New York Times, “The Republicans and Gov. Walker,” December 19, 1857

    Source citation
    “Kansas and the Administration,” New York Times, December 19, 1857, p. 2: 5.
    Original source
    Washington (DC) Union
    Newspaper: Publication
    New York Times
    Newspaper: Headline
    Kansas and the Administration
    Newspaper: Page(s)
    2
    Newspaper: Column
    5
    Type
    Newspaper
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Wes McCoy, Dickinson College
    Transcription date
    The following text is presented here in complete form, as true to the original written document as possible. Spelling and other typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.

    Kansas and the Administration.

    From the Washington Union.

    It now appears that the newly-elected members of the Kansas Legislature have been Topekaized by the proclamation of Acting Governor STANTON, and that it is to readopt the Topeka Constitution, and place it in competition with the Lecompton Convention. We should think it difficult to draw a real distinction between the illegal proceedings which resulted in the formation of the Topeka Constitution and those now resorted to by Mr. STANTON through the premature calling together of the new Legislature. Mr. STANTON had no authority to issue such a proclamation; the initiatory step, therefore, was illegal and void. The members of the Legislature have no rights as members until the 1st of January, 1858. Their assembling, therefore, is illegal, and all their proceedings are usurpations, and hence null and void. What, then, if they do adopt the Topeka Constitution and submit it to the people to be voted for in competition with the Lecompton Constitution? Upon the principle in the Arkansas case, and upon the principle recognized by the report of the Committee on Territories, made on the 2d of March, 1856, the application for admission under such illegal proceedings must be rejected, Called together and organized as it is, it is nothing more than a second edition of the Topeka Convention. No enabling act of Congress is asked for – no valid territorial legislative act is to be passed; but the Topeka Constitution is to be presented the second time with no better or higher sanction than when it was presented before.

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