The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-11-13

Kansas CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION -
RrroRr on SLAVERY. The n. Y. Tribune
has series Of letters from its Kansas cor.
respondent, giving the proceedings Of the
Constitutional Convention, from which we
take few extracts Of general intererest
1.-THE report ON the Elective Franchise not
having been quite disposed Of when 6rst be-
fore the Convention, some incidents worthy
Of note occurred from 1t came up again. In
the first section the word white occurred
before citizens Of the United States. This
was stricken out on the ground Of the bred
Scott decision that there could Be no colored
eitilens. A few felt some hesitation ut such
An unqualified trust In that decision Of the
question. They believed in IL, Of course,
but they thought the insertion Of tho word
white would 'hurt nothing Not 30 the
more shrewd. The full integrity and force
of that decision must he preserved intact
and unimpeached. By saying white citi.
rens, the reference would be that there could
be citizens other than white. As one or
two directors rose they were met by the
question, DO you not believe in the bred
Scott decision?' This interrogatory finally
Quoted directors, and the word white was
stricken out"
Considerable discussion was had on parts
of the Report on Slavery. but after some few
amendments were made, the following pre-
amble and sections were adopted, with only
two dissenting votes:
"PREAxBLE. The right Of property is be-
fore and higher than any Constitutional
sanction, and the right of the owner of q
slave to such slave and its increase in the
same and rs inviolable as the right to any
whatever. ....
SECTION l. Tho Legislature shall have no
power to pass laws for the emancipation Of
slaves without the consent Of their owners,
or without paying their owners, previous to
their emancipation, q full equivalent in mo-
ney for the slaves 30 emancipsted. They
shall have no power to prevent emigrants to
this State from bringing with them such
rersonsas are deemed slaves by the laws Of
my one Of the United States or territories,
70 long as any person of the same age or
description shall be continued in slavery by
The laws Of this State; provided that such
person or slave be the bona fde property Of |
Iuch emigrant; and provided also that laws
nav be passed to prohibit tho introduction |
INTO this State ofslaves who have committed
high crimes in other States or Territories
They shall have power TO pass laws to per.
nit the owners OF slaves to emancipate them,
aving the rights Of creditors, and prevent
ny them from becoming public charge
They shall have power to prevent slaves
rom being brought into the State as mer-
and alsol to oblige the owners Of
laves 10 treat them with humanity, to pro-
'ide for them necessary food and clothing,
o abstain from all injuries to them extend
ne 70 life or limb. and. in case of their
neglect or refusal to comply with the direc-
ion Of such laws, to have such slave or
laves sold for the benefit Of their owner or
'wners.
SEC. 9. In the prosecution of slaves for
rims Of higher giade than petit larceny,
he Legislature shall have no power 10 do
rive them Of an impartial trial by Q petit
ury.
SIC. 3. Any person who shall malicious
= dismember or deprive slave Of life, shall
uiier such punishment as would DO inflicted
q case the ike offense had been committed
n free white person, and on like proof,
xcept in case Of insurrection ofsuch slave"
This was stricken out on Boling's amend.
nent.
The correspondent says:
1.-THE most influential men in the Conven-
ion have already been approached on the
ubject Of submitting this Constitution to-
ether with the Topeka Constitution, but
his has been secuted BY them, and the hos
ility Of even the most conservative Of them
o anything Of the kind is significant In.
licAtion Of their designs"