Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-24
y.vs.s AND HER CONSTITUTION.

dead point OF danger ls passeh-ai 7'"'
trouble abou, Kansas ati:irsi a over sud gone. Nun
sas co,ncs in.n III. Union on Tie principe I'll he
gres; acl Which organized her and Nubra:ks es terri
lorial governments. Another star is addeIt 10 the re-
publican constellation, not Ginning on scenes OF ter
ror. conflsgration and blood, but lending its light 10
the pe aceful pursuits Of a contented Gnd prosperous
people.
We lay before our readers this morning the erhe
dul- os ihe new Constitution prepared by the Con.
veution a, Lscomp'On. The schedule is that part OF
the Constitution which provides for the transition
from the system which NOS is 10 that which II to BE-
and prescribes in what manner il shall become bind.
ing as the fundamental law Of the land. In the de-
spatches received a day or two since, this temporary
machinery, with which all new Constitutions must be
preceded, i. called q provisional government. and
some nervous persons perhaps were alarmed at the
revolutionary sound OF the words. IL ia the mere
scaffoldirg 70 be used by the people while they are
putting up the permanent fabric Of thelr rights, and
then il will be used no more. In the mean time al
the territorial laws remain in full force until the Con
stirution take their place, except 10 50 fer as thls
schedule is used for carrying OH the election.
This schedule submits the Constitution TO the white
inhabitants of Kansas acknowledges the pecple of
the new State to be the ouly tribuna! that can right:
fully determine what its domestic institutions shall
be; aud gives full, practical, ard fair effect to the
great principle Of popular sovereignty. On the 2lst
day of December uext, the electors may meet at their
prOpbT pldCes ~ No'ihs anu cypress tuGlT UpiElUIs w
ballot on the question of slavery or no slavery. III
majority sball vote in favor Of slavery, then the pro.
vision which makes Kansas a slave State will remain
in the Constitution, and in that shape it will be laid
before Congress. But if the greater number of bal.
Tote be cast TIE other way, that provision shall be
stricken out, aud then every negro In the State, or
hereafter to 20 there, shall BIZ free, except the few
who are now there i'll the legal condition of servitude
The special details Of the provisions for taking the
sense of The people, so far as we can judge Of them at
.h:, IL oaar u 10 adp,,yah1, ,txl,. Co. h.
purpose. II it shall not result in a true expression Of
the popular wishes, 1t will be the fault of the people
themselves. But we have no right to doubt that the
election will be fairly conducted, or that the defeated
party, whichever it may be, will cheerfully submit TO
the viii of the majority.
1t i. barely possible that an ultra abulitionist here
aud there may take exception TO the provision which
protects the slave property now In the Territory.
But the justice and ~propriety of this is as clear as
noon day. Let 1t be remembered that slavery was
established in Kansas by the contribution, and the
question 1. on the abolition of it. Shall il be swept
out Of existence ut a blow, without regard to the ca.
cred rights Of property J or shall it be gradually ex.
tipguished1 The Kansas Convention has decided
in favor of the former COURSE and has resolved to
deal with 1t a, all the other States in the Union deal,
with it-that lie, abolish it prospeciively. What
crime has been committed by the slaveholding emf
grants In Kansas, who went there in good faith with
their families and servants, under the protection of
the law and the constitution, which gave them an un.
doubted right TO DO sol Why is it that they should
now be driven out of the State, or permitted to stay
only at the expense Of having their property confs
cated7
We heartily congratulate ths Administration op
this auepicious event. The President, keeping his
eve steadily fixed on the Constitution and the Laws,
and turning neither to the right hand nor the LEFT,
kept directly onward in the path he had marked out
tor his footsteps. This digniied and conscientious
policy-a policy which had no motive but the peace
and prosperity of the country-will be rewarded with
the triumphant success II deserves. He saw the end
from the beginning. He never doubted thar The truth
would prevail. In the midet of all the pickering and
contention North and South. lie hated no jot of heart
or hope, but preserved bis unrutded serenity and bis
cheerful faith in the right.
Tho members of the Convention are entitled 10 be
held in everlasting remembrance for adhering to the
great truths of the Democratic creed 10 the midst OF
temptations which the virtue OF most men would have
been too weak TO resist. They we're exposed to the
attacks of ultras on both sides, The persuaslons Of
one and the taunts Of the other were alike calculated
and alike intended TO influence them in favor OF q
wrong decision. 1t is not often that a representative
body is found pursuing the right when It's friends and
enemies are both inviting il into the wrong. There
are some names In that Convention which we shsl!
delight TO honor.
