The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-26

VI
was nominated on the second ballot for mem
Der of Board of Public Works.
At 10 o'clock P. M. the Convention adjourned
sine die.
KANSAS AFFAIRS.
Meeting of the Legislature-Its Opening Acts.
From the ST Louis Republican, (Pro-slaveryl
WHITEHEAD, K. T., July 8, 1855.
have this moment returned from Pawnee,
that outof-the-world place, where Governor
Reeder convened the Legislature against the
wishes of every member save one. 1t seems to
have been the Governors study to do nothing
to crafty the people, and to do everything that
they deprecated and disapproved. He has
been the most contrary and obstinate man that
ever held Office, and no lessons nor experiences
seem to improve him. Instead of attaining his
ends, or being successful in his arbitrary
schemes and measures, he has failed in every
one, and the people, in their independent sover-
eighty, have ridden triumphantly over him.
He should know by this time that it will not do
to oppose ones own selfish will against the in
terests and the wishes of whole community.
But he seems to be unconscious of his error,
Notwithstanding his frequent startling awaken
ings; or to be determined, of malice afore-
thought, to annoy, and vex, and injure, the
country in every conceivable way. The last IN
stance of his obstinacy was, the adjournment of
the Legislature from Pawnee to the Shawnee
Mission.
Most Of the members were at Pawnee early
on the morning of Monday, the I'd instant, the
day of their convocation by the Governors proc
lamation. They were obliged to encamp in
wagons and tents, as no houses were provided
for their accommodation. The Legislative hall
was not even completed. 1t was a rough barn
IN, nj, oh he
laid, although the carpenters worked at it
through the Sabbath day on the LIST instant.
The members desired to hold caucus, for
the purpose of selecting permanent officers for
the two Houses. There was no house in which
they could sit, and they were obliged to resort
to a grove about a mile distant, and arrange
their preliminaries in its shades.
AT IL o'clock, NJ, the floor of the Capitol was
so far finished that it could be occupied, and
the two Houses convened at that hour.
OF the Council, Thomas Johnson was elected
President; r. r. Rees, President pro tenn. /;
John A. Halderman, Chief Clerk; Charles H.
| Groter, Assistant Clerk; and Carey B. White
head, Sergeant-atArms; and William Godfrey,
Doorkeeper.
OF the House, J. H. Stringfellow was elected
Speaker; Joseph Anderson, Speaker pro tenn. !;
J. NJ. Lysle, Chief Clerk; John Martin, Assist
ant Clerk; T. j. B. Cramer, Sergeant alarms.
The Message Of the Governor was read. |
have not yet been able to obtain copy of it
for you.
On that day, an act was passed by both
Houses, entitled San act declaring the place
for holding the session of the Legislative AS
sembIy, and for other purposes which was as
follows:
"Be it enacted by the Governor and Legisa-
tive Assembly of the Territory of Kansas, as
follows, to wit
"SEc. !. Until the seat of Government is To-
Gated by law, the session Of the Legislative AS
sembly shall be held at the Shawnee Manual
Labor School, in the Territory of Kansas.
"SEC. 2. Until the seat of Government is loca-
ted as above specified, the Governor and Secre-
tary of State shall respectively keep their Offices
at the Shawnee Manual Labor School, in said
Territory of Kansas.
"SEC. 3. So soon as this act shall take effect,
the Council and House of Representatives shall
have power, by concurrent resolution, to ad
journ its present session, and hold the remain
der of such session at said Shawnee Manual La
Dor School,; and upon such adjournment, it
shall be the duty of the Governor and Secreta-
ry of State, respectively, Immediately to remove
their offices to said Shawnee Manual Labor
School.
"This act to take effect from and after its
passage"
1t was sent to the Governor for his approval,
but he, with his accustomed spirit of cOntrarie-
ty, put it in his pocket, and went off to pass the
Fourth with some of his friends at distance.
On Friday, the 9th, he returned the bill, vetoed.
| 1t was then reconsidered and passed over his
| head by vote Of twelve ayes to one nay in the
Council, and twenty -four ayes to no nays in the
| House. And, at one o'clock on that day, both
Houses adjourned, by resolution, to meet on
Monday, the 10th instant, at the "Shawnee
Manual Labor School," Many resolutions were
offered, notices given, and bills presented,
among which was one by Major Richardson,
providing remedy against the abduction of
slaves, which was read twice.
| Major Richardson, Mr.. Forman, and other
members, have come to their homes to pass the
| few days that intervene between now and the
| 10th instant. They have everywhere met with
| the warmest commentator for their prompt
ness in changing the seat of Government from
place where no information could be had of
them, to a place from which daily intelligence
can be dispensed
From and after Monday next, you shall be
regularly posted, by your obedient servant,
T.
Mr.. Conway, a member of the Council, has
resigned his seat, in order to avoid the implied
acknowledgment of the validity of the sham
Legislature. He has written strong and
manly letter, assigning his reasons at length,
and concludes as follows:
GAS an individual citizen of Kansas, am
furthermore free to say to your Excellency, rep
resenting as you do the imperial authority OF
the Federal Government in this land, that while
| am entirely disposed to pay all respect to the
| lawfully Reconstructed authorities, | am yet not
| willing, whatever power may command it, to
bend my neck like satisfied and gentle slave
to the yoke of foreign tyrants. To do SO would
prove me recreant to all the lessons of heroism
or of duty ever learned. l am so unfortunate
as to have been trained to some crude notions
of human right-some such notions as those
for which, in ages past, our foolish ancestry
perilled their lives on Revolutionary fields.
And, however widespread may be the dis
repute into which those puerile fallacies
have fallen in these sterling and enlightened
times, | am still bold to withstand their vio-
lation in my own person to the last extremity
of just resistance. Simply as a citizen and
a man, l shall therefore yield no submission
to this alien Legislature. On the contra
ry, am ready to set its assumed authority at
defiance, and shall be prompt to spurn and
trample under my feet its insolent enactments,
whenever they conflict with my rights or incli-
nations. Very respectfully, yours,
Pawnee, K. T., June 80, 1856"
The following is the portion of Gov Reeder's
message which relates to Slavery. 1t is suff-
GENTLY tame to satisfy any reasonable rowdy on
the Missouri border. All he asks is a fair trial
of the doctrine of squatter sovereignty:
"There are many specific subjects of legis-