The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-07

Va eAats@o " AeAhVut suc COilScut Vi titSit Wv L.
-, or without paying their owners, pre-
vious to their emancipation fun equiva-
lent IN money for the slave so efnancipa-
ted They shall have no power to prevent
emigrants TO the Safe from bringing with
them such persons as are deemed slaves
by the laws of any one of the United
States or Territories, SO long as any per-
son OF the same age or description shall
be continued in slavery by the laws of
this State; Provided that such person OF
slave be the bona .jide property of such
eniigrant; and provided also that laws
may be passed to prohibit the Introduction
into this State of slaves who have COM
United high crimes in other States or Ter
ritories. They shall have power to pass
laws to permit the owners of slaves TO
emancipate them, saving the rights 6f
creditors, and preventing them from be-
coming a public charge. They shall have
power to prevent slaves from being brought
into the State as merchandise, and also to
oblige the owners of slaves TO treat them
with humanity, to provide for them ne
ceSsary food and clothing, TO abstain
from all injuries to them extending TO life
or limb; and in case of their neglect or
refusal to comply with the direction of
of such laws, to have such slave or slaves
sold for the benefit of the owner or own
ers.
SEC. 2. Inthe prosecution of slaves for
crimes of higher grade than petit larceny,
the Legislature shall have no power to de-
prive them of an impartial trial by petit
Jury.
SEC. 3. Any person who shall malici-
ously dismember or deprive slave of
life, shall suffer such punishment as would
be inflicted IN case. the like offence had
been committed on free white person,
and on the like proof; except in case of
instruction of such slave.
HUGH II. MOORE, Chairman.
The above is the report of the Com
mittee on Slavery in-the Convention now
setting at Lecompton. which is pleased to
style itself the Constitutional Convention
for the State of Kansas Its brevity may
be noticed as commendible feature
| That it is the sentiment CT that highlg
respectable body of men, we have testimony
in the fact of its receiving their almost
unanimous approval. This branch of the
labofs of that Convention is of more
especial interest to our readers than
any other. 1t has been a topic OF
much discussion whether they. would in
sert in the Constitution any provision up.
on the subject of slavery or not. Howev-
er, considering the political complexion
of the Committee, there does not seem to
have been any ground for difference Of
opinion thereon. Every member being a
rank, red-mouthed pro-slaveryist. it was not
among the probabilities at least, that the
existence of the institution would be left
to the mercies of a popular Legislature.
There certainly was no need of an ex-
press declaration in the Consultation that
slavery exists as an institution of the
country. Chief Justice fancy has obyi-
ated all necessity for such express estab-
lishment by interpreting the Constitu-
ton of the United States to be a slavery
propagating agent, and by deciding that
slavery has existed in Kansas since twas
opened for settlement, without any law to
establish or protect save the constitution
itself.
All, therefore, it was needful to do was
to make provision to perpetuate it, which
has been done after the most approved
system. South Carolina herself could not
have been more scrupulously jealous Of
the interests of the institution.
The first section of this constitutional
provision prohibits the power to the Leg
islature to pass laws for the emancipation
of slaves aoitlout the consent of the Gunner.
This, in plain English, means that the
score or two of slave owners that I've In
this Territory, may control the 20 or 1o0,-
900 that differ with them in opinion on
the subject of slavery; we speak of course
as though this really existed as part of our
fundamental law. Such provision is of
itself most whitening condemnation of
the system of slavery. If it is an institI,-
ton elevating and wholesome in its effects
can it not be trusted to the intelligence
and virtue of the masses who are interest
ed? How it would look to see provision
in the Constitution of State prohibiting
the Legislature from abolishing, for In
stance, the common school system, or
forbidding to that body the power to abol-
ish and destroy the universities and semi
naries of learning in the State. What a
patent absurdity that would be. Yet no
more unreasonable and preposterous than
the article quoted above. adopted by the
Lecompton Convention, if slavery is so
fruitful of blessings and good results as
its supporters ara constantly claiming for
il.
So far as we are concerned, this provi-
sion is as good as any which could by pos
sibiIity have been adopted by this Con-
vention.
1t is not so much the work that we
consider infamous as it is the workers.
This article above is quoted to let the peo-
pie know that something is being done
more than to enlighten them as to the
character of the results. Forwe are of the
opinion that the people viii not repudiate
this Constitution article by article, but that
the whole viii be swept away. The mer-
its of this instrument viii not be regarded
or discussed, but it will be in all its pro-
visions stamped spurious. infamous, On
account of its spurious and infamous orr
gin. 1t would, no doubt, be difficult to
convince the honorable men composing