Lecompton Constitution

The Lecompton Constitution (1857) was one of four proposed constitutions for the state of Kansas. It was written by supporters of slavery and allowed slavery in the state. It also did not include free blacks in its bill of rights. It was defeated on January 4, 1858 by a majority of voters in the Kansas Territory. The rejection of the Lecompton Constitution and the admission of Kansas to the Union as a free state showed the unusual and fraudulent voting practices. Those practices had been used in earlier efforts by bushwhackers and Border Ruffians to create a state constitution in Kansas that allowed slavery.

The Topeka Constitution was written before the Lecompton Constitution. The Leavenworth and Wyandotte Constitutions were written after the Lecompton Constitution. The Wyandotte Consitution became the Kansas state constitution.[1] The document was written in response to the anti-slavery 1855 Topeka Constitution by James H. Lane and other Free-Staters.[1]

The territorial legislature was filled mostly with slave owners. It met at the chosen capital of Lecompton in September 1857 to write a document that would compete against the other constitutions.[1] Most of the real settlers were opposed slavery and boycotted the vote. Although the territorial governor of Kansas, Robert J. Walker, strongly supported slavery, he opposed the obvious unfairness of the constitution. He quit being governor to avoid having to enforce it.[2]

U.S. President James Buchanan strongly supported slavery and so he supported the Lecompton Constitution when it was sent to Congress. The president received the support of Southern Democrats. However, many Northern Democrats, led by Stephen A. Douglas, voted with the Republicans against it.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Heller, Francis Howard, The Kansas State Constitution: A Reference Guide, Greenwood Press, 1992, pp. 1–4. ISBN 0-313-26510-0.
  2. ↑ Stampp, Kenneth M., America in 1857: A Nation on the Brink, Oxford University Press, 1992, pp. 167-80. ISBN 0-19-507481-5
  3. ↑ "Key Events in the Presidency of James Buchanan". Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. 2009. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2009.

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