Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-07-16
NEW KANSAS BILL.

features of the bill introduced by Senators
Douglas and Toombs, and passed the United
States Senate on the Sd inst, 33 against IL,
for the purpose of authorizing the people OF
Kansas Territory to form constitution and
State government, preparatory to their ad-
mission into the Union when they have the
requisite population: ~ '' | . "
For the purpose of making an enumeration
of the persons authorized to vote under the
provisions of the act, an apportionment and
an election of members OF a convention to
form State Constitution of Kansas, five com
petent persons shall be appointed by the Pres
ident, who shall cause to be made full and
faithful enumeration of the legal voters resi-
dent in each county in the said Territory, on
the 4th day of July eighteen hundred and
fifty six, and make returns thereof during the
month of August next, one of which returns
shall belmade to the Office Of the Secretary
of the Inferior, and one to che office of the
Secretary Of the Territory of Kansas, which
shall exhibit the names of all legal voters in
said Territory.
As soon as said census shall have been
completed, the commissioners shall proceed to
make an apportionment of the members for
a convention among the several counties in
the Territory, granting one member to every
ffty-two legal voters. Copies of the appor-
tionment and census are to be distributed
among the inhabitants of the several counties,
one copy of each to be furnished clerks Of
courts of record, and other copies to be post
ed in at least three conspicuous places in each
voting precinct, that the inhabitants may in
spect the same and apply to the board of
commissioners for necessary correctons-said
board to remain in session after taking the
apportionment, for that purpose, until the
twentieth day of October next
An election for members of a convention to
form a constitution for the State of Kansas,
shall be held on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday of November next, places and
regulations for such elections to be designat-
ed by said board of commissioners, who are
also to decide who are entitled to certificates
of election and to issue the same.
Every white male citizen of the United
States Including all foreigners who have filed
their intention of becoming such) over twen-
ty-one years of age who may be bona tide
inhabitant of said Territory on the fourth day
of July eighteen hundred and ffty-six, and
who shall have resided three months next
preceding said election in the county in
which he offers to vote, and none others, shall
be considered legal voters.
Any person attempting, by threats, mean
ness, or force, or by any other unlawful means
to influence any qualified voter in giving his
vote, or deter him from going to the polls, or
hinder him in the free exercise of his right
of suffrage at said election, shall be adjudged
guilty of misdemeanor, and punished by
fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or
by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or
by both.
Any person not qualified voter who shall
vote at any election within said Territory,
knowing that he is not entitled TO vote, or
any person who shall vote more than once at
the same election, shall be adjudged guilty
of misdemeaDor and fined not exceeding
two hundred and fifty dollars, or by imprison-
ment for six months, or by both.
Delegates thus elected shall meet at the
capital of said Territory on the first Monday
of December next, and shall first determine
by majority of the whole number of men,
bers elected whether it be or be not expedi-
ent at that time to form State government,
and, if deemed expedient, shall proceed to
form a constitution and State government,
which shall be republican in its form, for adj
mission into the Union on an equal footing
with the original States in ali respects what
ever, with the name of the State of Kansas,
with prescribed boundaries.
Here follows provisions for schools, univer-
sites, roads and internal improvements.
The President is authorized, upon applica-
tion by said board of commissioners, to em-