ton Constitution. . . .
but one out of twenty of the press of Kansas sustains it. . . .
Any attempt by Congress to force this Constitution upon the people
of Kansas will be an effort to substitute the will of a small
minority for that of an overwhelming majority of the people."

It is due to Douglas to say that he was opposed to the Lecompton
Constitution scheme of admission. He was doubtless disappointed
in not having the South rally to his support and nominate him for
President in 1856. A more pliant tool of the pro-slavery party
from the North was given the preference in the person of Buchanan.

President Buchanan, having early expressed the purpose to support
the Lecompton plan, announced this purpose to Douglas, and urged
him to co-operate in admitting Kansas as a State under it, which,
being refused, terminated their party relations. Douglas did not
go far enough. Popular Sovereignty was only recognized by pro-
slavery advocates when it insured the success of slavery; and it
was now certain to make Kansas a free State if the actual settlers
alone were permitted to vote unintimidated and their votes were
honestly counted and returned.

On December 9, 1857, Douglas, almost heroically, in opposition to
President Buchanan and his administration and the majority of his
party in the Senate, denounced the Lecompton scheme, and showed
that it was an attempt to foist slavery on Kansas against the will
of the people.

The peculiar feature of the Lecompton Constitution was that, while
it was submitted to the vote of the people of Kansas, they were
required to vote for it or not vote at all. The ballot provided
required them to vote "_For the Constitution with Slavery_," or
"_For the Constitution without Slavery_." Thus the Constitution
must be adopted, and necessarily with slavery, as there was no
provision for excluding the clauses authorizing it. At an election,
where for fraud and violence nothing thitherto had approached it,
and by the special feature of ballot-box stuffing (actual settlers
generally being driven from the polls when willing to vote), this
Constitution was returned adopted by about 6000 majority in favor
of slavery.(84)

The Senate, March 23, 1858, passed (33 to 25) a bill to admit Kansas
as a State under the Lecompton Constitution, _with slavery;_ but
notwithstanding the active efforts of the Administration, the House
(120 to 112) so amended the Senate bill as to require it, before
the Sta