The Lecompton Constitution was a joke written by a rump assembly that never reflected the view of a majority of Kansans. The fact that Buchanan backed it just reinforces my view that he was one of the worst Presidents in the history of America.
Buchanan ranks with Obama as Democrats whose intentions were to fundamentally "transform America" from our Founders' vision to one dictated by Democrat partisan goals of the time.
In 1857 those included Democrats' Lecompton constitution and the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision, all but outlawing abolition.
Under Obama it was the Democrats' globalist socialist agenda.
After Buchanan, Republicans victory in 1860 drove Democrats insane, leading to Civil War.
After Obama, Republican victory in 2016 has again driven Democrats insane (admittedly a very short trip), though Civil War II still seems highly unlikely.
For one thing, today's Democrats are poor likenesses of their 1861 ancestors.