Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-09

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1857.
The Constitution of x ansas.

u COPy VI CiliS uOCuuIeuJ udsJ dG lOhSChJ |
been given to the country. We have met |
with it in the columns of the st. Louis
Democrat of the End inst. Whether it is
an authorized and correct version of that
instrument, we are unable to decide. 1t
has neither certificates nor signatures; but
inasmuch as it was first communicated
through Kansas paper, it is presumed till
the contrary is shown, that it is veritable
and true. And since it has come to light,
what is it? Upon subjects outside of the
slavery question, it is, as we supposed,
simply a rehash of those of various other
States. 1t divides the elementary powers
of government into three departments, the
Legislative, Executive and Judicial-the
duties of each being carefully and specif-
cally defined. 1t contains liberal proVls-
ions for the encouragement of education
and internal Improvements prohibits the
creation of State debt exceeding five
hundred thousand dollars-authOrize the
creation Of banks of deposit and exchange,
but not of issue, except, one with two
branches, and that not until the act crea-
ting it shall have been submitted to and
ratified by the people-secures to married
women the separate right Of property
! makes all officers of the State, executive,
| judicial and ministerial elective by the
! peopIe-and generally seeks by all the
! usual constitutional means, to foster and
promote the happiness and prosperity of
the people. We have been unable to find
in its general provisions anything partial,
tyranical or oppressive. Many things
occur, as matters of State policy, about
which there might be honest differences of
opinion among sincere and patriotic men,
perhaps; but nothing which would warrant
such degree of objection and opposition
as should precipitate violent or revolution
airy Misunderstanding which could not be
remedied by easy and peaceful means at
any time.
Outside of the body of the constitution
and preceding the preamble, the ConVen-
ton assumed to dictate to the General
Government how much of the public lands
living within her borders, should be relin-
uuished to the State. In this they were
quite liberal enough. They propose to
take four sections out of every township of
thirty six; also two entire townships of sew
enty two sections, for seminary of learn
ing: also each alternate section for twelve
miles on each side Of a line Of railroad the
whole breadth of the State, from North to
South, and the same for another line Of
railroad, the whole length of the State
from East to West; also all salt springs,
and gold, silver, copper, lead or other val
liable mines, together with the lands neces-
sary for their full occupation and use; also
five per. centum of the net proceeds of the
sales of all lands in the State, sold by the
general government. In consideration of
all which they relinquished the taxes which
would otherwise be justly due from the Fed
eraI government to the State upon the pub
lie laws in the STATED This we deem simp-
ly proposition for a trade-a bargain
involving nothing more than dollars and
cents, which may, and doubtless will be
rejected by Congress, without moments
hesitation. We have never seen a more
extravagant proposition-it quadrupleS
the usual school aid to townships, doubles
the customary railroad aid, and throws in
the saIt-springs, mines, &c, and the forty
six thousand acres of Seminary" lands for
good measure-and all this over and above
the ordinary five per. cent. qDid pro que,
for taxes If the Convention could
obtain the acceptance of this proposal by
Congress, Jim Lane nor Gov. Robinson,
in their most violent and cOnvulsive fits of
opposition to bogus laws, &C., could not
object to this part of the work! But this
may be, as it unquestionably ought to be,
stricken out by Congress, and yet leave
the Constitution entire and effective. We
therefore see no reasonable or insurmount-
able objection to the present adoption of
the Constitution. The people of the ter
ritory have it before them, and they can
live under it without bloodshed, or even
very great inconvenience
But it has been suggested by the negro
worshipers that the Convention has only
made a fuint of submitting the question
of slavery to vote Of the people; and
though they vote "no slavery" as provided
in the Schedule" it is yet, and would re-
main Notwithstanding, a pro-slavery con-
stitution. The other provision than that
of the schedule (Which we have already
published) relating to this suject, is as fol-
lows:
"Section l. The right of property is before and
higher than any constitutional sanction and the
right OF the owner of a slave TO such slave AMI its
increase, Is the and inviOable as the right
of the owner OF any property whatever.
Sec. .. The Legislature shall have no power to
pass laws for the emancipation OF slaves without
the consent Of the owners, or without paving the
owners previous to their emancipation a full equiv
aent IN money for the slaves so emancpated
They shall have no power to prevent emgrants TO
the state from bringing with them such persons ss
are deemed slaves by the laws, OF any person of
the same age description shall be continued in
slavery by the laws OF this state PrOuided, That
such person or slave be the bona flis property OF
such emigrants; and proUiasd also, That laws may
b. passed to prohibit the Introduction into this