The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-12-19


the Leeompton Swindle in regard to the
qualifications of voters under that instru-
ment. The commencement of the sec
ond paragraph. Of the 7th section of the
Schedule, Provides" Before this Con-
stitution shall be sent to Congress for ad-
mission into the Union as State, it shall
be submitted to all the aciite naale iahabat-
ants IF this Territory for approval or dis
approval" Further down in the same
paragraph, as if apprehensive they might
be misunderstood, they say it shall te
submitted to all tie miite male inhabit-
ants Of the Territory of Kansas, IN THE
SAID TERRITORY UPON THAT DAY,
and over the age Of t'ceaty-oRe years."-
This is the only qualification of voter
on the 21st of December, on a vote for
the adoption or rejection of the slavery
clause, to wit Males over the age of
twenty-one years, who are IN the Terri
tory. They cannot stand on the Nilsson
ri side ofthe line, and pass their ballots to
some person who reaches his hand ouer the
line to receive them; but presuming the
same principle holds in this case as in bur-
glary, that the entrance of any part Of a
PERSONS body into house with bur-
glarious intent, is a sufficient entry to con-
stitute the crime, SO q mere reaching of
a hand over the line by male person above
the age of twenty -one years, would make
every citizen of Missouri voter if he
chose to exercise that prerogative.
But it does not stop here Though the
9th article of the Constitution provides
that
"Every male citizen of the United
States, above the age of twenfy-one
years, having resided in the State one
year, and in the county. city or town in
which he may offer to vote, three months
next preceding any election, and be enti-
tied to vote at all elections :"
Plainly conveying the inference that
no other, save those thus qualified, shall
be entitled to vote; yet the balance of
the same section further provides, that
"Every male citizen of the United
States above the age of twenty one years,
who may be resident of the State at the
time this Constitution shall be adopted, shall
have the right of voting as aforesaid; but
no such citizen or inhabitant, shall be en-
titled to vote except in the county in
which he shall actually reside at the time
of the election"
Il is apparent that this was designed to
give all persons who shall be IN the Ter
ritory on the 21st day of December, 1857,
right to vote for State officers on the 4th
day of January, 1858.
1t is the design to pass over into John
son and other counties, from Missouri, on
the 21st day of December, large num-
Der of persons, who will remain to vote
onthe 4.h ofJanuary following, for officers
under the Lecompton Constitution. In
the meantime they aOiN go up by thousands to
Lecompton, and pref mpt all the unoccupied
lands in that county. Such are their in
tentioas, and such aoas the reason Of their
anxiety to get General BRINDLE and COL
MOORE, removed from the Land Office, to
make room for their o,Cn toOls-for such men
as S. j. Jones d Co.
If the Legislature does its duty. it will
provide that the Constitution will not be
adopted on the 21st of December; that
the only vote at that time be on the sla.
very clause that the only adoption i
will receive before the 18th of January
was that given to it by the Convention
at the time of its adoption on the 9TH o
November, and that to entitle person tt
vote for State officers under it, they mus
have been inhabitants of the Territory OF
the said 9TH day of November last, ant
continued such down to the day of cleo
ton. They should further declare al
persons who attempt to interfere in on
elections, as outla,os, who were not bona fl
inhabitants of the Territory on the sale
9TH day of November last, and were thu
otherwise qualified according to the Con
stitution. The militia should be called
out in sufficient force to vindicate the
rights of the citizens to vote, and the,
should be instructed to disperse, at tn
point of the bayonet, any men, comini
from Missouri, or elsewhere, who come t
take possession of, or control the ballot
boxes contrary to law.
The officers of the land Office Shoult
construe literally the laws and instruction
in regard to pre-emptors, and no persol
should be allowed to prove up his CLAIM
who has not complied with all the condi
tons of the law, among which are to hau
has family on the claim.
There are several other model feature
in that Constitution in regard to votin
which we will point out in another article
or on another occasion.
Secretary Stanton Removed.
1t is reported, and generally credited
we believe, that Secretary Stanton ha
been removed to give place to Mr. Den
YER. who, it is said, was on his way t
Kansas as Superintendent of Indian al
fairs. but whose movement to take charg
of that Office was intercepted by tele
graphic dispatch stating that he had bee