The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-28
IMPORTANT KANSAS NEWS.
Proceedings Of the Territorial Legislatures.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.l
II 4

Proceedings Of the Territorial Legislatures.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune
LAWRENCE X. T., Dec. Is, 1857.
The Legislature has now been week in session at
Lecompton. The first few days were spent in ar
ranging the business, appointing standing commit
tees and waiting for the report OF the special COM
mittee appointed to investigate the Leavenworth
election case. The free State men sent in their me-
mortal to the Assembly. Three of the proslavery
representatives, Messrs. Bartlett Denman and Arm
strong, present in the House, and Davis, of Wy
andotte, and Judge Hadernan, of Leavenworth,
were in the Council They stated that they had not
legally been notified of contest, and refused to en-
ter into an investigation. The House committee re-
ported Thursday last favoraby to the free State
men and the pro-slavcry Kickapoos were turned out
This proceeding was not arrived at in the Council
until Friday night, Dec. IL, when Halderman and
Davis were informed they might leave. The free
State in both bodies sworn in, and the As
sembly finally got to work.
An important bill was introduced into the Honse
on Saturday, December H. and passed both branches
to its final passage on Monday night. 1t will proba
bly, be vetoed by Stanton, but it will be passed over
his head. 1t is very carefully devised scheme, and
if put into eectual operation will place the military
arm OF the Territorial government in the hands Of
the free State men. The Major General will be JAS
H. Lane, and the remainder of the Board provided
for be composed Of such men as he may approve.
BY this bill the Board can call out the military when
they think it necessary. The task of the Inspector
General in reference to the arms now belonging to
the Territory will not be very pleasant, or, fear
a successful one There were 1000 stand of arms
appropriated to Kansas, all of which have passed
into the hands Of the Missouri border rufian militia,
that in the past usurped the functions Of citizens
and to recover these arms will be task worthy of
Hercules.
Yesterday both branches passed unanimously the
following preamble and resolutions relative to the
feon's constitution =
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS IN RELATION TO THE
CONSTITUTION FRAMED AT LEcoMpToN, KANSAS
TERRITORY, ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER,
1857
Whereas, small minority Of the people living in nine
teen OF the thirty eight counties Of the Territory awaiting
themselves law which enable them 10 obstruc and
defeat fair expression Of the popular will did by the
odous and oppressive application OF the provisions and
parzan machinery OF said law procure the return Of the
whole number of the delegates TO the Constu iona Con-
venon recently assembled at Iecompton; whereas, by
Of the defective provisions of said law, in
ton with the neglect and misconduct OF the authorities
charged with the execution of the same the people living
within the remaining nineteen counhes OF the Territory
not permitted return delegates said
not recognized in its organization, any
heard felt in its deliberations; and whereas, it is
axiom in political ethics that the people be
prved Of their rights by the negligence misconduct Of
public officers and whereas minority TO wit, twenty.
eight (2s only the sixty members Of said Convention
have attempted, by unworthy contrivance, impose
upon the whole people of this Territory constitution,
without consulting their wishes and against their wishes
and whereas, the members Of said Convention have
fused 10 submit their action for the approval dapproval
Of the OF the Territory and in thus acting
fed the will of nine tenths of the voters Thereof and
whereas the action Of fragment of said Convention re-
presentI rs they did, small minority Of the Votes Of
the Territory repudates and brushes out the distinct
feature Of the 'Nebraska Kansas act and violates
rampes under foot the rights and sovereignty of the
people; and whereas, from the foregoing statement Of
facts clearly appears that the people have been
left tree form regulate domestic institution in
their way" but the contrary at every stage in
their anomalous proceedings reced they have been pre-
vented from so doing. Be IL therefore
Resolved, by the Governor and Legislative Assembly of
Kansas Territory That the people of Kansas being opposed
to said constitution Congress has rghtfu power under
TO admit said Territory into Union as State and
that the representatives Of said Territory do hereby in
their name and on their behalf solemnly protest against
such admission.
Resolved. That such action Vie part Of Congress
would in the judgment Of the members Of this Legislative
Assembly, be entire abandonment Of the doctrine of
in the affairs OF the Terrtoryand sub
sttution In its stead Of Congressional Intervention he
half OF minority engaged in disreputabe attempt de-
feat the will and violate the rights Of the majority.
Resolved, That the people OF Kansas Territory claim
the right, through legal and fair expression OF the will
Of majority Of her citizens, to form and adopt cons
Resolved That the Governor of this Territory be re-
quested 70 forward copy Of the foregoing preamble
and resolutions TO the President Of the United States,
the President Of the Senate the speaker Of the House o
Representative and TO the delegate Congress for this
Territory
The following resolution endorsing the Topeka
constitution as the people, consultation also passed
the House and Council yesterday
Resolved, the unanimous opinion Of this House,
That the constitution known the Topeka constitution
emanated directly from the people, under nccessity
which demanded its adoption for the overthrow Of gov
eminent thrust upon them against their will that said
constitution has twice been adopted by the people, and
that OF justice To sovereign people strug-
Cling against gross usurpaiion the duty Congress
70 admit the Territory OF Kansas urder said constitution
States OF the American Union at the earliest
practicable moment
To-day December Is, learn the Assembly passed
bill declaring the act Of the late Legislature, un-
der which the Assassin Convention derived ta ari-
thority to be null and void and making IL felonyto
hold an election under IL.
A bill was brought into the House providing for
the election of delegates TO a new Constitutional
L. L-ll ~ Al
1t was defeated in the committee of the whole,
chiefly on account Of an Objectionable apportion-
ment which did not give fair representation 20
Southern Kansas. II is supposed some similar pro-
ject will be finally adopted. A bill was also intro
duccd and read the first time, providing for the cleo.
ton of State officers under the Lecompton constitu.
ton, the 4th OF January next The object Of this
y simply to gain possession, not TO put into opera
ton, OF the power OF the Lecompton swndle. should
we be admitted into the Union under IL. IL IL pro-
posed To nominate the officers of the Topeka organi-
cation, and use the power they may gain for the
benefit Of the people.
both branches to q third reading to-day. Az will
be secR IL provides for the taking of q vote on the
first Monday of January on the Lecompton swindlc;-
Sec. lprovides for election the first Monday Of
January, 1885, 10 vote for the rejection ratification OF
the Lecomp,on constitution. All citizens OF the United
States who have been In Kansas thirty days ten days
in the precinct where he offers TO vote legal voter.
The ballots 70 be marked Iecompton constitution
with slavery, and No slavery, and no Lecompton
sttution."
Sec 2-Provides for the Governors appointing three
Commissioners In each county, whose duty shall be 10
appoint polling precincts and judges Of election.
Sec 3-provides for the Of voting by ballot the
appointment OF clerks andimanner Of making the re-
turns one OF which Is 10 be deposited with the Com
missioners and the other with the Governor
Sec 4-provides that the Governor, President of the
Council and Speaker Of the House Of Representatives or
any two Of them, shall receive and examine the
and certify 10 the result OF the vote upon the constu
ton make the same known by proclamation and commu
nicaie the same 10 the President
Sec. b-Provdcs that any officer al this any other
special general election which may be hereafter held
who shall make fraudulent returns, &C. shall be deemed
guilty OF felony and be imprisoned not less than
more than I've years.
Sec. 6-Gves the Probate Judges all Jurisdiction In
arising under this act and provides any Probate
Judge shall refuse 10 issue wrts In any may be
carried before The judge Of the adjoining courts.
Sec 7rovides for the repeal Of all acts clsshing with
this.
ncient for the holding OF election
Sec. a-Irovdes tina, any not legally authorized
- ~. .i.. III.