The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-29
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN KANSAS.

Kansas, which met on the goth ult, continues
in session. The members are of one heart and
mind, so far rs the question of organizing a
State is concerned, but on other questions there
are wide differences of opinion. Senator Doug
las appears to have been quite active: many of
the delegates are in his interest, and seem dis
posed to extort concessions from the Free Soil
ers, as the price of their aid in securing State
/ Government.
We should infer that majority of the body
is composed of Republicans, who, if left to
their own untrammeled Judgment would dis
pose of all questions relating to Slavery and
persons of color, in such a manner as to satisfy
every lover Of Freedom; but, fearful of losing,
through division, the main object-the organi-
cation Of Kansas as free State-they have
been led to yield something for the sake Of re-
tanning the support of the Douglas men.
First, these men demanded a constitutional
provision, excluding free people of color. The
Republicans resisted the mean demand, and at
last the two parties disposed of the question, by
agreeing to a separate article on the subject,
to be submitted as an independent proposition
to the People: if they vote to exclude colored
people, then the article is to be considered a
part of the Constitution.
The next demand was, an endorsement of
the Kansas-N Nebraska bill-a demand, entirely
out of place, impertinent, intended on its face
to commit the new State to the policy and for
tunes of the Administration, or rather of Sena
tor Douglas. The Republicans resisted it, and
again compromise was agreed to, the Con-
vention, by vote of lG to Is, passing the fol-
lowing resolution
"Resoloed, That this Convention approve the
principles Of Squatter Sovereignty and Non-In-
tervention by the people of the States, as well
as by Congress, in the local affairs of Terrific
res and States"
The resolution Originally endorsing the Kan
sas-Nebraska act) was moved by Mr.. Delahay,
the editor of the Territorial Register, friend
of Mr.. Douglas Its passage, even as amend.
ed, produced great excitement, and was angr
ly denounced by the Republicans. DIR. Robin
son Immediately gave notice that, On the follow
ing day, he would move its reconsideration The
resolution, then, can hardly be considered final
Of the proceedings On DR.. Robinson's motion
we have yet no report.
The next attempt of Mr.. Delahay was to ex.
clude from the Constitution any allusion to Sla
very, to leave the question in fact open, for the
decision of the People after the admission of
the State into the Union but, in this, he did
not seem to command the support of his own
Party, the will of the great majority of the
Convention being strongly expressed in favor
of the usual prohibitory clause.
Another question which produced great
deal of discussion was, the propriety of organ
izing a State Government at once, or postpon-
ing it till after Congress had acted on the APP
plication for admission. We have no detailed
account Of the manner in which this question
was disposed of, but the following brief de-
spatch, containing the latest intelligence from
the Convention would seem to show that the
advocates of immediate organization had pre-
vailed:
"Chicago, Noc. 23-In the Kansas Consti-
tutional Convention, schedule was passed OH
the 10th instant, declaring that the Constitu-
ton shall be submitted to the people on the
18th of December. If ratified, it provides for
the election of Governor, Lieutenant Govern
or, State Auditor, Judge of the Supreme Court,
Attorney General, and members of the General
Assembly, on the third Tuesday in January
also, that the General Assembly shall secure
the enforcement of the sixth section of the bill
OF rights before the 4th of July next"
We infer from this that the Convention has
finished its work. Acting upon the Principle
of Popular Sovereignty, so much insisted on by
the advocates Of the administration II hos or
ganized State, and provided for the immedi-
ate establishment of Government. What will
Governor Shannon do? There cannot be two
Governors, two Legislatures. The State Gov
eminent will assert and enforce its rights-and
the Territorial Government must abdicate.