what president buchanan was not counting on is steven a. douglas, the father of the kansas territory. he believed in the concept of popular sovereignty let the will of the people be spoken. stephen douglas was outraged by the lecompton constitution. when the lecompton constitution arrived in washington, douglas got on the floor of the senate and called the lecompton constitution a swindle and a fraud. it did not represent popular sovereignty, it did not represent the role of the people. this constitution was debated in the halls of congress. the u.s. senate, which was controlled by southerners, did pass it. they ratified it. it got to the u.s. house, which is more northern influence, when it got to the u.s. house, it was so -- the debate was so rancorous, that in february of 1858, late one night while this constitution was being debated in the u.s. house of representatives, a brawl broke out. over 50 congressmen were brawling on the floor of the u.s. house and supposedly, the only thing that broke them up was a rather humorous event. two u.s. congr

what president buchanan was not counting on is steven a. douglas, the father of the kansas territory. he believed in the concept of popular sovereignty let the will of the people be spoken. stephen douglas was outraged by the lecompton constitution. when the lecompton constitution arrived in washington, douglas got on the floor of the senate and called the lecompton constitution a swindle and a fraud. it did not represent popular sovereignty, it did not represent the role of the people. this constitution was debated in the halls of congress. the u.s. senate, which was controlled by southerners, did pass it. they ratified it. it got to the u.s. house, which is more northern influence, when it got to the u.s. house, it was so -- the debate was so