Talk:Lecompton Constitution
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[edit] Classification
I have classified this article as a start due to its level of organisation and detail. Capitalistroadster 07:29, 9 August 2007 (UTC)
[edit] The Problem with Lecompton
On the surface, it seems reasonable that the Lecompton Constitution referendum had a vote for the "Constitution with Slavery" vs. the "Constitution with No Slavery". But this is misleading. The "Constitution with No Slavery" choice would not have made Kansas a free state; it made provision that slaves at that time in Kansas could not be messed with; their owners could keep them, and as the right of property could not be forced to release them or leave. The only thing the "Constitution with No Slavery" would've ostensibly stopped was the future importation of slaves into Kansas. Many deemed this, apart from the complete banning of slavery in Kansas, as unenforceable. This helps explain why anti slavery forces boycotted the referendum.
The later referendum that was taken added to the above choices the option to vote against the Constitution. Pro-slavery forces boycotted this election. But the Lecompton Constitution was not finally rejected until the House of Representatives voted down the admission of Kansas as a state under the Lecompton Constitution by a close margin, featuring Stephen Douglas and many Northern Democrats siding with the free soil Republicans. I briefly added these points to the article.John ISEM 20:50, 2 November 2007 (UTC)
