The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-12-12
sGaas Convention Al 1sssmpsen.

Monday last was indeed a proud day
for Kansas. The Peoples Legislature,
the first ever elected by them, met at Lee
compton to provide for contingency in
our Territorial affairs, and their constitu- |
ents, to the number of fifteen hundred, or |
more, accompanied them there. It was |
a grand pageant, and a mighty contrast |
with the so-cslled Legislatures and Con-
ventions Of the past, which derived all
THEN authority from non-residents, and
whose only strength consisted in Federal
bayonets; and which, in fact, were only
enabled to maintain position in the
Territory by force of the United States
troops.
The procession of Delegates, from Law
renee, which was headed by National
flag, and the Lawrence Comet Band,
stretched far out on the prairie, reminding
us Of :he good old times of 1910. when
the people in the States were walked up
on political matters, and were laboring
to get control of public affairs. As the
procession was winding over the hill into
town, under the direction of Col. Ell
BRIDGE, they were met by delegation
of several hundred on foot, bearing flag
on which was inscribed HThe Old Ban
ner, the Peoples Constitution" The
new delegation was received and well
coined with three hearty cheers, which
was responded to in a similar manner.
On entering town they gave three cheers
for Gov. STANTON, three for the Peoples
Constitution, and three groans for the Lee
compton Swindle.
We noticed heavy delegations in at
tendance from Bloomington, Big Springs,
Tecumseh and Topeka, as well as from
Leavenworth, Grasshopper Falls, &c.
In the afternoon the Mass Convention
was organized, and several spirited speech
es were made, after which the following
resolutions were adopted -
Resolved, That we, the people of Kan
sas, in Mass Convention assembled at
Lccompton, this seventh day of Decem-
Der, 1857, do fully.and earnestly endorse
the proceedings of the Delegate Conven-
ton held at Lawrence on the I'd inst.
Resolued, That we do heartily enroll
our names in the league and covenant
formed by that Convention, and pledge
ourselves. individually and collectively,
to oppose, to the uttermost, the Constitu-
ton adopted at Lecompton, and will resist
every attempt which may be made to put
into operation government under the
same.
RESOLVED, That we reiterate our adhe-
renee and devotion to the Topeka Consti-
tuition and Government, and express our
unalterable determination, whenever the
proper time shall have arrived, to give it
force and effect in pursuance of the prin-
ciples upon which it was originated.
The enthusiasm of the occasion was
such that we were unable to take notes
of the speeches. Gen. LANE showed by
numerous facts that the Legislature about
assembling, could not submit the Topeka
Constitution to vote of the people with
the Lecompton Constitution without q
breach of faith with Gov. STANTON. He
stated that the Governor, through the in
fluence of G. w. Brown, S. W. Eldridge,
Robt. Morrow and others, had succeeded
in getting an extra session called, by CIV
ing assurances that the Legislature, when
thus convened should limit their action to
the purpose which called them together,
and that was to pass law submitting the
Lecompton Constitution to fair vote of
the people.
DIR. Robinson, and Judge CONWAY took
pretty much the same position, the latter,
however, placing his objections to submit
ting the Topeka Constitution with that of
the Lecompton Swindle, on other grounds
than the obligation entered into with
Mr.. Stanton, showing that it was not pol
icy to do so, though they had the right.
He was listened to with deep interst, and
frequently applauded.
1t was late hour before the Conven-
ton adjourned. All was pleasant, and
contrasted nobly with the assembling of
the bogus Legislature at Pawnee, when
the members came together from Missouri,
backed up by their constituents also from
Missouri, who compelled the few mem
bers honestly entitled TO seats to vacate
the Legislative Hall to give place to others
from Missouri.
Lecompton looked like another place
| from what it did when we were a prisoner
there on the 21st of May, 1856, and
few days following, when the demons of
the slave power had collected there the
offscourings of the South to wage war
of determination upon the real settlers of
Kansas. Though Jones had offered a
reward of ten dollars to any person who
would show US to him; and though let
ter was received from there on Saturday
night previous, saying that Gen. Lane
and ourself would be annihilated if We
entered town on that day, yet we were
both there, and both walked the streets of
Lecompton with as much freedom as we
would the streets of Lawrence. More
than that, we passed the wretch who had
murder in his heart several times, but the
influences around him were such that
evan .Lones was comnelIed Tn demsan him