The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-12-15

CONSTITUTION OF KANSAS.

The Kansas n dt1On0I DemOCfas COuLdluS
the Constitution of Kansas as framed by
the recent Convention.
1t is ordained by the Convention that
the right to tax lands in the State, belong
ing to the United States. be forever relin-
quished, on certain conditions, viz: that
certain lands lying within the borders of the
State shall be granted to the State, to be
applied exclusively to the use of common
schools; that all salt-springs, and gold, sill
YER. copper, lead or other valuable mines
shall be granted to the State; that FIVE per
centum of the proceeds of the ssles of the
public lands shall be paid to the State,
after deducting all the expenses incident
to the same; that one entire township shall
be designated by the President of the Uni
ted States for the use of seminary of
learning; and that each alternate section
of land, for twelve miles on each side of
railroad, to be established or located from
some point on the northern boundary OF
the State leading southwardly through said
State, and on each side of railroad run
ming from east to west, shall be reserved
and conveyed to Kansas for the purpose of
aiding and constructing said railroads.
The Governor is to hold his Office for
two years, and must be at least thirty years
of age, and have been citizen for twenty
years, and have resided in the State at
least five years preceding the day of his
election, or from the time of forming this
Constitution. .-* -t.
A Lieutenant Governor shall be elected
at the same time with the Governor.
The members of the House of Represen-
tatiyes are to be elected for two years, and
the Senators for four years.
The number of Senators shall not be less
than thirteen nor more than thirty three,
and the Representatives shall not be less
than thirty nine nor more than one hun
dred. The Legislature is to meet every
two years at the seat of government.
The Legislature shall have no power to
grant divorces, to change the name of indi-
viduals, or to direct the sales of estates be-
| longing to infants or other persons laboring
under legal disabilities, by special legisla-
ton; but by general laws shall confer said
powers on the courts of justice.
| It shall be the duty of all civil officers of
the rendition of persons held to service III
the State, either in States or Territories of
| the United States and the Legislature
shall enact such laws as may be necessary
| c,:&l IL nf nf
this provision. The judiciary powers of
the State shall be in one supreme court,
| circuit courts, chancery courts, courts OF
| probate, and Justices Of the peace, and
such other inferior courts as the Legisla-
ture may from time to time ordain and es-
| tablish.
Two sessions of the supreme court are to
be held annually. The chief justice and
associate justices of tho supreme court shall
be elected by the qualified voters OF the
whole State, and the judges of the circuit
courts by the qualified voters of their Cir
cults, and the judges of the chancery courts
by the qualified voters of their respective
chancery division.
The right of property is before and high
er than any constitutional sanction; ane
the right of the owner of a slave to sucf
slave and its increase is the same. and ai
inviolable as the right of the owner of any
property whatever.
The Legislature shall have no power t.
pass laws for the emancipation of slave
without the consent of the owners, or with
out paying the owners, previous to tn
emancipation, full equivalent in none,
for the slaves SO emancipated. They shal
have no power to prevent immigrants to tn
State from bringing with them such person
as are deemed slaves by the laws of an.
one of the United States or Territories, 8
long as any person of the same age or de
scription shall be continued in slavery b.
the laws of this State; Provided, Tha
such person or slave be the bona fde pro
perty of such immigrants; and pro0ide
also, That laws may be passed to prohibi
the Introduction into this State of slave
who have committed high crimes in othe
, States or Territories. They shall haV
power to pass laws to permit the owners {
slaves to emancipase them. saving th
rights of creditors, and preventing thel
, from becoming public charge. The
shall have power to oblige the owners
slaves to treat them with humanity. to pr'
vide for them necessary food and clothinI
to abstain from all injuries to them e1ten'
ing to life or limb; and in case of their nei
Iect or refusal to comply with the directit
of such laws, to have such slave or slav
sold for the benefit of the owner or owner
Every male citizen of the United State
above the age of twenty-one years, havi'
: resided in the State one year, and in &
county, city, or town, ia which ne ma
offer his vote, three months preceding al
election, shall have the qualifications of
elector. l
- All voting of the people shall be by balle
Electors are not to be arrested in going
and returning from the polls, except I