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

OF the violent aud insurrectionary which
being taken 10 resist the laws OF the Territory
ton OF delegate representing almost every portion of the
Territory OF Kansas held at the city OF nworth
on the l4,h OF November 1885, at which of all shades
OF poiuch opinions "wbigs democrats pro-savery men,
and eeStae men, all met and hArmonized together and
forgot their former differences in the danger that
seemed 10 threasn the peace good order and prosperity Of
this community" This convention presided by
the governor of the Territory by majority Of the
judges OF the supreme and the address the ct
zens of the United States, among other distinguished
bears the signatures of the United States district
attorney and marshal for the Territory.
Its bat reasonable 10 that the Interpretation
which these funeonares have given the acts OF the
kanas legislature in this address will be observed in their
official exposition and execution of the In reference
to the widespread perversons and misrepresentation Of
those lava, this address says: s.. a. - 5.#a 1sa
"The lags passed by the legislature have been most
grossly leaseutsd with the view Of prejudicng the
public agninsa that body and for the revolu
tonary movements in this Territory The limits OF this
address will not permit correction of all these misrepe
sentations; but we will notice Of them that have
had the most widespread circulation.
IL has been charged and widely circulated that the
legislature in order TO perpetuate their rule had passed
law prescribing the qualification Of voters by which is
declared that any may who will allegiance
to the fugiuyelaye law, the Kansas aud Nebraska bll
and pay ddlar Such is declared TO be the evidences
of citizenship such the qualification Of voters In reply to
this say that such law passed by the egs
lature The law prescribing the qualification of voters
expressly provides that TO entte person TO vote he must
be tweny-one years Of age an actual inhabant Of this
Territory and the county district in which he offers
VOTE and shall have paid territorial There is
law requiring him TO pay doar-tax qualification 10
vote lie must pay tax, it is true land this is by no
means unusual requirement in the StatcsD but
whether this tax is levied his personal real
property, his money at nteiest, is poll-tnx,
makes no difference; the payment of any territorial tax
entities the to VOTE provided he has the other quail
hcatons provided by law The act TO be carefully
drawn with the view Of excluding all illegal and foreign
votes The be nhabtant OF the Territory and
of the county district in which be offers to VOTE and he
must have paid territorial The judges and clerks
are required to be sworn, and to keep duplicate poll
boxes aud ample provision is made for contesting Nec
tons, and purgng the polls of all illegal votes 1t is diff
cult TO howa guarded law could be framed for
the purpose of protecting the purity of elections and the
sancy OF the baotbox The law does not require the
swear support tho fugltiyeslaye law, the
Kansas and Nebraska G unless he challenged in that
case he is required to take oath to support each OF
these laws AS TO The dollar law so called 1t merely
pol-tx and has no more connexion with the right sui
ge than any other levied by the territorial authority,
and Is 10 be paid whether the party votes or not II Is
mere temporary measure having force beyond this
year, and resorted to such TO supply the territorial
treasury with the necessary means to carry on the govern
ment +.
has aso been charged against the legislature that
they elected all Of the officers of the Territory for six years
This without any foundation They elected officer
for six years and the only civil officers they retain the
election Of that occurs to US at present. the auditor and
treasurer OF State and the district attorneys who hold
their Offices for four and not six years. BY the organic
the commissions issued by the governor to the civil Of
cers Of the Territory all expired the adjournment OF
the legislature 10 prevent failure in the local admins
rao and from necessity the Legislature made number
so county commissioners, and sheriff OF each county
The probate Judge and county commissioners constitute
the tribunal for the transaction Of county business and
invested with the power to appoint justices OF the
peace constabe county surveyor recorder and clerk &c
Probate judges county commissioners sheriff. &c,
all temporary appointments, and made elective by
the people at the first annual election in 1861 The legis
ature could not have avoided meeting temporary
appointments No election could have been held without
hom There no judges justices Of the peace or other
officers to conduct election Of any kind, until ap-
pointed by the legislature Ii the exercise of power
which the first legislative assembly in eyery Territory
must Of necessity exercise In order to put the local gov
ernmeut in motion. We nothing in this to justify
outiou to force The law for the protection Of
saye property has also been much misunderstood The
right TO pass such law is expressly stated by Governor
Reoder ia hos inaugural message, in which be says:
territorial legislature undoubtedly act upon the
tion to limited and partial extent and may temporarily
prohibit tolerate regulate slavery in the Territory and
in absolute modified form, with all the force and e
feet Of any other legislative act binding until repealed by
the same power that enacted it, There Is nothing In the
act ITSELF has been charged to prevent free dis
cussion OF the subject OF slavery Its bearing society
its morality expedency, whether it would be poll
tic mpolifc TO make this slave State can be dis
cussed here freely in any State in this Union without
infringing any Of the provisions Of the law. To deny the
right Of person TO hold slaves under the law in this Ter
rtory IS made penal but beyond this there is no restric
ton 10 the discussion OF the slavery question in
aspect in which II is capable Of being considered We do
wish 10 be understood approving Of all the laws
passed 10y the egsature the contrary would state
that there that do not approve Of and which
condemned by public opinion here and which will
doubt be repealed modified at the meeting OF the next
legislature But this is nothing than what frequent
IL occurs both in the legislation of Congress and Of the
various State legislatures Ths remedy for such evils IL
DO found in public opinion to which, later, in
government like ours all laws must conform
few days after Governor Reeder dissolved his official
relations with the legislature account Of the removal Of
the Of government and while that body still in
session meeting called by "many voters TO assem-
bic at Lawrence the l4th 18th Of August 1855 ito
take into consideration the Proprety Of calling terrific
rial convention preliminary to the formation OF State
government and other subjects Of public interest Al that
meeting The following preamble and resolutions were
adopted viii but one dissenting voice:
aWhcreas the people Of Kansas Territory have been
since ils settlement and are without any awmaking
power thersfbre,
~ rssoiUed That we the people or Kansas Territory
10 meeting assembled irrespective Of party disnc
TONS influenced by common necessity, and greatly de
siruus OF promoting the good do hereby call
upon and request all bona d citizens Of Kansas Territory
OF whatever political views predictions 10 consult to-
gcther 10 their respective election districts and in mass
convention otherwise elect three delegates for each rep
eaatve Of the legislative assembly by proclamation OF
Governor Reder Of date 10th March 1885 said delegates
to assemble in convention at the town Of Topeka on the
10th day OF September 1885, then and there to consider
and determine upon all subjects OF public interest aud
particularly upon that having reference to the speedy
formation ~ State constitution with an intention OF nm
immediate application 10 be admitted State into the
Onion OF the United States Of America"
This meeting so far your COMMITTEES have been able
ascertain the first step in that series Of proceedings
which resulted In the adoption Of constitution and State
government to lie In operation the 4h OF the pres
month in subverson Of the territorial government es
tabshed under the authority Of Congress The right TO
the State government in defiance OF the constituted
authorities Of the Territory is based on the assumption
that the people OF Kansas Territory have been since i
nd la