Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1857-04-01


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One Of die largest convention ssef hold d,
Kansas, vss q session d Topeka, during Tues
day and. Wednesday Of this week. Judge Wake
sAsla VS. called 70 ths chair, and b. Niles Moore
sssrstary. connistses we're appointed on cre-
deniiais and permanent organization 4
The chairman Of the COMMITTEES on platform
reporsed the following, which vas adopted, after
.sseassion: &
We, citizens Of Kansas, in delegate conyen-
fion assembled, as Topeka, March 10, A. D.,
1887, resolve and declare:
Whereas, a body of men, recently assembled
1t Lecompton, and claiming to be the Iegisia-
tive assembly Of Kansas Territory, have adopted
. regulation purporting 20 be . Law, for taking
the census and electing delegates % q constitu-
tional convention, proposed TO be held in that
place In September next; and whereas, the said
"
bcfs the representatives Of people foreign to this
Territory; and, w1ereas, the organic act does
not authorize the Territorial legislative powers,
even when legisiatively convened, to pass any
enabling act to change the government of the
same; and, whereas, the act Of this assembly il
partizan in its character, clearly contempates
fraud, for the recurrence of which it offers ina
dequate security, while it depriyes the executive
of the territory Of the power TO prevent or rem.
edy such frauds, leaves the control OF the census
and election in the hands q pretended officers,
not chosen by the people Of Kansas, wile are Of
violent character and hostile to the best inter
ests of the territory; and, whereas said act pro-
poses to disfranchise certain bona de settlers of
Kansas, Eho hale flied their declaration to be-
come citizens Of the United States, recognized
as voters by the Organic Act; and, whereas,
there Is no provision in the said regulation for
submitting the constitution SO framed to the
vote of the people Of the territory; therefore,
/. Resolved, That the people of Kansas Ter
ritory cannot participate in any election under
such regulation without compromising their
rights as American citizens sacrificing the best
interests OF Kansas, and jeopardizing the public
peace.
9. Resolved, That having suffered under the
misrule Of persons pretending to be local officials
of this territory, we havet lost all confidence
in their integrity in the administration of the
laws, however just these laws may appear to
| some on their face.
| 8. Resolved, That with the people of any ter
| ritory alone rests the right to change the form
| OF their government, subject to the approval Of
Congress, given before or after steps for State
government have been taken and further that
territorial government is extra.constitutional,
| and at best, under ordinances of Congress, pure
| ~ temporary.
4. Resolved, That the constitution framed at
| Topeka by the representatives of the people at
Kansas, and ratified by popular vote, is still the
choice of majority of our citizens, as the form
Of our State government, and that we maintain
| it, and urge on Congress our immediate admis
| sion, as State, under it.
| 5. Resolved, That the policy of the free state
party has always been ayerse to any movement
OF an aggressive character; and that violence
has never been resorted to save in self defense.
6. Resolved, That we regard the presence Of
peaceful relations existing between our citizens
| as conducive to their best personal welfare, as
well as indispensable to the perfect development
| and expansion of the various economical inter-
ests OF the territory. To the end, therefore,
that such relations may be obtained and perma-
nently established amongst US, we earnestly APP
peal to all men, of whatever party, to submit
all difficulties of opinion growing out OF the
question Of our domestic institutions to the test
Of sound reason and enlightened, though friend
ly, discussion, and the final arbitrament of the
ballotbox; Provided, That any attempt to a.
bridge or impair the freedom of speech, oral or
written, or of the bailot-box, will be held as just
cause of departure from this policy.
| Z. Resolved, That we make no tests for men,
bership in the free state party, save that of the
exclusion of domestic slavery from Kansas by
subsequent legislation
| 8. Resolved, That Congress having presented
the principles of popular sovereignty, as enun-
ciated in the Kansas bill as the basis of the po-
ltical action of the people of Kansas, we are
infexibly determined to abide by its faithful
execution, as we ever have resolutely opposed
its perversion, and ever will while it remains on
the statute book.
| The chairman of committee on miscellaneous
business, made the following report 1t was
adopted after discussion and amendment, and
read as follows:
The committee on miscellaneous business
would respectfully submit the following report:
Whereas, Hon. James Buchanan, in debate
| in the Senate of the United States on the admis-
sion of Michigan into the Union, with consti
tuition framed in a similar manner to the State
| constitution OF kansas, declared that the people
"stand upon THAR rights-rights secured to them
| by the constituicn-elected their officers" and
the whole machinery of State government be-
ing perfected, that, having assumed this attitude,
| they could demand their admission as matter
of right and as an act of justice; and that to
repel State under such circumstances is suffi-
cient to induce fear for consequences, and cause
statesmen to tremble at such an act OF injustice;
and, whereas, the present democratic admins.
! tration, by virtue of the pledges made by its
leaders in the late Presidential campaign, are in
all honor bound to use its influence and lend its
aid to make Kansas free State; and, whereas,
the democratic party IN the States made the ad.
mission of Kansas as free State the inducement
to vote for him upon this issue.
Resolved, That the people of Kansas have q
right to look with confidence to the present
chief executive of the nation for an approval of
their course, and for his assistance in procuring
their admission into the Union under the Topeka
constitution.
Resolved, That this convention would urge
upon the State Legislature the Importance of
assembling in June, according to adjournment,
and take such action as may be necessary to Sc
cure the vitality of the State government, and
its recognition by Congress.
Resolved, That the territorial laws, SO called,
of Kansas had their origin in fraud, were i'm
posed on the territory i'll usurpation and vio-
lence, in bold defiance and subversion of the
Constitution, the organic act, and every principle
of justice, and are therefore null and void; and
we respectfully request the territorial executive
to refuse to enforce said fraudulent enactments,
| till Congress shall provide for election of a
territorial legislature by the people of Kansas
| without interference from foreign States.
Resolved, That it is shameless hypocrisy fol
| political party to adopt for their principles the
| d octrine of popular sovereignty" while they
justify the most fragrant violation oft, and per
sist in subjecting citizens of the United States
to foreign tyranny unparalleled in history.
| Resolved, That the banking system, chartered
by the territorial legislature $50 caledl not onl,
had its origin in fraud but is fraud in itself
and we caution all against receiving its notes a: