New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-17

result
The great mass of the citizens Of Kansas and Of
the delegates here are quiet conservative men, not
politicisns-but men who are utterly regardless OF
old political organizations in their efforts unhap-
PLY, however, they are not all so. We have here
in the Territory number Of broken-down potl-
cians-men from the western States chiefly.
Some Of these were shipwrecked politically By ad-
herehce to the Kansas Nebraska bill Some OF
them were Free-State men when they came here ;
others were Pro-Slavery men, or at least men
who acted with the Pro-Slavery party far the
larger number being of the latter class. These
men talk of Natonal Democracy, as if there could
be National Democracy a. this time, with Free
Soihsm for its prom inent feature. Apparently
neconcilabe as these two are, politicians are en-
gagged in the desperate effort to reconcile them
Some of these men have taken an active part in
the present mOyement-have stumped' and ha-
rangued on the lawess inroads of the Missourians,
and by their eloquence in the Free-State cause
have succeeded in gaining the position they Low
ocsupy.
To throw the Nebraska bill in the teeth Of those
who have thus protested against it, and to make
that the basis of action which has been the instru-
ment Of the whole iniquity, and which was the cause
of the evil protested against by the proclamation
which called this convention, was audacious enough
The peaceable and quiet members were first startled
and then puzzled when the specious argument o
"squatter sovereignty" was placed before them.
Make this Jour basis Of action, and indorse the
r." KansasNebraska BILL" has been the argument
and there will be no opposition to you." But, with
all this speciousness and all the promises, the
majority Of the convention will not yet consent
nor do think they ever will, to such preposter-
GUS movement. But those who are determined to
accomplish this are not to be thwarted. Beside
those in the convention, there is considerable
number of " lobby members" and this appears
10 have been the sum and substance of all their
efforts. Every night and every morning, and every
meal time this subject has been constantly piled,
and the proper action of the convention has been
retarded, until this grand principle can be set
tied. In every piece of business that comes up,
10 squeeze in the feature, and although
little progress has been made as yet, those
urging it appear still to entertain strong hopes.
have watched their proceedings with the utmost
care-have heard promises Of support from the
Administration and Douglas, provided The Kansas
Nebraska bill is indorssd From what can gather,
I believe that, if it is found that Kansas rM be Q
Free State then Shannon is to be thrown over
hoard. and the whole result claimed by those who
have struggled SO long and so vilainously to make
it Slave State.
The convention was called this morning, and
went Immediately into committee of the whole on
a resolution instructing the standing committees
to frame their work so as to provide for State OF
ganization Immediately. Mr.. Emery of Lawrence
was called to the chair, and the president of the
convention, Col. Lane, took the floor. He made
an appeal to the sympathies of the delegates by
adyerting to a circular, just issued, in which the
Pro-Slavery men declare opposition to the laws
made at the Shawnee Mission to be treason, and say
that these laws shall be enforced. An appeal was
made from this, showing the necessity of imme-
date State organization to resist this But another
feature was woven throughout the speech.
BADGERS speech in Congress in favor of the Kan
sas-Nebraska bill was quoted, and the ground
taken that the Squatter Sovereignty of this
bill was the feature to fall back on in the organiza
ton. need not follow the sinuOsities Of the long
speech, of which this was the backbone aud the
thread, with eloquent appeals on its necessity for
the fringing.
When the speech ended, an incident occurred of
the most startling character. The Speaker left
the hail. but be had scarcely done so when Major
Klotz rose and offered resolution which stated
that duel was On the taps and would be fought
within an hour, and calling on the convention to
prevent it, A committee was Immediately sp-
pointed, consisting of Messrs. Klotz, Wakefield,
and Smith and these gentlemen having left, the
convention adjourned and hurried after them.
The gentleman challenging was understood to be
COL Lane and the challenged party Mr.. Lowrie,
private secretary to Gov. Reeder. As Dr. Robin
son of Lawrence had his name mixed up with the
affair as second, take the opportunity to say
that be was 90 purely for the purpose Of securing
an smcable adjustment.
The immediate cause Of the difficulty was some
reports supposed to be prejudicial to the chal-
lensed party's character. Circumstances which
placed me in 8 position which l neither desired
nor could avoid, gave me knowledge of this affair
the evening before. knew that the challenge
had passed, and also had good reason to believe
o. have since learned had been accepted The
whole cause of quarrel am engaged in ferreting
out: but, a. character is deeply involved, do not
give the details till am certain Of them. Mean
time the committee have succeeded at least in
putting of the fight.
TOPEKA K T., Wednesday, Oct 81, 1855.
Last night was held the first night session Of the
convention which lasted until III o'clock. There