The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-05-16
A Strange Proposition.


DEAR Sir: In your address to the
people of Lawrence, last evening, we
understood you to say in substance,
that you would enforce the laws enac-
ted by Legislature elected by the
people of an adjoining State, until
they should be repealed; also, if the
laws are unjust, or distasteful, our
remedy is the ballot box. History
has indelibly recorded the fact, which
Gen. MacLean admitted in our pres
ence last evening. that the ballot-box
was taken from the people of Kansas
Territory on the 30th March, 1855,
and has not to this day been returned.
From that time until the present the
people have had no voice whatever in
making laws, or In selecting officers
to administer them, Notwithstanding
the worldwide declaration by the ad-
ministration at Washington and its
friends elsewhere, that the people
should be perpectly free to regulate
their own institutions In their own
way, subject only to the Constitution
of the United States.
We are now invited to participate
in an election of Delegates to Con-
stitutional Convention to meet in Sep
tember next, to frame Constitution
and State government. We are told
that the election law is a good one;
that the voice of the actual settlers
can be heard at the polls, and that
justice will be meted out to all parties.
We regret that the past conduct of the
officers to supeIintend these elections
has not been such as to permit us 70
believe that they will secure a free vote
of the people, and the fact that many
well known citizens of Kansas are
omitted from the registry list; and
that as well known citizens and resi-
dents of Missouri are registered, is
conclusive proof to US that fair cleo
ton is not intended, and will not be
permitted by the officers who have
thus far had the matter in charge.
But if fair election is intended, not
witsstanding Ae body Of men calling It
scas not elected by tile people Of Kansas,
and notwithstanding the people hare al
ready formed a Constitution ofwhich a
large majority approve, aCe, the under-
signed, ARE WILLING TO O.
VERLOOK THE PAST, and go
into the election of Delegates to
a Constitutional Convention, should
convention of the people of Kansas
concur, if the following course will
be adopted by the officers of the cleo
ton, to wit:
First, Two persons shall be selected
in each township or district, to cor
rect the registry list, one by the Pro-
Slavery and one by the Free State par
ty, who shall proceed in company to
take the census, and register all legal
voters, and the Probate Judges shall
correct the lists, and the apportion-
ment of delegates shall be made accor-
ding to the returns thus made.
Second, -Four judges of election
shall be selected for each voting pre-
cinct, two by the Pro Slavery and two
by the Free State party, and the names
of three of said judges shall be re-
quired to a certificate of election to
entitle person to seat in the con-
vention.
We think your excelleney will at
once parceive that some such course
must be pursued to correct the list, or
no correction can be made. We are
informed by creditable reports, that
in some districts non-residents to the
number of thousands have already
been registered, while actual Free
State settlers have been refused; and
how else can the lists be corrected than
by the retaking cf the census by some
person or persons who have regard
| for an oath.
Testimony of negative character
can avail nothing, and to obtain posi-
tive testimony with reference to the
residence of those enlisted from ano-
ther State, would be impossible in the
short time remaining before the cleo
ton.
That you have the power to take
any course you may think proper to
secure q fair election, we have no
doubt. 1t is not material that the
letter of the law calling the election
should be strictly followed; indeed no
law at all is requisite so that the will
of majority of the people can be as
certained. Congress can give legality
to Constitution formed in accordance
with a previous Territorial act, OF
without one; and we trust your Ex-
cellency will restore the ballot-box to
the people of Kansas, in all its purity,
at any risk of informality on minor
aid non-essential provisions of the
election regulations.
Very respectfully,
Your obd't servants,
c. ROBINSON,
WM. HUTCHINSON,
EDWARD CLARK,
EPHM. MUTE, JR.,
JNO. HUTCHINSON,
G. C. BRACKET,
f. d. LADD,
G. w. BABCOCK,
G. w. SMITH,
GEO. f. EARLE,
JOSEPH CRAkLlN,
G.. JENKINS,
G.. EMORY,
JOHN A. WAKEFIELD,
j. A. FINLEY.