THE LECOMPTON FIGHT
The national contest of 1856 results in the election of James
Buchanan as President--The Republicans of Illinois elect their
state ticket--The Kansas war continues--Buchanan appoints Robert
J. Walker governor of the territory--The Pro-Slavery party hold
a convention at the town of Lecompton to form a state
constitution--The Free State men decide not to participate, but
to vote against the constitution when submitted to the
people--The convention decides not to submit the constitution to
popular vote--President Buchanan agrees to this plan--Governor
Walker thereupon resigns his office and Senator Douglas opposes
the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution--Both
Trumbull and Douglas speak against the Lecompton measure and
Congress rejects it--Douglas contemplates joining the
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