The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-03

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been made, they shall inspect them, ascertain
who are entitled to certificates of election, and
then issue them accordingly; after which, their
! powers shall cease, and the Commission be dis.
solved.
! s. The Convention shall meet at the Capital
the first Monday in December, and proceed at
once to form State Constitution.
The new State is to be bounded on the east
| by Missouri, on the south by the 37th, and on
the north by the 10th parallel of latitude, and
on the west by the lO3d meridian of longitude,
cutting off in the west two degrees now belong
ing to the Territory. The other provisions of
the bill relate to the disposal of the public
lands, &c.
1t will be observed, that the whole work of
preparing for the organization of State, from
the first step, to the meeting of the Conven-
ton to form Constitution, is to proceed under
the enabling action of Congress and the direct
or indirect superintendent of the Federal
Government nothing being left to the action
or supervision of the Territorial authorities.
Congress enacts that there shall be census, an
apporiionment, Convention Congress fixes
the times for taking the census, for making
the returns, for determining the apportionment,
for holding the election, for the meeting of the
Convention; Congress prescribes who shall be
enumerated, who shall vote, who shall be eligi.
be TO a seat in the Convention, and what prin-
| ciple shall determine the ratio of apportion-
ment; and Commissioners, appointed by the
Il J..
OF the Senate, are empowered and directed to
carry out the will of Congress thus expressed,
enumerating the People, apportioning mem.
bers OF the Convention prescribing the rules,
appointing the judges, determining the places
of election, judging Of the returns, deciding
who are elected, and issuing certificates &C.
cordingy.
We are not disposed to be captious or I'M
charitable. Mr. Toombs doubtless believes that
his measure is fair one, and ought to be ac-
cepted by every one anxious to see peace and
order restored in Kansas. Nor would we seek
to keep the Kansas question open for the pur-
pose of multiplying Republican votes. But
even the author of the bill, if he will put him.
self for moment in the position of the Oppo-
sition, must acknowledge that there are valid
objections to it.
The Missouri Compromise was repealed for
the purpose of allowing Slavery to obtain foot
hold in Kansas. The populous counties Of Mis-
souri, lying along its borders insist that the es-
Establishment of Slavery there is vital to their
safety, and from time to time have poured hun
dreds, if not thousands of their people into it,
for the purpose of overawing and defeating the
settlers in the Territory favorable to Freedom.
What they have done, they stand ready to do
again. They have the men, the money, the
organization.
Now, this bill provides for taking census
of the inhabitants resident in the Territory at
the time Of the passage of the act, and that
every white male citizen, bona tide inhabit-
ant at the time of its passage, shall be entitled
to vote. AT a moments notice, those border
counties in Missouri can place in Kansas a
thousand or more white male adults Who are
to determine whether they are inhabitants
or not? Commissioners appointed by the very
Power which has repealed the Missouri Com
promise to allow Slavery to extend itself into
that Territory! And these Commissioners, in
the work Of enumerating the inhabitants, are
authorized to employ assistance. Suppose, Mr..
Whitfield, or Mr.. Stringfellow, should be ap-
pointed Commissioner, or suppose Mr.. Jones
or Mr.. Donaldson, should be employed as an as
sistant, does any one believe that, in Judging of
what constituted an inhabitant, they would de-
eide against their own friends? For, recollect
the bill provides no rule for judging on this
point-it leaves everything to the discretion of
the Commissioners; who are to be appointed
by a President who has forfeited all claim to
! the confidence of the People of the Free States,
by and with the advice and consent of the Sem
ate, two-thirds of which stand committed to the
policy of Slavery Propagandism, involved in
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Is it
not asking too much cf us to consent that the
decision of the great controversy between Free
dom and Slavery, in Kansas, should be made
to depend upon movement, from its begin
ming to its end, under the absolute direction
and control Of the friends of Slavery?
This is not all. The bill provides no safe
guards against violent interference with the
who have so often outraged the right of sui.
frage, should, on the day when the election for
members TO the Convention shall be in progress.
assault and drive from the ballot boxes, Free
State voters, so as to secure a majority of Pro-
Slavery members-what is the remedy? How
is the mischief to be repaired
We will not pursue the subject further. The
various propositions have been referred to the
Committee on Territories, and it is probable
that some measure, compounded out of all of
them, may be reported.
Since the foregoing was written, Mr.. Doug.
las, from the Committee on Territories in the
Senate, has reported on the various propo.
stions referred to it recommending the propo.
sition or bill of Mr.. Toombs, with certain
notifications. The Commissioners are to sit
every day after the apportionment, to hear
complaints in regard to the lists of voters, and
make corrections accordingly. 1t provides
that no law shall be Of force or enforced In the
Territory, infringing the liberty of speech or OF
the press, or the right of bearing arms. Pun.
ishEsnt is to be inflicted for illegal voting, or
fraud, Or violence, at the ballot-box, and mill
tary force is to be used to prevent such mis-
chiefs. White male inhabitants, az enumera
ted, over 81, resident three months before
voting, are to be entitled to vote-no oath tc
support the Fugitive Slave Act, or any othe,
act, to be required as condition.
Now, we wish the country to take notice thu
this bill assumes the power of Congress to con
trcl the Territories and the Governments there