The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-15


circumstances should determine The endorsement Of this
military organization, and the recommendation by the
Big Springs consenton for he procurement and pepara
tion OF arms accompanied With the distinct declaration
that awe viii them the laws enacted by the Kansas
legislaure bloody issue, ascertain that
peaceable remedies shall fail and orcbe resistance shall
furnish any reasonable prospect OF would seem 10
admit Of other Interpretation than that ia the event
that the courts OF justice shall sustain the validity OF those
laws aud Congress shall refuse to admit Kansas State
with the constitution to be formed at Topeka, they viii set
independent government in defiance OF the federal
authority.
The same purpose is clearly indicated by the other pro-
cesdings this convention in which il 10 declared that
I'VE with repudate the eectionlaw called and
nominate Governor Reeder for Congress TO be voted for
different day from that authorized by law at eec
held by judges and clerks appointed in pur
of any legal authority and not TO he by any
person authozed NY law to administer oatbs and The re-
turns to be made and result proclaimed and certificate
granted in mode and by persons not permitted to per-
form these acts by any law in or ont OF the Territory
In accepting the nomination Governor eeder addressed
the convention follows aud among other things said
3la giving him this nomination in this manner, they
had strengthen his to DO their work, and in return
he would pledge TO them steady, uniiinchng per
naciy OF parpose neyerrng industry dogged persever
ance and in all the abilities with which God had endowed
him, to the rghng Of their wrongs and the final triumph
Of their lie believed from the circumstances which
had for the last eight months surrounded him. and which
had at the time placed in his possession many facts
and bound him. heart and soul the oppressed Of
Kansas that be could do much towards obtaining
dress OF their grievances - ,.e #f.as fs
He said that, day by day crisis coming upon US
nat afteI-tlne5 would be pOst2rty
point, marked period, the opening of the
reyoluton the adoption Of the Declaration Of Independ
cncc and the era OF the alien and sediton laws that we
should take each carefully that each be step OF prog
aud that violence be done to the tic which
binds the American people together lie alluded TO tho
unprecedented tyranny under which and have
and said that If any supposed that institutions
TO be imposed by force upon free and enlightened people,
they knew had forgotten, the history OF
fathers American citizens bear in their breasts much
of the spirit Of other and ryAg days and have lived too
long amid the blessings Of liberty to submit to oppression
from any quarter and the man who, having once been
free, could tamey submit TO tyranny, fit to be
slave r., .ss y g5. sg4sH8E, ..s
He urged the reeSate mon of Kansas to forget all mi
issues and pursue determinedy the great object
never swerving, but steadily pressing did the wise
men who followed the star to the manger looking back
only for fresh encouragement He eouuseled that peace
the spurious legislature that appeals TO the courts 10 the
baotbox and to Congress- be made for relief from this
oppressive load that violence should be deprecated as
If at last all these should ai in the proper tribunals
there is hope for dearest rights, outraged and
proaned-f still to suffer- that corrupt may
reap harvests watered by tearshen there
chance for Justice God has provided In the eternal frame
Of hiDrs redress for every wrong and there remains 10
conquer mnge the bodies of the oppressors with those
OF the oppressed upon the soil which the Declaration Of In
no longer protects But he was not a. AL appre
that justice might be found Ear short OF dreadful
tremy and should appeal to arms come it was
his opinion that we are well prepared that moment the
In pursuance Of the recommendation of the mass-mcetug
held at Lawrence the ath Of August and endorsed by
the convention held the Big Springs the 9th and 9th
OF September, convention was held at Topeka on the
and goth Of Septebcr at which 1t was determined
hold another convention the place. the fourth
Tuesday of October for the purpose Of forming constt
ton and State government and to this end such proceed
ngs had deemed necessary for giving the
tces conducting the election Of delegates making the re-
turns and assembling the convention With regard 20 the
regularity Of these proceedings committee
cessy fr further criticism than be found in the fact
4 ntof
whole bedy of the people Of Kansas conducted without
the sanction of law and in defiance of the constituted
thore for the avowed purpose of oyerthrowng the ter
ritorial government established by Congress.
The constitutional convention met ut Topeka OF -
fourth Tuesday of October and organized by eee Col
H. Lane president who, in returning his aeknowiedg-
for the honor epudiaed the validity OF the terrific
rial legislature and its acts in these words;
@Genternen of the invention For the position assigned
me- accept my thanks. Yon have met, gentlemen on
ordinary occasion, TO accomplish ordinary purpose
You are the first legal representatives the real settlers OF
Kansas have had You comprise the first legally
elected representative body assembled in the Terrific
yb Nc :. 60, -. ,-,,.,.
resolution, instructng the standing committees:
"Resolpd That the various committees Of this conyen-
ton be- and they hereby, Instructed to frame their
work having in view an immediate organization OF State
government
aOcto6o ao-In the evening session the debates
high upon Mr. Smiths resolution in reference TO an urne-
date State organization The OF the resolution was
in favor of eecting State officers at He would adj
visc hesitation; he would present bold 'front.' and
not at ALL The Territory was without laws he
and property unprotected The territorial govern
had broken down. lie would not leave 1t an hour
for the action of Congress after application for adms-
sion but would set up an independent form Of govern
ment' &c. .a.. ~
Mr. EMERY said g Now Mr. Chairman, what does this
resolution contemplate What proposed TO be done
first proposes supersedc the present weak and ine
cient territorial government and hence IL enunciaes the
fundamental idea Of the constitutional movement Ay IL
does IL proposes 20 prove into fact The leading
idea OF the Declaration OF Independence the highest bu
authority in American poibcs which is this when
any form Of government becomes destructive Of the
ends FOR which IL was instituted IL is the right OF the peo
pie alter abolish IT, aod TO institute govern
IL proposes to force theories Of human rights into
facts practically apply this eros, principle the wants
and necessities Of the dow n-trocden peopeo kapss
do question this right Of the people aud certainly
gentleman this floor viii disagree with II he does
he occupies most extraordinary position, and consistency
would suggest thai he withdraw from This body No,
when say thai will take measures 10 supersede and
render unnecessary that thing extended called
territorial governmeni-when say and maintain that
have right, guaranteed by the constitution TO have
form Of government resting consent and will,
we only doing what, as american citizens, we have
right TO do only propose 10 carry out the doctrine
much abused and grossly Disreptesented as has been
the doctrine OF squacr sovereignty under which We
assembled hero To-day, and in pursuance Of the prn
cipes OF which hope extroaie ourselves from
present unhappy condition
Its but just 10 that In another part OF This same
speech, Mr. Emery declared himself OPPOSED TO au imne
date election under the constitution, and an imme
dae session Of the general assembly when all the wheels
OF State shall be put In motion irrespective Of
the action OF Congress upon due application for admission
Mr. presented his objections the position OF Mr. Smith,
ard ned the yeys above Indicated lie led