Addresses: by John A. Martin. Delivered in Kansas.Martin, John Alexander
History
Addresses: by John A. Martin. Delivered in Kansas.
Martin, John Alexander
Kansas
This action of the Democratic members had been foreshadowed for several
days, but it was, nevertheless, something of a surprise. The Republicans
understood that several of the Democrats had earnestly opposed such a
course, and hoped that some of them would be governed by their own
convictions, rather than by the mandate of their caucus. For a few
moments after Mr. Slough concluded, the Convention sat, hushed and
expectant. But no other Democratic member rose. It was evident that the
caucus ruled. Then Judge Thacher, President _pro tem._, addressed the
Chair, and in a speech of remarkable vigor and eloquence, accepted the
gauge of battle thrown down. “Upon this Constitution,” he declared, “we
will meet our opponents in the popular arena. It is a better, a nobler
issue than even the old Free-State issue. They have thrown down the
gauntlet; we joyfully take it up.” He then proceeded to defend, with
great earnestness and power, the features of the Constitution objected
to by Mr. Slough. “The members of the Convention,” he asserted, “have
perfected a work that will be enduring.” The Constitution, he affirmed,
would “commend itself to the true and good everywhere, because through
every line and syllable there glows the generous sunshine of liberty.”
It was and should be, he declared:
“Like some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm;
Though round its breast the rolling clouds shall spread,
Eternal sunshine settles on its head.”
Read in the light of subsequent history, these declarations appear
almost prophetic.
SIGNING THE CONSTITUTION.
The twilight shadows were gathering about Wyandotte when this debate
closed, and the Convention proceeded to vote on Mr. Hutchinson’s
resolution, which was adopted by 34 ayes to 13 nays—one Republican and
four Democrats being absent. The roll was then called, and the
Constitution was signed by all the Republican members except one, Mr.
Wright, of Nemaha, who was absent, sick. The work of the Convention was
completed, and after voting thanks to its officers, it adjourned without
date.
TWO MISTAKES.
Each party, I think, was guilty of one blunder it afterwards seriously
regretted—the Republicans in refusing to include the South Platte
country within the boundaries of Kansas; the Democrats in refusing to
sign the Constitution they had labored diligently to perfect. I speak of
what I consider the great mistake of the Republicans with all the more
frankness, because I was at the time in hearty sympathy with their
action; but I feel confident that no Republican member is living to-day
who does not deplore that decision. And I am equally confident that
within a brief time after the Convention adjourned, there were few
Democratic members who did not seriously regret their refusal to sign
the Constitution.
“ADDED TO THE STARS.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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