Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-12-19
KANSAS AFFAIRS.

meets with unexpected Obstacles, oApeclally In tne
detection from the conspiracy OF Walker and Stan.
ton. But Stanton has been decapitated and Walk
er also, virtually. An extra session of the Terri
tory Legislature was called by Stanton, acting Gov
crnor, for which Buchanan dismissed him, to meet
on the 9TH inst. Previously, two conventions Of the
people had been held. One, n Mass Convention at
Lecompton, the other a Delegate Convention at
Lawrence, to consult upon measures of resistance.
AT the latter, the following resolutions were adopt
ed without comment and without dissent, b. nine
cheers from the vast assembly.
We, the people of Kansas, in delegate conven-
ton assembled, at Lawrence, this I'd day Of De-
ccmber, 1857, do set forth the following to our
fclluw-citizens aud the people Of these United
States:
circumstance Of an extraordinary character
threaten to imperil the peace Of this Territory,
and to deprive II majority of our people Of their
rights, MS citizens Of this republic, to govern the
same.
On The 30th of March, 1855, an armed force
from Missouri violently took possession of the
rolls in Kansas, and fraud ulently elected n ter
ritorial Legislature, with sentiments adverse to
the opinions o! a majority of the people, and en-.
acted laws cruel and oppressive. A Legislature,
composed in part oS persons elected as above, and
of other persons elected in October, 1856, in like
violent and fraudulent manner. and under degrad-
ing test oaths enacted by the previous body, pas
scd an act fer the creation of a constitutional
convention under q partial partisan registi alton
and appOrtiOnment, and in the election of members
TO said constitutional convention, the law pro-
; viding for the anne was never complied with in
many important and essential particulars, es.
pecially in making a complete census Of the peo-
pie and registry of the voters of the territory,
fifteen entire counties being totally disfranchised,
and many voters in the other counties left off.
TheCUnventiop that asssebled inLecompton in Sep
tember last thus elected ,,havo proceeded to frame
n constitution for the state of Kansas, in defiance of
the fact that they, by their own record, represented
a small M inority of the people of this Territory
that their proceedings were protested against by
the people on the ground of ~illogality and unfair.
ness, and that the presence of o portion of the
United States army was necessary to protect them
during their sittings against the Indignation OF
an outraged people. In the face of these facts
they refuse to submit the instrument they have
thus framed to a vote of the people for ratification
Or rejection. They provide for q swindie, styled
by tleni an election, in which neither the consti.
tuition, nor any material part thereof, can be cleo.
ed or rejected. They have, pending this action,
provided for n state election on the first Monday
OF January next, under said instrument, and un.
der the authority of a ~usurping regency, unknown
to a constitutional authority, and dangerous to the
liberties of the people, the design of the same
being to rob from the people of Kansas their
rights, as rescued through the ballot-box in Octo.
~ iuot; uhu CctIO tHO jul ltRltllldtU IGTTllOTlhl
t Legislative body ever in Kansas. This dangerous
e assumption Of power calls for a prompt and eff
cient rene iy from the people, the only Legitimate
II source of power therefore.
o Resolved, That we utterly r~epudiate said con-
stitution, framed at L%ecompton, that it is an in
,e strument hostile to the popular will, and appeal
ing to the God Of justice and humanity Cor thu
rectitude of our Infections, we do solemnly entei
@ into n league and covenant with each other, tina
we shall nerer, under any circumstance, permit
the said Constitution, so framed, and NOT SUB
AITTED, to be the organic law for tho State o
Kansas, but do pledge our lives, our fortune
st and sacred honors in ceaseless hostility to tn
same.
Resolved, That we denounce the so-called cleo
10 tion OF December Dist, as a swindle, and the cleo
is ton of January 4th, 1858, as a crime and misde
e. meanor against the peace of this territory, an,
RS the will Of the majority.
ho Resolved, That the Legislature elected in thi
~ territory on the 9Th day of October, 1857, is tn
lis only legitimate law making body that has eve
been elected for the territory of Kansas, and tina
IN its functions shall not be suspended by any const
II tuition or state government until a fair and impair
tiul vote shall be had on the same.
mt Resolved. That this delegate convention DO here
al by re endorse the constitution known as the Topt
nd ka constitution. and do declare it to represent tn
ha wishes Of the majority of the people of kansa,
=. to-day, and that when it shall have again receive
III the popular sanction, under authority of the onl
ow legitimate territorial Legislature ever convened j
IN. Kansas Territory, recognized by the authority
,us the United States, that we shall maintain it again
- all opposition.
rn Resolved, That looking chiefly to the above en-.
IN we respectfully memorable the territorial Legi
lature, about to convene in extra session on the I
inst, to frame a fair add impartial election Law
and that they, under it, do submit the two consi
'i' tutions-the peoples constitution framed at l.
OF com a vote OF the people of this territoI
,s and that the said Legislature provide that the co
"a s~titution which shall receive a majority of all ii
" legal votes shall become the fundamental law f
oil the State of Kansas.
or mn -,
ST.. LOUIS, Dec. IA. Tho special session Of Il
Tue Kansas Legislature organized on the 9th inst ,elet
ing G. W. Babcock President of Council, and
nee W. Dcitzler Speaker of the House.
the Stanton. in his message says: In consequent
of recent political events having produced a Or
found agitation in the public mind, and that fro
a series Of wrongs and injustice, whether well
, of i,l.founded, aud apprehensions that greater evi
~, might arise, find myself compelled by a sense
duty, to call you together, that you may ado
OF legislative measures to avert the calamities viii
threaten the public peace.
, of After reviewing the formation and action of Il
,oo Constitutional Convention, Stanton recommen
Wv the passage of an act directing elections to be he
.un- under different officers, on the same day and at t
same place, provided there is q proclamation fro
the President of the Convention authorizing I
people to vote for a Constitution in either fol-
presented by Convention also against the Cons
Kan. tuition in either form. The Governor also reco
mends the passage of a law making fraudulent
o'' turn votes felony with suitable punishment.
con- Kansas letters to the Republican, state that
sons tense excitement prevails among all classes of p
lum pie in the territory. The probabilities are Il
-: the party opposed to tina Lecompton ConventiC
will not permit the election on the 2lst.
iage Gen. Lane. with three or four hundred m,
lodi- was e%ncamped near %Lecompton threats had be
lass made TO drive Gen. Calhoun and the memb
lnf the Convention ont of the Tnrritorv hut