Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-19
Correspondent ofthe Missouri Democrat
Law Making In Kansas.
IECoMProN- Ian a. 1;


LEcoMProN, JAN as, 1857.
The veto of Gov. Geary has been over
ruled by the Legislature. The bill allowing
courts of law to admit persons charged with
murder to bail, and giving them general
discretion as to bail in all cases, has become
Territorial law by a nearly unanimous
vote.
House bill No. IA, which commission
VIM H. Sherard as Sheriff of Douglas, and
legaize his past acts as Sheriff. passed the
House almost without opposition, and has
got to the tnird reading in the Council with
cut dissenting voice.-This bill which
will, beyond doubt, b., ratified by the next
vote os the Council. seis at defiance Gov
Geary's refusal to commission Sherart, his
instructions frem Government and all the
reasons Herewith connected, Sherard's
character inclnded. 1t declares that the
Legisla' ure will not tolerate such interfer-
ence for any reason.
A bill has passed both HOUSES giving ex
tended jurisdiction to Justice of the Peace
Courts, these being the sub-appointees to
the Legislature. There is proposal to
give he County Probate Courts extended
jurisdiction in civil cases, and 10 give them,
also luri, diction in criminal cases; to give
them the same jurisdiction in original cases
as the Federal or Supreme Court. It is
urged that. owing 10 the conduct of the
Government as regards to Judiciary this will
be necessary to insure justice.
A bill has been introdut ed to charter
the an issouri River and Rocky Mountain
Railroad"
The exclusive privilege OF keeping ferrifs
has oef.n granted to a number ofpro-slavery
partizans, who are located on the Kansas
or Missouri river. These priy;lege are IA
Yorab!e, exclusive, and granted tor fifteen
years.
The boundaries ofthe counties in Kan
sas Territory, which were badly defined st
last session, have been fixed. A good deal
of time has been consumed doing 30. The
principal aim appears to be to arrange them
SO that t!e county seats now sesiablished
by this body, should be as nearly central as
possible, land permanent.
A great many bills have passed. grarting
right of way, and making provision to have
opened certsin Territorial roads. Many of
these roads are the some as were granted
at last session. They were then allowed
year to open them. AS that time has pass
ed without anything being done to chem,
they are now allowed two years. Most of
these roads are to towns existing only TN
per. got up by the members of this body
and their friends-many of them being de-
clartd permanent county seats.
Two different companies have applied for
a charter for the city Of Wyandoi, Free
State company that owns land there, and a
pro-slavery company also owning,iand there.
The free State men included the same names
found in the other bill for charter, as cor
porters; but the others want exclusive cor
porate authority to themselves. Il is
worthy of note that VIM. Y. Roberts, Lieut..
Governor of the Safe OF Kansas, is one of
The parties thus seeking charter from the
Legislature denounced as bogus by himsele
most eloquent at the time he was a candi-
date for Office.
An act has passed, authorized the city oil
Leave nv orlh 10 borrow money.
An act has passed both House, making
it illegal and punishable 10 carry On Banking
withou, charter This has been. .signedby
the Governor. 1t is aimed at band started
in Leavenworth by Free State men,and car.
ried on on small scale.
No bank charter has gone through both
Houses yet, though several have gone
though each. Tne House Committee on
Banking report favorable tola general Law,
but there is minority report adveszf 10
such policy.
There has been prolonged debate in the
House on the Governors message. The
Governor is severely handled.
A conventio was held on Monday even
ing. 1t mere ly ratified the resolutions Of
the former convention, which declared the
"Law and Order party to be the National
d Democracy OF Kansas. SPlLMAN.