptetext of la fill authority, in tram ing a Constitution of their own, for the pur pose of subverting the Territorial Govern ment. In pursuance of this decision of the people in favor of a Convention, the Territorial Leg islature, on the 21th of February, 1857, pas. .4ed an act for the election of det6gates on the third Monday of June, 1857, to frame a State Constitution. This law is as fair in its pro visions as any that ever passes a Legislature ftir a similar purpose. The right of suffrage at this, election is clearly defined—" .tvery bona fide inhabitant of Kansas," on the third Mondtiy of June, the day of the election, who was a citizen of the United States, above the age of twenty one, ,and had resided therein for three months previous to that date, was entitled to Vote In order to avoid all inter ference from neighboring states or territories witlithe freedom and fairneis of the election, a provision was made for the registry of qual. ified voters, and purstiant thereof, nine thous and and fifty two voters were registered.— Governer Walker did his whole duty in urg ing di! the qualified citizens of tuusas toyote at this election. ' in his inaugural address on the 97th of '4f ay, ho. informed them that "under our tractice the preliminary' act of passing a tate Constitution is uniformly performed -ih rough the instrumentality •of, a Convention f Delegates chesen by the people themselves; fiat the Convention is now about to be 2flected by you under a call of the Tertitorial Legislature, created, and still recognized, by the ituthority,of Congress, and clothed by it, in the comprehensive language cf the organic law, With full power to make such an enact ment. The Territorial Legislature, then, in assembling this_ Convention, were fully sus• tained by the act of Congress and the.luthor- I ity of the Convention is distinctly recognized in my instructions from the President of the United States." The Governor also clearly, and distinctly warns them what would be the consequences if they did tat participate in the election. "The people of Kansas, then," he says, "are invited by th«rhighest authority known to the Constitution' to participate free. ly and fairly itt the election of delegates to frame a Constitution and State Government. The law has performed its entire and appro. priatefunction when it extends to the people the right of suffrage, but it cannot compel the performance of that duty. Throughout the whole. Union, however, and wherever: free government prevails, those who abstain from the exercise of the right of suffrage, authorize, those who do vote, to act. for them in that contingency , and absentees are as much hound by the law and the Constitution, where there is no fraud or violence, by the act of the majority of those who do vote, as if all had participated in the election. Otherwise, as voting must be voluntary, self-government 'would-be Impracticable,. and monarchy and' despotism would remain as the only alter native." It may also be observed that at this period, any hope, if finch had existed, that the Topeka Constitution would ever be recog nized by Congress must have'been abandoned. Congress had adjourned on the third of March previous, having recog,eized the legal existence of the Territorial Legiilature in a variety of forms, which I need not enumerate.- Indeed, the delegate elected to the House of Representatives under a Territorial law, had been admitted to his seat and had just com. pleted his term of service the day previous to my inauguration. . This was a propitious moment for settling all the difficulties in Kaitsas. This was the time for abandoning tie Revolutionary Topeka organization, and for the enemies of the existing government to conform to the laws and unite with its friends in fratninjOtatiConstitutionAlut this they .refused - to do 'and the consemience of their re fusal to submit to lawful authority, and vote at the election of delegates, may yet prove to be of the In:at deplorable character. Would' that the re:gpect for the laws of the land, *Well o er4.l" tently distinguished the men of the past geti`enttion, could be revived L It is a disregard And violation of the lawii ahicl have for years kept the Territory of Kansas in, a state'of almost open rebellion against the Government ; it is the same spirit which has produced actual rebellion in Utah. Our only safety consists in obedience and conformity to the law. - Should a general spirit against its enforcement prevail, this will prove fatat to us as a nation. We acknowledge no master but the And should we cut -lobsb from its restraints, and every one do what seemed gooti; in their awn eyes, ,our case is inde e d hopeless. The enemies of the Territoriiii Government are determined still to resist the Authority of Congress. They refused to vote for delegates to the Convention—not because, from circum- stances which I need not detail, there was an ommission to register comparatively forpters who were inhabitants of certain conntie,s in Kansas, in tbe early spring of 1857',—but be- cause they had predetermined, at all hazards, to adhere to their revolutionary organization; and defeat the establishment of any other Constitution Than that which they bad framed at Topeka. The election, therefore, was suf fered to pass in default. But of this result the qualified electors, who refused to• vote, can never justly complain. From, this review, it, is manifest, that the Lecompton Convention, according to every principle of Consitutiotial law,' was legally constituted, and invested with . the power to frame a Constitution. The second principle of popular soiereignity has been invozed in favor of the enemies o f law and order in Kansas. But in - what man ner is