Squatter sovereign., 1856-05-06
Admission of Kansas.


The following are the provisions of the
bill introduced into the Senate. by Mr..
Douglas, from the Committee on Terrific
ries, to authorize the people of the Terri
tory of Kansas, to form Constitution and
State Government. preparatory to their
admission into the Union, when they may
have the requisite population which was
read and ordered to be printed:
The first section provides that whenever
it shall appear, from the taking of the CEN
sus. that there are 90. .420 inhabitants in
the Territory, they be authorized to hold
a convention and form State constitution,
preparatory to admission into the Union on
an equal footing with the original States
in all respects, whatever.
Second, That the said convention shall
be composed of delegates from each repre-
sentative district within the limits of the
proposed State and that each district
shall elect double the number of delegates
to which it may be entitled to representa-
tives in the Territorial Legislature and
that at the said election Of delegates, all
white male inhabitants who shall have ar
rived at the age of twenty-one years, and
shall have been actual residents in said
Territory for the period of six months,
and in the district for the period of three
months next PRECEDING the day of election.
and who shall possess the other qualiica-
tions required by the organic act of the
Territory, shall be entitled to sote, and
that none others shall be permitted to
vote at said election.
Section three provides that certain pro-
po ositions be offered to the said convention
of the people of Kansas. when formed, for
their acceptance or rejection, and, if ac-
cepled by the said convention, and rati-
fed by the people at the election, for the
adoption of the Constitution, shall be OBJ
ligatory on the United States and the said
Territory of Kansans.
lst relates to grant Of sections 16 and
36. in every township, for the use of
schools, SC.
Cd. Seventy-two sections of land shall
be set apart for State University, to be
selected by the Governor, subject to the
approval of the Commissioner of the Gen
eral Land Office, SC.
3D. That ten entire sections, to be Sc
lected by the Governor, in legal subdivis-
ions, shall be granted to said State for
public buildings, to be erected under the
authority of the Legislature.
4th. That all salt springs, not exceed
ing twelve in number, with six sections
adjoimg, be granted to said State, to be
selected by the Governor within one year
after its admission as State, provided no
right vested in any individual, or which
may hereafter be confirmed or adjudged
to any individual, shall be granted to said
State.
5ti. That five per cent. of the proceeds
of all lands sold by Congress after said
State is admitted, after deducting e1pen-
ses incident to the same, shall be paid to
that State for purposes of internal inn
provement, as the Legislature may direct !;
that said State shall never interfere with
the disposal of the soil by the United
States, or with any regulation Congress
may find necessary for securing the title
in said soil to bona .fde purchasers thereof !;
that no tax shall be imposed on lands be-
longing to the United States. and that in
no case shall nonresident proprietors be
taxed higher than residents.