The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1857-11-25
fica the chieagc Tine.

nG tAUublN NOnstftultOm.
We Patiish in another column the Schedule
adopted by the Constitutional Convention In
Kansas, II is in the form Of all such documents
--stis the provision FOR carrying the new Con
sniuIion into effect its ratification, &c We
have as yet received no copy OF the constitution
ITSELF WePubishsd a few days ago an article
which has been inserted into the instrument,
which Is in the following words:
SEcrToS 1. The Legislature shall have no
power to pass laws for the emancipation Of slaves
without the consent Of their owners, or without
paying Ineir owners previous to their e.
mnr; patiOn, full equivalent in money for the
Saves so emancipated. They shall have no pow
er II 1p event eng to tn. Safe frt IA ringing
with ther= such personS, deemed slaves by the
laws Of any one oithe United States, or Terri.
tories so long as any pcrsoas OF the same age OF
description shall be continued in slavery by the
laws ofthis State; provided that such person OF
slave bs the bona fl le property ofsuch emigrant;
an provided G'so that laws may be passed to
prohibit the introduction Of slaves who have
committed high crimes in other States or Ter
ritories They shall have power to prevent
slaves being brought into the state as merohan-
die, and also 10 oblige the owners of slaves to
treat them with humanity, to provide for them
necessary iood and clothing to abstain from all
injuries to them extending to life and limb;
and IN case Of their neglect or refusal to comply
with the direction of such laws, to have such
slave or slaves sold for the benefit of the owner
or owners.
SEC. 2 In the prosecution Of slaves for crimes
Of higher grade than petit larceny, the Legisa-
ture shall have no power to deprive them Of an
impartial trial hy petit jury.
SEC. 3. Any person who shall maiciously
disinember or deprive slave of his life, shall
suffer such punishment as would be inflicted in
case the like offence had been committed On a
free white person, and on the like proof except
in case Of instruction OF such slave.
1t will be seen by the schedule that the Con-
sttution itself has not yet been submitted to any
vote Of the people for ratification; the question,
and the only one which has been submitted to
the popular deciSion, is, Constitution without
slavery" or Com titution with slavery" And
the effect Of majority of votes in favor of a
''Constitn ion with slavery" will be to strike
the above clause ont of the instrument.
1t is said that the Constitution will be as
much o-Slayery"-thati is in recognizing, pro-
tecting and perpctuatng slavery. independent
of this provision as it would be if left in it, but
of that we cannot judge until we see the nStru-
ment itself Certainly, however, decision a.
gainst the above provision will not amount to a
prohibition of slavery. The Schedule however
furnishes some evidence Of what the Constitu
ton must be, even if the slavery provision be vo-
ted out
The Constitution provides that the question
of slave Constitution" &c, shall be voted up
on the 2lSt day of December next and that the
result when communicated to the president Of
the Convention shall be certified by him to Con-
gresS and a formaldem and made for the admis-
sion o Kansas as q State. 1t also provides for
the election OF Governor, Lieut.. Governor mem
berS of the Legislature, and also a member of
Congress, said election to take place on first day
January. The State government thus to be e.
rected is not however to go into active opera
ton until the admission of Kansas. The Leg
iSature thus to be elected is tO hold its first ses
SION upon such a day as may be designated by
the President of the Convention.
But the schedule also provides that even
should the people vote out the slavery" clause,
the Legislature shall not, even by emancipation
and compensation interfere with the rights OF
property in slaves, which rights, it is declared
now exists in Kansas, and in order to make as
surance doubly sure, it is further provided that
no proposition for change in the Constitution
shall be considered until after the year 1867
After that period, (say in 1859 may submit
the question to the people, whether Conycntion
shall he called TO amend the Constitution; that
question shall be voted on at the next regular,
election (two years thereafter, say in 1861 and
If a maiority-not OF the persons voting on the
the question, or voting at said election, or Of the
voters in the State-but if "a majority Of all the
citizens of the State shall vote for said conyen-
ton, then the Legislature at its next session
NAV call said convention, which said convention
shall meet to revise, amend or change the Con-
stitution "BUT NO ALTERATION SHALL be
MADE TO AFFECT THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY IN
THE OWNERSHIP OF SLAVES" The Constitution
then, whether the slavery" provision be left IN
or out, prohibits any alteration Of the consttu-
ton for at least ten years, and forever prohibits
the peop' of the State from interfering with
slavery which il declares to actually exist now
in the State. Upon this constitution, upon the
question whether this instrument shall become
the supreme law of Kansas, the people are not
allowed the privilege Of yoting--oF saying yea or
nay.
We will not comment upon this action; our
views have so often bean expressed as to the pro-
priety ofsubmitting the constitution to the peo-
pie that it is unnecessary to repeat them.
The convention wisely abstained from provi
didg for State government to act for the State
until such time as Congress shall have admitted
| the new State.
| The question arises what is 10 be done next
| There is something said ofa called session o.
the legislature Of the Territory If that body
be convened it will doubtless submit in some
form or other, constitutionsto the people
These two rival propositions will come before
Congress for action. We suppose TINT the Free
State men will not vote upon the question sub,
mitted to them by this convention, and that the
friends of this constitution will not vote at the
election ordered by the legislature
These whole proceedings have been irregular
The Topeka constitution had no authority, nor
has the present constitution, nor will the con
sttuton which may be formed by order of the
present Legislature; neither of these instru'
ments can possess any authority until recogni.
zed by Congress Congress, there fore, in al
probability, will have three constitutions before
it, each irregular in its formation, and each rep
resenting the wishes OF q portion OF the people
Of the Territory. The only regular mode o
providing for the admission ofnew States is the
formation of constitution in pursuance OF al
act Of congress defining the boundaries of the
nav State, and fixing the terms, manner &c.
of clecting the members of the convention.
This has been almost the uniform practice o
the government, and has never failed to be sat
isactory in its results 1t may be that resor
to that measure will be necessary to solve the
present difficulty.
At all events it should be remembered tha
in 1854 the solemn pledge was made to the peo
Pile Of Kansas, that they should be free to regu
late. their own domestic institutions IN their owr
way, and that when they, the people Of Kansas
| I'D passed Constitution to suit themselves
/ Kan as was to be admitted into the Union. Al
action Lv the Democratic party must have ii
- u rada.,,ntior, Of that r,ladooa