The true Democrat., 1856-08-26
The Kansas Bill.


 D of Kansas to form a constitution and Stots government, preparatory to their admission ', into the Union when they have the requisite population.
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House ol representatives of the United States of Ame- rica, Tn Congress assembled, That for the pur- pose oi making an enumeration of the inhabi- tants authorized to vote under the provisions of this act, an apportionnent and an election of members of a convention to form State con- ? stitution for Kansas as hereinafter provided live competent persons shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and con- sent of the Senate, to be commissioners. A ma Jorlty of whom shall constitute quorum. for , the purpose of carrying into effect the provi slons oi this act, each of whom before enter ing upon the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation that he will , support the constitution of the United States and faithfully and impartally exercise and dis charge the duties enjoined on him by this act. according to the best of his skill and judgment winch oath or affirmation shall be administered to them severally, and be duly certified by a judge, clerk or commissioner of a court of the United States, and filed and recorded in the oihce of the secretary of the territory of Kan Sas
 Sec. ?. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of said commissioners, under such regulations as the secretary of the interior may prescribe, to cause to be made full and faithful enumeration of the legal voters resi- dent In each county in the said territory on the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and fiftv- SIX, and make returns thereof during the month of August next, or as soon thereafter as practi- cable; one Of which returns shall be made to the othce of the secretary of the interior, and one to the secretary of the territory of Kansas and which shall also exhibit the names of all such legal voters, cassed in such manner as shall be prescribed by the regulations of the secretary of the interior
 Sec. 3. And be it further enacted That if shall be the duty of the secretary of the intr. rlor, immediately after the passage of this act. to prescribe regulations and forms to be observ- ed Tn making the enumeration aforesaid. and to furnish the same with all necessary printed blanks 10 each of tue commissioners as soon as may be after their appointment; and the com l mlssloners shall meet without delay at the seat of government of Kansas territory, and pro- ceed to the discharge of the duties herein inn posed upon them, and appoint secretary to the board and such other persons a. may be nc- cessary to aid and assist them in taking the enumeration herein provided for, who must also be duly sworn faithfully, mpartially and truly to discharge the duties assigned them by the | commissioners.
 | Sec. f. And be it further enacted That said l board of commissioners shall, as soon as said | census shall be completed and returns made proceed to make an apportionmentof the mem berS for a convention among the different coun- ties in said territory:-The whole number of ! legal voters shall be divided by ffty-two and ! | ba ,,f fraction of unit, shall be the ratio or rule of 1 apporlonment of members among the several counties and if any county shall not have a number of legal voters, thus ascertained, equal to the ratio, 1t shall be attached 10 some adoin- ing county, and thus form representative dis | trlct; the number of said voters in each county or district shall then be divided by the ratio and the product shall be the number of repre- sentatives apportioned to such county or dis | trlct. Provided that the loss in the numbers caused by the fractions remaining in the several | counties Tn the division of the legal voters | thereof shall be compensated by assigning to so many counties as have the largest fractions an additional member for its fraction as may be necessary to make the whole number of re- presentativeS fifty two.
 Sec. D. And be 1t further enacted, That the said board, immediately after the apporton- ment of the members of said convention, shall cause sufficient number of copies thereof and of the returns of the census Specifying the name of each legal voter in each county or dstrlct) to be published and distributed among the inhabitants of the several counties, and shall transmit one copy of the said apportion- ment and census, duly authenticated by them, to such clerk of a court of record within the territory, who shall file the same, and keep lol: shall desire to examine it, and shall also cause other copies to be posted up in at least three of the most public places in each voting precinct, to the end that every inhabitant may inspect the same, and apply to the board to correct any error he may find therein, in the manner here matter provided.
 Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That said board shall remain in session each day, Sun days excepted, from the time of making said appoTtionment until the 10th of October next, at such places shall be most convenient to the inhabitants of the territory, and shall pro- ceed to the inspection of said returns, and hear correct aud finally determine according to the facts, without unreasonable delay, under pro- per regulations, to be made by the board, for the entertainment of disputed facts concerning said enumeration, all questions concerning the omission of any person from said returns or , the improper insertion of any name on said returns, and any other question affecting the integrity or fidelity of said returns, and for this purpose the said board and each member thereof shall have power to administer oaths and examine witnesses, and compel their atten- dance Ill such manner as said board shall deem necessary.
 Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That as soon as the said lists of legal voters shall thus have hppn ret yise6 and corrected nall ha ho duty of said board to cause copies thereof to be printed and distributed generally among the inhabitants of the proposed State, and one copy delivered to each judge of the election and at least three copies shall be posted up, at each place of voting
 Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That an election shall be held for members of conven- ton to form a constitution for the State of Kansas, according to the apportionment to be made aforesaid, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, eighteen hundred and ifty-six, to be held at such places and to be conducted in such manner, both as to per sons who shall superntend such election and , the returns thereof, as the board of commits sioners shall appoint and direct, except in cases by this act otherwise provided; and at such : election no person shall be permitted to vote unless his name shall appear on said corrected lists.
 Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That the board of commissi toners shall have power and it shai be their duty to make all needful rules |, and regulations for the conduct of the said election at each place of voting, and prescribe the mode of supplying vacancies. They shall cause rules and regulations, with a notice of the places of holding elections and the names of the judges, to be published and distributed in every election district or precinct ten days before the day of election, and shall transmit a copy thereof to the clerk of each court of ; record, and one copy to each judge of cleo ton.
 Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That the judges Of election shall each, before entering on the discharge of his duties make oath or afir- r nation that he will faithfully and mpartially discharge the duties of judge of the election according to law, which oath may be admins. tered by any officer authorized hv la 1T, t od mi