1850 American Gold Baron

Chapter 440 One state and two governments

Kansas is located in the central state at the junction of the north and the south. It is the heart of the United States. It is also the center of the whirlpool.

With the development of the western region, Kansas gradually became a transportation artery for immigrants from both the north and the south to new states.

Both southern and northern immigration companies regarded the Kansas area as an important transit point for westward immigrants.

Therefore, the population of Kansas, which was originally sparsely populated, gradually increased, and gradually reached the standards for establishing a new state.

As southerners and northerners mixed in Kansas, conflicts ensued. This made Kansas the focus of the conflict between the north and the south.

Neither the Northerners nor the Southerners had an absolute advantage in Kansas, but were in a 50-50 balance of power.

Kansas and Nebraska were two new states that the United States wanted to establish in 1854.

After consultations, the U.S. Congress struggled to introduce the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which invalidated the Missouri Compromise passed in 1820 and used for 34 years.

The annulment of the Missouri Compromise meant that the line dividing slave states and free states in the Compromise at 36 degrees 30 minutes north was invalid.

There is no doubt that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was beneficial to the South.

If the boundary between the North and the South was divided at 36°30' north latitude according to the Missouri Compromise, most of Kansas would belong to the north.

However, considering that California had become a free state and Texas had ceded land for the establishment of new states, the South was full of resentment.

In order to take care of the sentiments of the southern states, Fillmore believed that it was necessary to introduce the Kansas-Nebraska Act, otherwise the South would never give up.

However, this also deeply dissatisfied the staunch abolitionists in the North.

According to the new "Kansas-Nebraska Act", after Kansas was established as a state, it would be up to the local people to decide whether to become a free state or a slave state.

When Kansas officially joined the United States as a state, its state constitution needed to determine whether it was a slave state or a free state.

The final political choice for the state constitution will depend on the outcome of the first vote to select legislators.

If the southern congressmen had the upper hand, Kansas would become a slave state; if not, Kansas would become a free state.

On March 30, 1855, Kansas held its first congressional election.

Former U.S. Senator David Atchison of Missouri, a fervent slaveholder, wanted to maintain slavery in Kansas at all costs, even by using force.

On the 30th, Atchison led 1,500 like-minded Missourians, armed with guns and even two cannons, into Kansas.

Atchison led this group of fanatical slaveholders to control all the voting places without the Northerners being prepared, and stuffed tens of thousands of fake ballots into the ballot boxes for pro-slavery candidates.

When the immigrants from the Free State heard the news, they were furious and quickly formed an armed force determined to drive away these unruly Missourians.

In Lawrence Township, they faced off with the Missourians.

The two sides were at war with each other, and the Missourians, who were well prepared, showed off their cannons to intimidate the Northerners.

However, due to insufficient preparation, the Free State immigrants were poorly armed and equipped. They had no cannons and did not have an advantage in numbers.

Finally, under the guns and cannons of the Missourians, these free state immigrants gave up.

Faced with the Missourians' manipulation of the election, they could do nothing except condemn these Missourians for blatantly trampling on the American Constitution and saying harsh words like "we'll see, let's wait and see."

We can only watch as Missourians rig the election.

Soon, the slaveholding faction won almost all congressional seats in Kansas and quickly formed their own Congress.

The new Congress adopted the entire set of Missouri laws as Kansas law and added many new regulations involving black slaves.

This kind of behavior is equivalent to pushing the free state immigrants in the Kansas area to the ground, rubbing them, and then pouring hot urine on their faces. It is a naked and [naked] humiliation!

After successfully forming a parliament, the slaveholding faction quickly formed the so-called Kansas state government in Leconton.

This government was also called the Leconton government or the territorial government.

The establishment of Leconton's government delighted the slave-owning groups in the southern states.

They shouted that this was the greatest victory the South had ever achieved since the failure of the California statehood battle in 1850 and the humiliation of the cession of Texas.

They welcomed their new partner, Kansas, into the family of Southern slave states.

However, things are obviously not that simple. The establishment of a new state needs to be recognized by Congress and the federal government.

Needless to say, Congress needs to say that it is impossible for representatives of both parties to make compromises and reach consensus on this issue involving fundamental interests.

As for President Fillmore, he knew very well that on the Kansas issue, as long as he was slightly careless in his words and deeds, not only would his political opponents take advantage of him, but the conflict would also expand and even turn into an uncontrollable civil war.

He was caught in a dilemma.

The Kansas issue is the most difficult issue since Fillmore became president.

Unwilling to fail, the immigrants from the free states quickly responded with support from the ruling groups in the northern states.

Free state immigrants in the Kansas area also quickly established their own government in Topeka, which was also called the freedmen's government.

The pattern of one state and two cities in the Kansas area was formally formed.

One state has two governments, which is a unique phenomenon in American history.

Both the Leconton and Topeka governments claimed that they were the only legal government in Kansas and that the other party was an illegal government.

Both require federal recognition of their own legitimacy by the federal government.

Faced with the demands of the Leconton and Topeka governments, Fillmore chose to remain silent.

In addition to remaining silent and not expressing his position in any public forum, Fillmore has no other better choice.

When news of the absurd events in one state and two cities in Kansas reached New York, Lincoln, who was serving as chief counsel to the Atlantic Railroad Company, was greatly indignant.

Lincoln held a speech in the Crystal Palace Mall, the most densely populated area in New York.

He condemned any attempt to divide the United States and unceremoniously rebuked former Missouri U.S. Senator David Atchison for blatantly trampling on the Constitution and manipulating elections. He expressed with great regret that the United States has reached its most dangerous moment.

This time, the enemy of the United States was not the British from outside, but the perverse Southern slave-owning group from within.

If America wants to get out of the crisis, it must dig out these cancers!

Unlike those timid MPs.

Lincoln's speech was sharp in words and clear in attitude.

He stood firmly on the side of the Topeka government and left no room for maneuver.

Lincoln's firm stance and attitude quickly won the applause and support of the New York audience.

More and more New Yorkers gathered in the Crystal Palace Plaza to listen to Lincoln's speech.

New York State is the stronghold of free states, and Lincoln's speeches are obviously very popular here.

At the end of his speech, Lincoln wanted to show that he was not just a talkative person.

He donated all his savings: $23,432 and 35 cents to the Topeka government, allowing the Topeka government to use the money to purchase weapons to defend the freedom of Kansas and the majesty of the American Constitution.

This move greatly won the goodwill of New York citizens, who listened to Lincoln's speech in Crystal Palace Square and donated generously.

They eventually raised $63,521 to support the Topeka government.

Although Lincoln lost his savings in this speech, he made the entire New York City people remember his name.

(End of chapter)