Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-04-24
State, into the Union of the United States

: ~
' of America"
e Pursuant to the above notice, meeting
were held in nearly every neighborhood i
the Territory; the grievances of the people
and the subject OF State organization, wer
fully considered, and the feeling in favor Q
a State organization was almost unanimous
: At these meetings delegates were elected t
meet in Convention, in accordance with tn
above call. On the 10Th day of Septembe'
the Convention of the peoples delegates as
sembled at the Town of Topeka, pursuan
to the above resolution, and the folowin!
was among their proceedings. The repor
of the Business Committee was unanimously
adopted, as follows:
"Whereas, The Constitution Of the Unite;
States guarantees to the people of this Re-
public the right Of assembling together in g
peaceable manner for the common good, tC
establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility
Eoride for common defence, promote the
general welfare, secure the blessings oi
4 liberty to themselves and their posterity;
"And piereas, The citizens of kansa:
Territory were prevented from electing
Members of the Legislative Assembly in
pursuance of proclamation of Gov. Reeder
on the 30th of March last by an vading
| force from foreign Safe coming into the
Territory and forcing upon The people a
Leg stature of non residents and others
inimical to the people of Kansas; thereby
defeating the organic act, in consequence OF
which the Territorial Government became a
perfect failure, and the people were left
without any legal government, until their
patience has become exhausted and endur-
ance ceases to be virtue. and they were
compelled to resort to the only remedy left
that of forming a government for themselves;
therefore,
"Resolred. by the people of Kansas Ter
ritory in convention assembled-That an
election shall be held in the several election
precincts of this Territory on the second
Tuesday of October next, under the regula-
tions and restrictions hereinafter imposed,
for members of Convention to form a
Constitution, adopt Bill of Rights, and
take all needful measures for organizing n
State Government preparatory 10 the admis-
sion of Kansas as State.
"Resoiuel, That committee of seven be
appointed by the Chair, who shall organize
by The appointment of Chairman and
Secretary They shall keep record of
their procee dings, and shall have a general
superintendence of the affairs of the Ter
ritory, SO far as the organ ,tion Of a state
Government is concernr d, which committee
shall be styled the Executive Committee of
Kansas."
In conformity with the abb We resolution,
The Executive Committee issued the follow
ing proclamation:
.Whereas, The Trrritor al Government
for Kansas, as now constituted, has proved
failure; Squatter Sovereignty, under its
workings, miserable delu>ion; in proof of
which it is only necessary to refer to our
past history and our present deplorable con-
dition; our ballot boxes have been taken
possession of by bands of armed men from
foreign States; our people forciby driven
herercm; persons attempted to be foisted
upon US as members on sh-cal d Legisla-
ture, unacquanted with cur wants and
hostile to our best interests, some o. them
non-residents of our Territory; laws sof the
most oppre ssive, tyrann:cal and insulting
character were passed and are now attempt
ed to be enforced by the ritizens of foreign
States; the Right Of suffrage taken from u.s.;
we were debarred the privilege of voice
IN the election of the most insignificant
officers, and the right of free speech; the
muzzling of the Press attempted;
And Vhcreas, The people of this coun-
try have heretofore exercised the right of
changing their form of government when
ever it becomes oppressive, and have at all
tines conceded this right to this and all
other governments; and, Whereas, Ter
ri,orial Government is unknown; and
Whereas, the deba-ing Character of the
Slavery in which we now are impels to ac-
tion, and leaves us as the only legal and
peaceful alt, rlaliye, the establishment of a
State Government; and Whereas, the or
ganic act fails in putting out the course to
be adopted in an emergency like ours; there
fore YOU are requested to meet at your
several precincts in said Territory herln-
after mentioned, on the second Tuesday of
October next, the 9th day of the month, and
then and there cast your votes for Delegates
to Convention to meet at Topeka on the 4th
Tuesday of October next, to form Constl-
tuition, adopt a bill of rights for the People
of Kansas, and take all needful measures
for organizing State Government prepara-
tory to the adm ssion of Kansas into the
Union as State.''
The elections we're holden in the several
precincts, pursuant to the above proclama-
ii, n, at which election two thousand eight
hundred and sixty -four (2,S6D votes were
polled; which votes we're polleG in conform
ty with the following qualifications:
"All white male inhabitants, citizens of
t. e United States,or who have declared their
intentions before the proper authorities to
become such, above the Of age 2l years,
who have had bona fde residence in the
territory for the space of thirty days i'm
mediately preceding the day of said elec-
ton, shall be entitled to vote for Delegates
to said Convention
conformity with the above qualifications, and
with good order.
On The 23d day of October the Delegates
elected to frame C, Institution assembled
at Topeka. The Constitution framed at
this Convention speaks for ITSELF 1t shows
the men of the Convention to be men OF
ability, patr o ism and charncter;t to be mer
devoted to their country; men unmoved by
sectionalism or fanaticism.
On the 18th of December the Constitu-
tion was referred to the People for their &C.
ceptance, and. pursuant to the proclamation
of the Executive Committee, the people
met in their respective precincts-those in
favor of the Constitution deposting ballot
on which was printed "Constitution;' those
opposed depositing ballot on which was
printed "No Constitution"
The Constitution was ratified by the
qualified voters, scarcely vote against it;
and although the entire vote was not polled,