Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-04-03

Topeka, X. T., March l2

Topeka, n -, mhTcu ASs
Dpe.bf the largest Conventions ever held
In Kansas was in session in Topeka Tues
dav and Wednesday Of this week. The
Rev. @. Blood Of Manhattan, opened by
prayer. Judge Wakefield was called to the
chair, and H. Mills Moore, Secretary. Com.
mittees were appointed on credentials and
permanent organization.
The delegation was full, and the follow
ing were elected officers; Mr.. Q. +. Currier
Chairman; Messrs. w. W. Ross and A.
Wattles. Secretaries, and the following Vice
Presidents: Capt J. B. Abbott, DIR. A. Hun
ting, II. Jones, A. Lozalier and Caleb May.
On motion Of Mr.. Parott Committee
on Platform was chosen by nomination; il
was composed of WIN Phillips Of lst Dis
trict, Chairman; ]. A. Wakefield, Cd; Wal
ter Oakley, Sd; G. w. Griffith, 4th; W.
Chestnut, 5th; P. G. Schuyler, 9Th; B. Blood
7th: J. Mitchell, sth; J. McAfcc, 9th; A.
Dozalier, 10th; H. Bay, 18th; M. j. Par
rot 18th.
The President appointed the Committee
on Miscellaneous Business: Charles Robin
son. Chairman; H. Mills Moore, B. Town
send, s. B. Holman, DR.. A. Hunting
On motion, the President appointed as
Committee on Address DR.. Davis, Chair
man; A Policy, w. w. Ross, and the Rev.
H. Jones.
On motion of DR.. Davis, twenty-seven
other names were added.
The Chairman Of the Committee on Plat
form reported the following which was adop-
ted after discussion:
Resolutions:
We, citizens Of Kansas, in delegate con-
vention assembled, at Topeka, March 10,
1857, resolve and declare:
Whereas, A body, of men recently as
sembled at Lecompton, and claiming to be
the Legislative Assembly of Kansas Ter
ritory, have adopted regulation purporting
to be law for taking the census and cleo
ting delegates to Constitutional Conven-
ton, proposed to be held in that place in
September. next; and, wheredS, tho said
Assembly was the creature of fraud, and its
members the representatives of people for
reign to this Territory and, '0hereds, the
organic act does not authorize the territorl-
al Legislative powers, even when legislative
ly convened, to pass any enabling act to
change the government of the same; and,
,chereas. the act of this Assembly is parti-
san in its character, clearly contemplates
fraud, for the recurrence of which it offers
inadequate security, while it deprives the
Executive of the Territory Of the power to
prevent or remedy such fraud, leaves the
control of the census and election in the
hands of pretended officers, not chosen by
the people of Kansas, who are of violent
character and hostile to the best interests Of
the territory; and, aOhersas, said act propo-
ses to disfranchise certain bona fide settlers
of Kansas, who have filed their declaration
of intention to become citizens of the Uni
ted States, recognized as voters by the Or
ganic act; and, ,0hereas there is no provis-
ion in the said regulation for submitting
the constitution so framed to the vote Of the
people of the Territory; therefore,
l. RESOLVED, That the people Of Kansas
Territory cannot participate in any election
under such regulation without compromis-
ing their rights as American citizens, sacri-
ficing the bcs. interests of Kansas, and Jeop-
ardising the public peace.
2. Resolved That having suffered under
the misrule of persons pretending to be To-
cal officials of this Territory, we have lost
all confidence in their integrity in the adj
ministration of the laws howevr Just these
laws may appear to some on their face.
8. Resolued, That with the people of
any Territory alone rests the right to change
the form of their government, subject to
the approval of Congress, given before or
after steps for State Goverpment have
been taken; and further that Territorial
Government its extra-C Constitutional, and at
best, under Ordinances of Congress, purely
temporal.
4. Resolved, That the Constitution franz
ed at Topeka by the representatives of the
people of Kansas, and ratified by popular
vote, is still the choice of majority Of our
citizens as the form of our State Govern
ment, and that we maintain it, and urge on
Congress our immediate admission as a
State, under it,
S. RESOLVED, That the policy of the Free
State party has always been averse to any
movement of an aggressive character, and
that violence has never been restored to,
save in selfdefence.
8. Rssolced, That VIC regard the pres
ence of peaceful relations existing between
our citizens as conducive to their best per-
senal welfare, as we'll as indispensable to the
perfect development and expansion Of the
various economical interests of the Territory
To the end, therefore, that such relations
may be obtained and permanently establish
ed among us, we earnestly appeal to all
men, of whatever party, to submit all diff
culties Of opinion growing out of the ques-
ton Of our domestic institutions TO the test
of sound reason and enlightened, though
friendly, discussion, and the final arbtra-
ment of the bollot-box. Provided, That
any attempt to abridge or impair the free
dom of speech. oral or written, or Of the
ballot-box, will be held as a just cause of de-
partment from this policy.
7. RESOLVED That we make no test for
membership in the Free State party, save
that of the exclusion of Democratic Slave
ry from Kansas by subsequent Legislation.
8. RESOLVED That Congress, having pre-
sented the principle of Squatter Sovreignty,
as enunciated in tho Kansas bill, MS the ba-
sis of the political action Of the people Of
Kansas, we are inhexibly 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 Ghairuan nf tho Commitfao on