The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-22


Kapsas Constitutional Conve ntion-The sIs-
very Queation-I Impartial Expose of Ar
fairs.
The intelligence sent by Kansas correspondents
10 newspapers North and South has been. since
the commencement Of difficulties there and still
continues to be, entirely one sided, and therefore
unrelisble The letter writer's for the Southern
journals have universally taken the ultra pro-
slavery view of all questions that have come up
in that Territory aud have either distorted facts
misIepresented or exaggerated them. The cor
respondents of black republican and other North
ern JON nails have, on the other hand, with some
few exceptions adopted the extreme aooliionist
view of the same questions; aud so, between the
two sets of correspondents, it was impossible to
understand the true condition Of things in Kan
sas. This arose from the fact that both sets-as
is the too common habit ofjournalists- identified
themselves with party politics, and thereby either
became incapable of seeing things clearly
and unbiassedly, or else were led to sacrifice
truth and independence to partisan prejudices.
TIE correspondents for Northern journals be
came ultra aboltionists, and established them
selves at Lawrence, the headquarters OF that par
~, while the correspondents for Southern
journals adopted the border ruaian creed and al.
dressed their letters from Atchison, Lecompton
or LfayenwoIth the towns where that creed has
mot believers
Ia view Of the manifest upreliability OF the
statements in regard to Kansas affairs, win
which the country has been flooded from both
these sources, and in view OF the importance at.
tached 10 the Constitutional Convention which
assembled at Lecompton on the first Monday Of
this month, we despatched to that To IN special
correspondent, on whose Judgment and freedom
from bias we could rely Ills detailed reports OF
the proceedings Of the Convention during The
five days II remained 10 session have not yet
reached u, although they were regularly mailed
day by dsy--a practical proof Of the beautiful
efficiency Of our Post Office arrangements. But
sc have received and publish in another portion
Of our columns today bic general review OF the
Convention, Of the policy which governed it, and
d the real sentiments Of the people Of Kansas
in reference to the question OF slavery or no sla.
very. To this letter we call attention as pre-.
Hentinp an entirely new view OF affairs there, and
one al, gether different from those presented by
Iartisan journals on either side.
Il appears that tic Convention which met to
frame constitution for the people of Kansas
was In session Tor but five days, when IL adjourn
cd to meet again on The third Monday In October.
During iis short sittings the only business done
was to effect a permanent organization, to discuss
and reject the application Of persons claiming TO
be delegates from two free State counties, and
to parcel out 70 committees the various heads o.
chapters into which q State constitution s dvisi-
BILE. The gentleman chosen as the presiding
officer Il Mr.. John Calhoun, the Surveyor
General Of Ksnsas and Nebraska-a man of
moderate abilities and moderate views Strange
TO say, too, he Is Massachusetts, man by birth,
and has lived most Of his life In the free State
Of Illinois; but he is a proitgs Of Senator
for President Of the Convention. His speech, on
taking the chair-published In the HERALD o
few day. since--would show that be Is In favor Of
submitting the constitution TO the people Of Kan
tss but as the language employed By him IL
capable Of double construction, bis speech is
perfectly non-commiital and he may hereafter
take either side Of the question a. circumstances
may dictate.
II would appear, from the letter Of our CORES
pendent, that the real object Of the Convention,
in taking five weeks recess, was that II might
ascertain at the election 10 be held on the fret
Monday in October, The relative strength Of The
protlavery and anti slavery parties, and regulate
its course accordingly. At this election a dele
gate TO Congress, members Of the Legislature,
and number of Territorial officers are TO be
chosen; and the free State men have resolved, for
ne Inst time, 70 come to the polls and partici-
pate n The election. If there be 10 importation
y Missourians, aud II the election be otherwise
fairly conducted, the result will show the real
strength Of the proslsvery and free State parties
y seems however TO be universally conceded
tha' under those conditions the free State men
viii show ar irresistible numerical superiority
to the preslavery men. In that event
III r. impossible 20 say what win 10 the