The Kanzas news., 1857-08-15
Interesting Correspondence--Pay Won,
Taxao VOor
From The Kanzas National Demoera.

From The Kanzas National Democrat
LEcoAPToN. K. T, July 31st, 1857.
s. G. Caro-, Judgeof the Supreme Court
!Sir:-The Territorial Legislature. at lie
late session, passed an act that has been
subject of discussion. The fifth section os
sc An Act to define and establish the Conn
s.cil and Representative Districts for the
Second Legislative Assembly, and for
"other purposes is the provision, con.
cerning which, doubts have been suggest
ed and theories promulgated. 1t is in the
following words:
Every bona ride inhabitant of the Ter
'sritory of Kanzas, being citizen of III.
:. United States, over the age of twenty-one
years, and who shall have resided sir
.smonths in said Territory before the nexl
& general election for members of the Coup
ell and House of Representatives, and no
SO other person, aphateee-, shall be entitled to
t'vote at any general election hereafter, to
't be held In this Territory" Cd. Kanzas
Statutes p. 68.
H is submitted that this act is in palpa-
be violation of the Organic Law of the
Territory The twenty third section of that
law provides:
"That the right of suffrage and of hold
.sizens of the United States, and those acko
/" haze declared their intention TO become such,
and shall hare taken an oath to support the
IS Constitution Of the United States and The
81 'prorisions ef ais Act.'
Under this acs-the fundamental law of
the Territory-allowing the six months res
idence qualification, prescribed by the Leg
isIature, to stand, foreigner who may have
Al
time, in March last, and immediately set
tied in Kanzas. having declared on oath,
his intention to become citizen of the Uni
ted States, and having taken an oath to sup
port the Constitution of the United States
and the provisions of this Act, would be
entitled to vote at the general election in
October next; but under Territorial fegis-
lation he would be compelled to remain in
the United States FIVE years instead of six
months, from the date of his arrival, before
he would be entitled to vote.
We cannot too strongly condemn the in
PRODUCTION of the fell spirit of Native Ameri-
canism into Kanzas legislation. Who has
forgotten the bloody riots of Philadelphia
in 1914? The stoutest hearts were appall-
ed when magnificent temples of the Most
High crumbled into ruins. All Christen-
dom blushed, and humanity dropt tear,
when the parsonage of st. Augustine, where
Protestants had been nursed by the Sisters
of Charity, during the rayages of the Chol-
era, was consumed amid the demoniac yells
of incendiaries And shall the Legislature
of Kanzas be permitted to nullify the action
of Congress, trample on the Organic Law
of the Territory and rob the foreigner of
the elective franchise?
1t is the opinion of some persons that the
Territorial act cited above, repeals the for
mer law, making the payment OF a tax
requisite qualification of an elector. Tho
we are decidedly of the opposite opinion,
we are exceedingly anxious to hear from
the legally constituted expounders of the
law. If consistent with your views of pro-
priety, viii you have the kindness to ex-
anime the subject and favor US with the re-
suit of your investigation?
AS we are unable to imagine anv impro-
prieiy in making this request. we shall wait
with some solicitude for your opinion; and
as we have unbounded confidence in your
legal acumen, we feel assured that the peo-
pie of the Territory viii read your expo
sition with the respect due to Judicial au-
thoIity.
In conclusion, Sir, accept assurances of
regard and esteem.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servants,
o. H. BROWNE.
r. c.. BISHOP,
WILLIAM JOHNSON,
A. j. HOOLE,
JOHN KAYLOR,
A. J. BUSH,
A H. ANTRIM,
WIN. E. THOMPSON,
r. FL. PHILLIPS.