Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-01
FROM KANSAS.

The Kansas Constitutions State Convention
has been for some time in session, at Topeka,
and concluded its work on the morning of the
llth inst. 1t was composed of delegates cleo
ted by the bona Gde residents Of the Territory,
mostly sincere Free State men, but occasional
ly there appeared to be those whose objects
were anything but such as the friends of Free
dom could approve.
The President of the Convention was J. n.
LANE, from Indiana, amcmber of the last Con-
gress, who voted for the Nebraska-K ansas bill,
for which he was beaten at home. The absorb
ing question was Slavery, and though all uni
ted in the desire to make Kansas a Free State,
there was a great diversity of opinion as to the
preliminarics. Finally, the Convention adop-
ed a Bill of Rights, which declares " that sla-
very shall not exist in this State" but recog-
nized its existence in the Territory, providing
for its disappearance by the 4th day Of July,
1851.
An attempt on the part of Col. LANE and
others like him TO induce the Convention to en-
dorse the Squatter Sovereignty of the Kansas
Nebraska bill, under the pressure of promises
Of reward and threats Of political humiliation,
came very near succeeding, and at one time, in
a thin house, actually received a majority of
the votes but by the determined stand taken
by Mr.. Robinson and other friends of Freedom
the vote was re-considered and the dodge effec-
tually killed.
Among the provisions of the Constitution as
finally adopted, is one fixing the boundaries of
the State in accordance with hose laid down
in the kansas-Nebraska bill, extending west
to the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Mar
ried women are to be secured in their rights of
individual property obtained either before or
after marriage, and all equal right in the con-
troll and education of the children. In prose-
cutions for Libel the truth may be given in
evidence and shall be deemed a Justification.
A State University and Normal Schools shall
be established. The civilized and friendly In
dams may become citizens of the State. judges
are to be elected by the people. Topeka is to
be the Capital temporarily, till the Legislature
shall determine a site for q permanent location
of the State buildings. a
The Constitution is to be submitted to a di-
rect vote of the People for ratification on the
18th of December next, and if adopted, an cleo
ton for Governor, Lieut.. Governor, Secretary
of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Judge of the Su-
preme Court, Attorney-Gencral, and members
of the General Assembly, is to be held on the
third Tuesday in January, 1856.
A letter from Kansas says that a letter
to Gen. CAss, signed by every member of the
Kansas State Convention, asking him whether
it would be agreeable to him to receive the
original copy of the Constitution of Kansas for
presentation to the Senate, has been prepared
and soon will be forwarded.
We have also a report of the organization
Of a Law and Order Convention, as it styles
itself, at Leavenworth, together with the speech
of Governor SHANNON on taking his seat as
President. The speech is exceedingly interest
ing and important in its bearing upon the
course Of political events in Kansas. Gov. S.
denounccs, in the most vehement terms, the
Free-State movement, and declares that all
who resist the execution of the laws enacted
by the late Legislature will be guilty of trea-
son to the State. He asserts also that the
National Administration is determined to sup
port the late Legislature, and predicts that, in
the coming Presidential contest, there will be
but two partics-the Black Republicans and
the Unionists. Resolutions embodying similar
sentiments were adopted by the Convention.
We have also the intelligence that a bill
has at last been found by the Grand Jury
against MCREA, for murder. The incidents
of the ARRAY in which M'CREA killed his assail-
ant, acting himself most clearly in selfdefence,
will be remembered by our readers. The
Grand jury once refused to find q bill ; but
it seems that the presiding Judge added seren
men to the Jury, who were known to be ene-
mics Of M'CREA, and that by this mannuvre a
bill has been returned.