The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-08-27

assume That they have insuperable objections
10 the admission OF Kansas at this time, for the
reason that few weeks previous they passed
bill to admit that Territory as a State, with the
Topeka constitution. Hence the change ofpol-
icy on the part Of the House. in abandoning the
State movement with the Topeka constitution,
and substituting for it the proposition to reor-
ganizc the Territory and leave it in that condi-
ton, must be taken only as a strong expression
of decided preference on the part of the House
for the bill under consideration, and not as con-
elusive evidence Of insuperable objections to a
fair bill, with proper and suitable guarantees a
gainst fraud and illegal voting, to authorize the
people oil Kansas to form constitution and State
government at this time While the Senate
bill now pending before the House, is fair and
impartial in all its provisions, with ample and
satisfactory safeguards against illegal and fraud
ulent voting the bill from the House to reognize
The Territory contains no such provisions, and
affords no snch assurances. 1t leaves the quail
iications of the voters at the first election the
same as they were under the Kansas Nebraska
act, with this difference, that it denies the priv
Hedge ofvoting and holding office to all men of
foreign birth who Shall have declared on oath
their intention to become citizens, and who shall
have taken an oath to support the Constitution
OF tae United States, but who shall have failed
nom any cause to have completed their natural
zation. The provision is, 'Fthat any white male
Infant oft nf4 h. 81
above the age Of twenty-one years. who shall
have been resident of said Territory at the
time OF the passage of this act shall be entitled
to vote at the first election" No penalties or
punshments are provided for illegal voting
none for fraud IN conducting the elections; none
for violence at the polls; and none for DESTROY
ing the ballot boxes. All these things NAV be
done with impunity; for, while the election must
be held in pursuance Of the existing laws of the
Territory, (which are recognized as being in force,
the bill expressly provides that no c,to.i,a, oyos
ec@toat shall hereafter be Instituted in ann of the
co"rts tie Upjtef Suites or ofsaa Tsy7itorg foy
a''y oio7ation ordiyegud Of said legis7tiue enac-
meat at any time. Under this new bill any
number ofpersons from Missouri or Iowa, from
South Carolina or Massachusetts,, or from any
other part Of the world, may enter the Territory
on election day and take possession of the polls,
and vote as many times as they choose, and
drive every legal voter from the polls with entire
lmpunlty; for the bill declares that no criminal
prosecution shall ever be instituted in the courts
OF the United States or of said Territory for vio-
lating or diSregardng the only law which provi-
des penalties and punishment for such outrages
| in the Territory Of Kansas.
No measure can restore peace to Kansas which
does not eHectually protect the balot-box against
fraud and violence, and impart equal and exact
justice to all the inhabitants Under existing
circumstances, your committee are unable to de-
wise any measure which will more certainly ac-
compiish these desirable objects than the bill
which has twice passed the Senate, and now on
ly awaits the concurrence of the House Of Rep
reaentatiyes, with the approval of the President,
to become the law ofthc land.
For these reasons your committee recommend
that the bill from the House of Representatives
be laid on the table, as test vote on its reject
tion inasmuch as the objects apply to all the
leading features and material provisions of the
bill, and renders it incapable of amendment
without preparing an entire new bill.