This news, 80 full of hope to every American pa
triot, will bring sorrow to only one GLASS OF our peo.
pie. The Black Republican politicians had all their
capital staked on the chances Of disorder and confu.
zion 10 Kansas. The enterprise has failed, and they
are ruined. The peace Of the country, the prosperi
~ of the people, and the safety Of the Union 10 de.
%struction to their hopes We rejoice over it none the
less on that account. They had their day when their
tools and hirelings in Kansa, were filling the Terrific.
ry with alarms and r~gitstipg the whole country
when they employed the press, the pulpit, and the
rostrum to echo the shreks with which they hoped to
Brighten the public mind from its proprlety. Those
were the days Of "bloeding Kansas" and then aboli.
tiouisn waxed mighty; peaceful and quiet Kansas
coming into The Union on the broad platform OF
equal, constitutional rights will consign II again to lie
original nothlngness.
We are glad TO cay, In addition, that nearly ell the
memberst Of the convention who were opposed to the
submission have finally yielded TO the just!ce aud
~propriety Of it, Washington Union.
SCHEDULE.
SEQ. /. That no inconvenience may arise by req.
son Of q change from II territorial 10 a permanent
State government, i, is declared that all rights, &C.
tons, prosecutions, judgments, claims, and contracts,
as woll Of individuals rs Of bodies corporate, except
the bill Incorporating banks, by the last Territorial
Legislature, shall continue as If no suoh change had
place, and all processes which may have Is.
sued under the authority Of the Territory Of Kansas
shall be as valid 40 II Issued IN the name OF the State
of Kansas. -.
SEC. 9. Al laws now Of force In the Territory Of
Kansas, which are not repugnantt to this Constitution,
shall continue, aud be Of force until altered, amend.
ed, or repealed by a legislature assembled oy the pro.
visions Of this Constitution.
SEQ. 3. All Hues, penalties. and forfeliures aocru.
ing to the Territory of Kansas shall inure 10 the use
OF the State Of Kansas.
SEC. 4. All rscognizances heretofore taken shall
pess to, and be prosecuted in the name of, the State
of Kansas; aud all bonds executed TO the Governor
Of the Territory, or 10 any other officer Or court, in
his Or their official capacity, shall pas. 10 the Govern.
or aud corresponding officers OF the State authority,
and their successors in office, and for the use therein
and may be eued for aud recovered &c.
and all tho estates or property, real, per.
sonsl or mixed, aud all judgments, bonds, speclalties,
cases in action, and claims or d1bts Of whatsoever
description, of the Territory OF Kansas, shall inure
to and vest IN the State OF Kansas, and be sued for
and recovered in the Eame manner aud TO the same
extent thst the came Could haVe been oy the lerrlto-
ry of Kansas.
SEC. 5. All criminal prosecutions and penal actions
may have arisen before the change from a Ter
ritorial to a State Government, aud which shall then
be pending. shall be prosecuted to Judgment In tie
name of the State of Kansas all actions at law and
suits in equity which may Do pending in tho courts OF
the Territory of Kansas at the time Of the change
from a Territorial to a State Government may De con.
tinued and transferred TO any court OF the State which
sbal have jurisdiction Of the subject matter thereof
SEC. G.. All officers, c.vil and military, holding their
offices under the authority Of tbs Territory 81 Kansas,
shall continue to mold and exercise their respective
Offices until they shall be superseded by The authority
OF the State.
SEC I. This constitution shall be submitted to the
Congress OF the United States at its next ensuing ses
sion; and IA soon as official information ia. been Tea.
c.ived that it is approved by tho sans, by the admis.
.ion Of the Stste of Kansas as one Of the Sovereign
State. Of the United States, the President OF this
Convention shall issue his Proclamation to convene
ths State Legislature ut the seat Of government, with.
in t~hirty-ons days after publication Should any Va.
cancy occur by death, resignation, or otherwise, 10
the Legislature or other of. -, be shall order an cleo
ton TO fill such vacancy: Prouided, however, in case
refusal, absence, or disability OF the President OF
this Convention to discharge the duties herein i'm
posed on him. the President pro tfnpore of this Con
vsntior shall perform said duties; and in oase Of hb-
ssnce, refusal or disability Of tbs President pro TEN.
pore, a COMMITTEES consisting of seven, or a majority
Of them, shall discharge the duties required of the
President of his Convention.
SEC 8. The Governor and oil! other officers shall
sn,.. upon the discharge Of their respective duties as
soon after the admission Of the State of Kansas as
ons of the independent and sovereign States of the