The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-09
0ttatua fri Grader
OTTAWA, MAY s, 1857.
Kansas.


A telegraph despatch from Washington
announces positively that the free state men
Of Kansas, with Gov. Robinson at their
head. have agreed with Secretary Stanton,
to unite in the election for delegates to the
Convention called to make . State Consti-
tuition, preparatory to admission into the
Union. We notice in the st. Louis RePub-
lisan correspondence between Secretary
Stanton and the leaders Of the free state
party in Lawrence, preliminary to entering
into such an agreement, but the terms there
submitted by the latter party were of such
Q nature that they could not be acceded to,
and the reply of Secretary Stanton said so
in plain terms 1t is probable, however, that
these terms were subsequently modified, and
IN amicable arrangement effected. by which
the free state men will consider themselves
justified in going to the polls. The follow
ing were the terms submitted by the free
state leaders:
!. Two persons shall be selected in each
township or district, to correct the registry
list-one by the pro-slavery and one by the
free state party--who shall proceed in COM
pany to take the census and re-register all
legal voters; and the probate judges shall
correct their first lists, and the apportion-
uent of delegates shall be made according
10 these returns.
2. Four judges Of election shall be elected
rom each voting precinct-two by the pro-
slavery and two by the free state party
and the names Of three Of said Judges shall
be required to certificate Of election to en-
tile person to seat in the convention.
In his reply, Secretary Stanton states that
however fair these propositions may be, and
however willing he might be to accede to
them, he has no power to do so as their adop-
tion would involve the entire setting aside
Of the territorial law providing for the cleo
ton Of delegates TO the proposed consti:u-
tional convention. He tells the free state
men, however, that they have still time to
remedy their refusal hitherto to have their
names registered as voters, and to correct
the registration lists, and then proposes to
them. on their doing this at once, tina: he
will use his influence, referring to the pro-
position to appoint four judges Of election,
now authorized to be appointed by the cleo
ton law, shall consist, one of the republican
party, one Of the pro-slavery party, and one
Of the democratic party in favor Of free
state 1t is probable the agreement an
nounced from Washington to have been ef-
fected, is based on some such arrangement
a. this.
If the arrar ,ment has been effected as
stated, 1t will BE- hailed with joy BY the peace
loving men Of the whole country, as not only
An indication OF the return Of good sense to
the counsels Of the free state men, bu. as
the end of all the troubles in Kansas. There
never was greater piece of political per-
versity if not downright hypocrisy and dis
honesty that the determination Of the free
state men, while claiming to have prepon-
derance equal of six to one Of the voters OF
Kansas in their favor, to refuse to participate
In the legal elections in the territory. The
good sense Of the whole country cried out
against it, as wilful and wicked determine
tion to prOlOng difficulties and troubles when
there was no longer the slightest necessity
or occasion for them, and it is very likely the
free state men began to find that the con.
demnation of their proposed course was more
than they could prudently undertake to bear
up against.