popular sovereignity to be_cxercised in this country, if not through the instrumental ity of established laws. In certain small re , publics,of ancient times, people did 'assemble in primary meetings, passed laws, and direct ed public atrais. In our -- Country, this is tnabifectly impossible. Popular sovereignty can be exercised here only through this ballot box, and if people- will refuse to exercise it, in this.manner as they have done in Kansas at the election of delegates, it is not for them to complain that their tights have been vio lated. - • The Kansas Convention, thus lawful; cons tituted•, proceeded to frame a Constitution, and liftvitig totnpleted tile _work, finally ad- jOurned on the S‘venth of November -last They did not -think proper to, submit the whole of this Constitution to the .poplar vote, but did submit the question, whether Kansas should be a Free or a Slave State, 'to the peOple. This was the question ,which•had lighted the flames of civil war inliansas, and produced dangerous sectional parties through out the Confederacy. It was of a character soiAiaramount in respect to the condition of Kinsas, -as to rivet the anxious attention of th people of the whole country upon it a lone. No person thought of any other quest- For my own part, when I instructed Govertior Walker in. general terms, in favor or. mibmitting the Constitution to the people, I• had no object in view except the MI-absorb ing question of slavery. In what manner the people may regulate their own concerns, was not the subject which attracted my attention, In fact, the general provisions of the recent State Constitutions, after an experience of eighty years, are so similar and excellent thnt it would she difficult to go far wrong at the present,day, in framing a new Consti tution. I then believed, and still believe, that un der the organic act, the lansas Convention, were hound to submit this all important question of slavery to tir - e, people. It was never, however, my opinion, that, independ ently of this act, they would-have been b o und to submit any portion of the Constivition to to the popular vote, in order`to give:it valid ity., Had I entertained "'snort, opinion;• this would have been in opposition * to many precedents in our history, commencing in the very best age of the Republic. It walld have been in opposition_ to the ptiticipki - which pervades our instittitiona, and is II every day carried into practhle, that the people have the right to delegate the representatives chosen by' themselves, their sovereeign power to frame Constitutions, enact laws, and perfoptit any other important acts, without requiring that these should be subjected to their sub= sequent approbation. It would be a most in convenient limitation of their own. power, imposed , by the people upon themselves, to exclude them from exercising their sovereign ty in. nny lawful manner they may think proper. It is true, the people of Kansas might, if they had -pleased, required the Convention to submit the Constitution to the popular vote. But this they have not done. The only remedy, therefore . , in this case, is that which exists in all other similar cases. If the delegates who framed the Kansas Consti tution, have in any manner violated the will of their constituents,the people always possess the power to change -their Constitution or, laws, according to their own pleasures The question of slavery Was submitted to the election of the people of Kansas-on the 29st of December last i in obedience to the mandate of the Constitution. Here again at a fair opportunity- was resented to the ad herents of the Topeka Constitution, if they were in the, majority, 'to decide this exciting question "in their own - way," and thus- re store peace to the distracted Territory. But they again refused the right of popular sover eignity,. and again suffered the election to pass in default. . • . I btartilyrejoi,F , ,e that a wiser and better spirit prevailed among a large majority of these people on the first 'Monday in January ; and that they' did that day vote under the Lecompton Constitution - for Governor and other State officers, member of Congress ' rand members of the State • Legislature. This election was warmly contested by parties, and a larger vote was polled than at any pre yiaus election in the Territory. We may now reasonable hope that the revolutionary Topeka organization will be speedily and finally abandoned, and this will go far tow- - ards the final settlement of the unhappy diff ererices in Kansas. If frauds have been com mitted at this election, by one or both parties, the Legislature and the -people - of Kansas, tinder the Constitution, know how to redress themselves, and punish. this detestable, but toe( common crime, without outside interfer ence. , The people of Kansas have then, in their "own way," and in strict accordance with the organic act, framed a Constitution and 'State government, have submitted the portant question of slavery to the people, and have elected a Governor, member of Congress, members of the State Legislature, and their, State officers. They now - ask for admission into the Union, under this Constitution, which is republican in its form. It is fur Congress to decide whether they Will admit or reject the State "which has thus been ere.ated, For my own part, I am decidedly in far& of its admission, and' thus terminating the Kan sas question. This will carry out the great principle of non-intervention, recognized and sanctioned by the orgamie act, which declares in express language in favor of the non-inter vention of Congress tvltli slavery in the States and Territories, leavin ; r "the velle petfeotly •
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