New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-14
KANSAS.
THE LECoMPToN CONVENTION.


LECoMPTOS, Nov. 9, 1857.
Tie report on tbs Leei.lssve Department WA
taken up. Nothing very new or important was
developed In the discussion, the most notable
features Of the report being provisions for secret
sessitn NJ, and the enactment Of lsws for filing va
eaDcies 10 the Lsgisl.ture Some discussion was
evoked on section providing ths. the Legislature
should meet at the seat of government until altered
BY law. John Randolph Of Atchison moved 10 strike
ont all after the word government, on the ground
that the Legislature had no right 10 change the seat
of government. He said if il was left thus, there
was no saying where il might go. 1t might be taken
to LeavenwOrth or Fert Scott or, he added With
peculisr irony TO Oxford, as thst is a very gron
ing place it seems" Laughter. Mr.. RandOlph's
amendment was carried.
Mr.. Calhoun, II. NJ. Moore being in the chair,
proposed that there should be annual session of
the legislature He said that while be was in favor
Of biennial elections he was in favor of ANNUAL ses
sons off he Legislature. In the State OF Illinois, in
which be had spent most of his life, while it had
provision only for biennial sessions il was fact that
durir twenty years there had been annual sessions
in that State. These had TO be provided for by
call OF the Governor. lie thought that young and
rapidly growing State required great deal Of legisa
tOn. 1DeIe WOulQ Dc al Imperative necessity IoT
called sessions and it would be better to provide for
regular sessions.
Mr.. Randolph thought the person who proposed
the amendment was little inconsistent. lie seemed
to think that "yonUg and rapidly growing State !.
needed annual sessions, but also thought that
"yOuDg and rapidly growing State" should not be
trusted to elect Legislature every year. Mr..
Randolph was opposed to this session every year.
They could do mischief enough once in two years.
The second Territorial Legislature the curse Of
the Territory. They went to repeating what was
done by the first Legislsture-the very things
that the Ter tory wanted. 1t was to their action
and Governor Waller that the Pro-Slavery party
was indebted for their present PROSTATE condition.
Mr.. jenkins, though opposed to the amendment
of the gentleman from Douglas, would still rise to
defend the last session of the Territorial Legislature
He had been a member of that body, ADD would say
that the legislature in question had made no repeal,
save the test-oath repeal He (Jenkins) had voted
against even that but in justice to his colleagues,
he would state that such was the only repeal. The
pretense of Gov. Walker that the tax qualification
Of voters had been repealed by implication, was
false, and be believed was denied by every member
of that Legislature. He desired the Odium of the
recent election to fall where it belonged, and he
thought the last Territorial Legislature should be ex-
oDerated. Mr.. CalhOun's amendment was lost
Mr.. Stewart offered an additional section:
1T shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass laws
to compel all civil officers to doe diligence to se-
ugitives from labor who may have escaped from
any State"
John Randolph proposed an amendment to thu
amendment by substituting the word "slave" for
the words "frem labor" He wanted to say
slave" whenever we meant slave. IL we didn't, it
might be made the duty of our civil officers to take
up runaway apprentices who had been kicked out
and abused He did not want to do anything Of the
kind.
| Mr.. McKown of WestpOrt moved to amend BY
adding that the civil officers shall not only arrest,
but that the rendition of such fugtves shall b. their
| duty.
Both of these amendments were adopted, and
| The section thus amended was SlsO adopted with
little opposition. Mr. Stewart in offering it, said
that he merely did so for fear the opposite party
| might happen to get in power in the Legislature,
| and it would thus be obligatory on them to take
such action. The report, as thus amended, was
| adopted.
As yet there is nothing from the Committee on
| the schedule. Whether the Constitution is to be
submitted or not; when the State election is to be
| held, under what auspices and in what circum-
| a.ances the people are to meet the contest with
these usurpers and their plans; all is yet uncertain
These matters are discussed in secret caucus Ev-
| cry night these secret caueuses are held.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
LECOMPTON, X. T., Nov. 9, 1857.
Report Of Tie Committee on Finance.-John Ran
dolph objects to having report from both Revenue
and Finance. Thinks that there 10 no use for two,
and wants to know why the Revenue Committee
have not reported.
Mr. Jenkins said that he wsa not to be drasooned
into making bis report. He takes exception to
the report on Finance it embraces both subjects
of revenue and finance. In spite Of objections,
however, the report was acted on. The only Sec
ton that elected debate Wa . section limiting tho
amount Of State Indebtedness. Strange to Say,
John Randolph insisted that the limit should be
seven hundred Millions sum Of which be, OF
course, had no adequate idea. He was, however,
for avery large sum, and so were all the ultras The
secret of this was TO have abundance to pay all the
past Border Ruf6an wars, in case they should sue
coed in getting possession of the first State Legsla
| ture. After great deal Of useless discussion,
which WAS indulged in merely to conceal true mo-
tives the sum was fixed at $500, 000-s pretty fair
sum for so young and small State as Kansas. The
discussion and adoption Of this report consumed
| all the afternoon.
THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION - OFFICIAL
Cosntss. Ransom Parrot
Lesvenworth. .........................l36 l,oso
Atrhi,cA Observation-Disclosures 80 SIS
Doniphan.. $S 9N
Nemshs Ia