The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-11-29
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. c. NOVEMBER 49, 1856

Eh 20, 1000
more than the Know Nothings, with all their
machinery, were able to cast on their tirst dem
onstration, and only 10000 less than they have
Just given, after having had the field tor one
year. The same Republican Party controls the
Senate, and has plurality in the Assembly.
If it has accomplished all this through an or
ganization two months old, what will it not ac-
complish twelve months hence?
In one respect, the position of our friends IN
New York is better than that of the Party III
any other State, except Wisconsin. 1t is one
Of open, declared antagonism to Know Moth
ingism. In other States, it merely ignores the
issues raised by this Order; in Wisconsin and
New York, it is the direct, avowed antagonist
of the Order-so that whatever it has gained
in either is pure gain for Freedom. This is
precisely the position the Republican Party will
be driven to assume in other States. 1t must
deal with the Know Nothing Order as it does
with the Pierce Party, and as the old Free Soil
Party used to deal with the Wing and Demo
cratic organizations-treat it as an obstacle TO
the union of the masses of the free States
against the Slave Power-as, in effect, an ally
of the Shareholders. Its members must look
beyond merely local politics, temporary results,
and try every party by its relations to National
politics and the Federal Government.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN KANSAS.
The Convention to form a Constitution for
Kansas, which met on the goth ult., continues
in session. The members are of one heart and
mind, so far as the question of organizing
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 manner as to satisfy
every lover of Freedom; but, fearful of losing,
through division, the main object-the organi-
cation Of Kansas as a 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 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 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 a compromise was agreed to, the Con-
vention, by a vote Of lG to l5 passing the fol-
lowing resolution
"ResOloed, That this Convention approve the
principles Of Squatter Sovereignty and Non-Iu-
tervention, by the people of the States, as well
as by Congress, in the local affairs of Terrific
ries and States"
The resolution Originally endorsing the Kan
sas-Nebraska act) was moved by Mr. Deahay,
the editor of the Territorial Register, friend
of Mr.. Douglas. It's passage, even as amend
ed, produced great excitement, and was angri-
ly denounced by the Republicans. DR.. Robin
son Immediately gave notice that, on the follow
ing day, he would move its reconsideration. TIE
resolution, then, can hardly he 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
ling 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, Nor. 23.-In the Kansas Consti
tutional Convention, schedule was passed on
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 a 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, it has or
ganized State, and provided for the immedi-
ate establishment Of Government. What will
Governor Shannon do2 There cannot be two
Governors, two Legislatures. The State Gov
eminent viii assert and enforce its rights-and
the Territorial Government must abdcate.
BOSTON COMMITTEE AND SHAREHOLDERS.
Mr. Garr;son having haen invitad by tbo Roc