Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-04-24
A Card,
submitted.


being circulated to the prejudice OF their
cause.
Senator DOUGLAS is represented in the
official report of the Senate debates IS hav-
ing stated in the Senate on Monday, the
l4th inst, as follows:
"Mr. DoUGLAs. As trust this is the
last time that the question OF the genuine
ness of these papers Will be presented, ]
have another point to which | wish 10 call
the attention Of Senators. The agents Of
this mock Legislature presented 20 the hon
orable Senator frum Michigan and got him
to present to the Senate the constitution of
this pretended State of Kansas. | have
kept my eye on the history of that document
and the proceedings connected with it; and
it is well known to the country that there
was clause, adopted by separate vote Of
the people and made part Of that constitu-
ton, making it duty Of the Legislature
never to permit negroes Gree or slave) to
enter the State of Kansas provision
S miar to the one lin the constitutions Of
Illinois and Indiana and some other States
nounced by those who have become the
special champions of Kansas. Look into
the constitution, as they furnish it and as
the Senator from Michigan has presented it
here, and you will find that clause is sup
pressed; that important material provision
is not t. be found in the document which
they bring here. know, from the history
of the transaction, that it was voted in by
a majority of the persons who voted for the
adoption of the Kansas constitution. Am
miStaken | ask, was it not adopted at the
same election at which the constitution of
the pretended State of Kansas was adopted
as part of the constitution"
'Mr. DoUGLAs. | will state nv evidence.
In the first place, have talked with Gov.
Reeder and he told me so. In the next
place, have talked with Gen. Whitfield
and he told me so. In the next place, |
spoke to Col. Lane on the subject the other
night at my house and he told me So
To establish before the country the truth
of this statement my rame is adduced as a
witness TO give it currency. Since my ar
rvar in this city have witnessed the hum-
Bile petition Of my constituents, praying for
that which was to give them security to
person and property, SECUTED from the sane
tum of human liberty; |, their legal repre-
sentative, have heard myself charged in
those consecrated hills with the crimes OF
forgery and perjury in connexi m with me-
mortal revised and presented in strict con-
formity with the authority vested in me, &
for no other cau-e than resistance to the ef-
forts Of the people of Missouri to tread down
| the people OF Kansas. And now as a finale.
a charge is preferred against the members OF
the constitutional convention of Kansas.
which if true, pr YES them unworthy the
respect of honorable men, nd | am brought
forward, the representative OF that people &
| the president OF that convention, as an en-
dorser of the cnarge. | most emphatica lly
deny ever having given to Senator Douglass
or to any other person even a shadow of au-
thorty for maxi g aty such statement
The only converSal OIL had with that sena-
ter since my arrival in this city was in the
presence of Judge Hunt, of the supreme
bench of Kansas, now in Ohio, and to him ]
submit for decision this question of veracity
with confidence in the result.
1t is impossible for me longer to remaia
silent; should be false to my constituents
and to the Cause OF truth. | will not believe
| that the constitution o: the United States or
the rules of the Senate require such a sacri-
| fee from an American citizen. 1t will be
remembered that have been regularly elec-
ted to a seat in the body of which the Sena-
tor from Hin IS is a member, by constiIu-
ency as inteliig mt as that which he repre-
seuls; my eli ction and The endorsement OF
my acts by my constituents being much
mere recent than those of that Senator.
In defence OF the delegates to the consti-
tutional convention and the people of Kan
sas, and in vindication of the truth of history,
| repel the charge, as expressed in the ex-
tract above quoted, as without o shadow OF
foundation, and will now demonstrate it.
The proceedings and journals of the con-
vention to which 1 refer and the proclama-
lions pledge myself to produce and publish
at an early day; they are now in Kansas,
where | have sent Tor them.
At the convention held at Big Springs, at
which Gov. Reeder was nominated as dele
gate to congress, the friends and the oppo-
nents of the "black law" first made their
views manifest. Before the Committee on
Platform lengthy and heated debate arose
-one portion of the committee, composed
OF Judge Collins, afterwards butchered by
our pro-slavery protectors,) DIR. Still, w. Y.
R,berts, and myself insisting upon inserting
black law provision in the PLATFORM; an
other portion, Judge conway and others, op-
posing it.
The discussion was prolonged for seven
h,urs. At time when a separation with
out agreement seemed inevitable, Il compro-
mise was proposed by Judge Collins and DR..
Still, expressing an opinion in favor of the
exclusion of free blacks, but not insisting
upon it as test Of political orthodoxy in the
free State party. The compromise was
adopted by the committee and cUncurred in
by the ConN ention by acclamation, they re-
ceving it with nine hearty cheers. The
question continued TO agitate the public mind
and YVES discussed before the people through
Oul llle 1cIIltOIy -UldCh law uuNOSd-
ties insisting upon inserting provision in
the constitution; its opponents, respectable
as to ability and character, in sisting that no
action should be taken upon it, the opponents
of the free State party prophesying that
this question would preventour ever uniting.
To secure that solidarity which has char
acterized to an eminent degree the free State
party of Kanzas, which trust will ever be
at the Convention held at Law
renee to nominate candidates for delegates
to the Topeka Convention to frame the |
submitted the following reso-
luton, in substance:
''ReSolred, That the delegates this day no.
minated be and hereby are instructed to use
their utmost exertious to prevent the 'elack
law clause being inserted in the constltu-
tion but, that the question may be with
lrawn from territorial politics, they will use
heir influence to have that question submit
ed to the people as u separate proposition,