Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-04-10
v1latchman s State 5ournal.
THE KANSAS QUESTION,
BY E. p. WALTON

dents of the territory. That there may be
no mistake. we quote from Mr. Walker let |
Ter to President Brchanan, dated on the Goth
ultmo
"Iundcrsiaud that you and an your osone, cordially
concur In ho opinion expressed by me, that me actwa
Bona Sde rrsidefs OF me TERRITORY Of Kansas BY far
and ryniar tote unaffected ~ fraud or tioeHce must
he permtied in adopting their State Constitution to de-
M r Themselves what shall be their social institutions
This is the great fundamental principle o. the act OF
Congress organizing that Territory, affirmed 10y me o
ureme Court Of the United States and Is On gefofaanee
With the views uniformly expressed by me thuughout
nv public career I contemplate peaceful settlement
~ this question by appeal 20 the intelligence ana P
ri0tsn Of The whoie people Of hqnsa', 'cNo Moga H
sirticipdfe freely and FULLY n ms aeesio7' emo ny
majority Of whose votes the determination must pc iae
the only proper and constitutional moue % g,y..'
ment. M j. ItaNor 10 President Bwhanon, March
2efh, 1851.
This is a strong promise, so far as words
60; and it is given in the name of Governor
Walker, and in behalf of President Blu
chanan and all his cabinet Why, then,
ought not the Free State men Of Kansas to vote
at the election Of a Constitutional Convention,
to meet in September next; This is qucs-
ton DANGEROUSLY put by the friends of the
Administration. and not few of the friends
of Freedom are disturbed by it. complete
and conclusive answer is TO be found in the
faet. that # the election is conducted accord
ina 10 The act Of The Bogus Legislature, IL viii
not be an expression Of the sentiments of
all the actual bona fdc residents. such as has
been promised as above by Gov. Walker
and the Administration. Nobody can vote
except under certain regulations the eXecu-
ton Of which is committed exclusively to
notorious and inscriptions pro-savery mon
T1eg arc to take the census, make up the
voting lists. form the districts, and apporton
the delegates to each district. With unlimi-
ted power like this. it is clear enough that
they can, and doubtless will, take census,
manufacture lists. and opportion delegates to
suit their intended purpose. Indeed the
news of the present week is that the census,
now being taken, is incomplete, does not in
clude free state men, and is therefore a fraud.
Now. if anybody expects a tair election, at
the hands of men who have won their present
position. and are attempting to keep it, by
fraud and force. we submit that he must be
vast deal too vcrdant for Vermont But
more; q majority Of he people will be exclu-
ded from voting. Nobody can vote unless
he has had a residence from tho 9TH of April
March say some, to the 18th of June
thus including the Missourians who went over
In March to make claims. and ercluding the .
thousands of Free State men who could not
get in until after the opening of navigation.
The emigration this season we have seen os-
mated as high as 10000, which would be
iou6lc the population of the territory in
March last, Yet the emgrants of this sea-
on cannot roie, although they will, by Sep
ember next, in all probability constitute a
majority Of the people Of the territory The
election then. under the act of the Bogus
Legislature, will not fairly reflect the will of
the people.
Still more; one Of the provisions of the
bogus net Is. tina, the Convention, thus to be
elected unfairly, is to make the Constitution.
and put it in force, without stbmiitingit to the
people Thus it seems that the Convention
is to be packed by the pro-slavery men--that
but pat of the people are to take part in
the election. and that the rhoic people are to
be excluded from the privilege of adopting
or rejecting the work Of this packed Conyen-
tion.
Under these circumstances the Free State
men have determined not to recognize the act
of the Bogus Legislature, by voting or other
wise not to pay the taxes assessed by it, and
not to recognize its officers; but on the other
hand, to abide by the Topeka Constitution,
to elect another Legislature under it in June
next, or in some other mode TO show, by a
vote, the Free State strength in the Territory
and then to knock at the doors of Con-
gross for admission. This determination was
made before Walker received his commission.
and before President Buchanan inaugural had
been received Whether the assurances. con
tanned in these documents, viii or ought to
change the plans of the Free State men, will
defend perhaps upon the course of the L. S.
Government and Representatives in Kansas.
As yet there is little ground to hope that the
President and Gov. Walker ,cW repudiate
the Bogus act, although it is cleary subversiye
OF the Kansas Nebraska act of Congress- II
they do not, their pledge of fairness will be
delusion the Free State men will not be
caught by it, and Buchanan and Walker will
stand precisely in the position of Pierce
and Geary, if not in worse one. If they
do repudiate the Bogus act, they must either
go on with the Topeka Constitution--or in.
duce the people to let by-gones go and begin
anew-or defer action on State Government
until Congress shall pass an enabling act
In short, if the Bogus Legislature shall be
repudiatcd, the way may be opened for an &C
commodation. If not, it strikes us that ther,
can be no yielding by the Free State mon
and thus the pledges of Walker and the Pres
ident and his Cabinet viii be vain, and wors,
than vain. They will be broken.
MONTPELIER TOWN OFFICERS.