54 KANSAS. ance to the Territorial legislature and government established by Congress. But the “convention of the people’s delegates” who gave start to the movement for a State government, and whose proceedings are * quoted in the memorial before the committee, have gone still further. That body adopted, “with but one dissenting voice,” the following resolutions, to wit: “Resolved, That we ozve no allegiance or obedience to the tyrannical acts of this spurious [regularly-constituted Territorial] legislature ; that their lazes have no validity or binding force upon the people of Kansas ; and that every freeman amongst us is at full liberty, consistently with all his obligations as a citizen and a man, to defy and resist them, if he chooses so to do. “Resolved, That we will endure and submit to these laws no longer than the best interests of the Territory require, as the least of two evils, and will resist them to the bloody issue, as soon as zve ascertain that peaceable remedies shall fail, and forcible resistance shall furnish amj reasonable prospect of success; and that, in the mean time, zve recoznmezzd to our friends throughout the Territory the organization and discipline of volunteer companies and preparation of arms!” Such was the disorderly, insurrectionary, and war-menacing spirit with which this “State of Kansas” was set on foot! With such antecedents and under such circumstances, the memorialists ask for, and the majority of the committee recommend, the immediate admission of Kansas into the Union. To admit a [State thus formed, in open defiance of the lawful authorities both of the Territory and of the United States, would be without a parallel in the history of our government, utterly repugnant to its approved policy and rights of jurisdiction, and imminently hazardous to its future order, peace, and safety. What are the facts of our past history as to the admission of new States? Nine have been admitted with constitutions framed zi/nder express permission of Congress—that is, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wisconsin ; four (to wit: Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, and Iowa) have been admitted with constitutions having the free sanction of the preceding Territorial goverzzments regularly established by Congress; three (Vermont, Kentucky, and Maine) have been carved from the older States, (and there being no preceding Territorial governments,) zvith the express assent of the States from which they zvere taken ; one (California having no Territorial government) admitted with a constitution adopted at the instance of the militarzy governznent existing at the time, it being the only recognised local government in the Territory ; and one republic (Texas) annexecl and admitted as a State, by amicable compact betzveen that republic and the United States. So, of the whole list, there is not a solitary instance of the admission of a State formed by persons in open hostility to the Territorial government •which preceded it, or who had disclaimed allegiance or obedience to the laws, either of the Territory or of the United States ; much less a State, the leaders and framers of which have actively and artfully incited the people—pretending to extend to them “ full liberty ”—to resist the only true and laicful government established by authority of the
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