The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-12-29
The Convention in Kansas.

kASsA&SeNos
We publish in another column, let
ter from the correspondent of the New
York Tribune giving an account, to the
latest dates, of the action of the Consti-
tutional Convention of Kansas. All our
accounts have agreed in ascribing high
character to the men who form this con-
yention. .
The press has been too eager to declare
this Convention something unprecedent-
ed, and, as our readers are aware, Gov.
Shannon has, in advance, deprecated any
attention to its proceedings. as if they
were the movement of an unauthorized,
restless mob. Intact, however, the exist
ence of such a Convention. which isoutof
necessity forced upon the people Of Kan
sas, is called forth under precisely SINH
lar circumstances to those which created
the Constitutional Conventions of many
of our other States.
For instance. there is quite a strong
analogy between the position of the peo-
pile of Kansas and that of the people of
California, after the Mexican officers
were elected. For the period before
California was admitted as State, it is
well known that her people were obliged
to arrange as they could; and they ar
ranged with very admirable promptitude
and decision. Does anybody pretend
now that the acts of one or another of the
provisional governments of California
were illegal? They were not author
lied by Congress nor by the Presideds
But they were de facto governments em-
anating from the people, where other
government was none. They therefore
had the authority which the first Con-
stitution of Plymouth Colony had, they
had the authority which the existing
Constitution of Massachusetts has. Their
decisions, their appointments, are recog-
nized every day by the Government of
the United States. The acts of the
magistrates appointed under them are
recognized as legal. tHa =
Kansas is in precisely corresponding
position. Left to what is called squatter
sovereignty. her squatters have been OBJ
liged to take up the warrant given them
BY the Kansas Nebraska act; and in the
failure of any other government to make
their OWN. The State of Missouri did
the same thing when she wanted q gov
erhment. Nay, she went so far as to
say that if she could not come into the
Union with Constitution thus formed
she would stay out of it. Let her beware
how her young sister follows that high
handed example.
A body of men, it is true, invaded
Kansas last spring, appointed crew of
strangers to her whom they called leg
islature, and then retreated to tEeir
homes. The men thus appointed, scarce
a quorum of a legal legislature met,
turned out all their fellow members, and
voted that 'sthe laws of Missouri should
be the laws of Kansas After passing
some other enactments, they oodispersed.
They named county officers for six years
knowing that they themselves would
never meet again. This is no more q
legal government, it no more answers
the purposes of government, than the
Mexican authorities answered like pur-
pose for California, after they had retired
to Mexico; nor than the old Spanish
laws answered the purposes Of the Anglo
Saxon settlers there.
There is no doubt, we are willing to
acknowledge, that Gov. Wilson Shannon
is the rightful Territorial Governor of
Kansas. But what is Governor who
has no laws to execute? Does it hslpa
citizen of Lawrence who wants to make
a will, that Gov. Shannon is living at the
Shawnee Mission and drawing his salary?
What he wants is some security of pro-
bate, some legislation regarding it, some
government. If "a man knock another
down in the street, it does not help mat
ters that Gov. Shannon is in the Terrific,
ry with commission in due form. He
cannot sit as d Turkish Cadi, and himself
administer such justice asoccurs to him,
without law to administer. z That there
may be law in an American State, there
must be representation of the people.
The people of Kansas have taken this
into their own hand. They are more
than 80. .000in number; they have done
what half the Western States did when
they we're Territories--called their Con-
stitutional Convention. That Conyen-
ton is proceeding with wisdom and Dig
nifty. By next May. they assure rs, they
shall have more than 60. 900 people
quite enough for the action Of q State.
We doubt not they viii reach this popu-i
lation, or more, if they have the geHer-
Gus assistance Of New England .-Bostos
Messenger. fas, - 5sa &
An Incident in the History Of Slavery.
A few days sincea stranger, apparently
a southern gentleman, arrived at Wash