The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-12-03
The Kansas Bogus COnStitu-
tioaaI Convention.

1iei21t 3nF FehttOH.
Our readers are aware that a body call
ing itself the Constitutional Convention
of Kansas, has been for sometime con-
cocting a plan by which Slavery may be
forced into that Territory. So conscious
was this body and the President, that
it was uSurpation, that force of near
ly 1000 United States troops guarded it
from the people. Did such thing ever
occur before in the history of'the United
States, A Convention framing Con-
stitution for the people, so odiSus and
hateful that it required the army to pro-
tect 1t from insult and destruction, and
this under the cry of securing popular
Sovereignty.
Emboldened by the protection Of the
army, these Kansas usurpers have ADAPT
Ell 4 Constitution for Kansas, which can
not be changed until 1861, and then only
by tco-thirds vote of the Legislature.
But even then "no alteration shall be
made to affect the right of properly in
the ownership of slaves" So it will be
seen, if majority in Congress can be
chilled into sanctioning this usurpation,
Slavery viii be fastened on the new State
in defiance Of the wishes Of nine-tenths
of the people.
But in addition to this, the Conven-
ton have superseded Governor Walker,
and established a Government its own,
as the following sections will show:
Sec, s, This Constitution shall be
submitted to the Congress Of the United
States at its next ensuing session, and as
soon as official information has been re-
ceiycd that it is approved by the same,
by the admission of the State of Kansas
as one of the Sovereign States of the United
States, the President of this Convention
shall issue his proclamation, to convene
the State Legislature at the seat of Gov
crnment, within thirty days after its pub
lication. Should any vacancy occur BY
death, resignation or otherwise, in the
Legislature or other Office, he shall order
an election to fill such vacancy; Provid-
ed, however, in case of refusal, absence
or disability of the President of this Con-
veEtion to discharge the duties herein
imposed on him, the President pro TEN.
of this Convention shall perform said du-
ties, and in case of absence, refusal, or
disability of the President pro tenn, a
committee consisting of five members Of
this Convention or a majority OF them
shall disoharge the duties required Of the
President of this Convention.
Before the Constitution is submitted,
the President of this Convention, or in
his absence By reason of his death, res
ignatlon or otherwise, the President pro
tenn. shall by proclamation declare, that
on the 2lst day of December, 1857, at
the different election precincts now cs-
tablished by law IN the Territory Of
Kansas. an election shall be held, over
which shall preside three judges, to be
by Commissioners, three Of
whom shall be appointed for each county
by the President OF this Convention, or
in his absence by reason of death, res
ignation or otherwise, the President pro
TEN, at which election the Constitution
framed by this Convention shall be sub
mittcd to all the male citizens of the Ter
ritory of Kansas, over the age Of twenty
one years for ratification or rejection, in
the following manner and form: The
voting shall be by ballot. The Judges
of said election shall cause to be kept
two poll books by-Clerks, by them
the ballots cast at said cleo
ton shall be endorsed = Constitution
with Slavery, or Constitution without
Slavery,
Here is no submission of the Constitu-
ton, but only the Slavery clause, and
even that is cheat. Every vote polled,
will be vote for the Constitution. In
this shape no Free State man can vote,
Unless Congress shall reject this mop-
strous proposition to enslaye free people
the trouble iu Kansas, has but just
begun,
VIOLENCE AND CRIME IN THE CITIES.
old Dr. Beecher said, twenty-five years
ago, that if ever American liberties were
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